| Description: This
Divyadesam is located at a distance of about 10 km from Sirkazhi, and 3km from Tiruvenkadu and is one of the 11 Tirunaangur Divya Desams
associated with Tirumangaialwar. Deities: The Moolavar here is
Taamaraiyaal Kelvan in a standing posture facing east, while Taayaar is Taamarai Nayaki.
The Utsavar is known by the name Parthasarathy. The Moolavar and the Utsavar images are
accompanied by their consorts Sree Devi, Bhu Devi and Neela Devi. There is another
festival image here known as Kolavilli Raman.
The Tirunaangur Divya Desams: This is one of the 11 Tirunaangur Divya Desams in the vicinity of
Sirkazhi, glorified by the hymns of - and closely associated with Tirumangaialwar,
whose birthplace Tirunagari,
is located nearby. 11 Divya Desams in the vicinity of Sirkazhi, Tiruvaali and Tirunagari
(the birthplace of Tirumangaialwar) are associated closely with Tirumangaialwar. Legend
has it that Shiva performed the Ekadasa Rudra Aswamedha Yagam, to rid himself of the
blemish of Bhramahatti; Vishnu is believed to have appeared in his presence with Sree
Devi, Bhu Devi and Nila Devi at the end of the sacrifice, and upon Shiva's request, taken
up 11 abodes here in the Tirunangur area, which correspond to the 11 Tirunaangur Divya
Desams held in worship by Rudra.
Only Tirumangaialwar has sung of these 11 Divya Desams. The Tirunaangur Divya
Desam shrines are Kavalampaadi, Tiruvanpurushottamam, Arimeya
Vinnagaram, Chemponseikoyil, Manimaadakkoyil (Narayanan), Vaikuntha
Vinnagaram, Tirudevanaar Togai,
Tiruttetriambalam, Manikkootam,
Tiruvellakkulam, and Parthanpalli.
Festivals: The Tirumangaialwar Mangalasasana utsavam in the month of
Thai (after the new moon night) witnesses Garudasevai - a spectacular event in which
festival images of Perumaal from the 11 (Tirunaangur) Divya Desam shrines in the area are
brought on Garuda mounts to Tirunangur. An image of Tirumangai Alwar is brought to
Tirunaangur on a Hamsa Vahanam (from Tirunagari) and the his paasurams
(verses) dedicated to each of these 11 Divya Desams are recited. The image of
Tirumangaialwar circumambulates each of these deities, and at the conclusion of the
festival, the images are returned to their temples. Prior to this, the image of
Tirumangaialwar and his consort are taken in a palanquin to each of the 11 Tirunangur
Divya Desams, (trampling) through the paddy fields in the area, and the paasurams
dedicated to each of the 11 Divya Desams are chanted in the respective shrines. The
Ekadasa Garuda Sevai is the most important festivals in this area, and it draws thousands
of visitors. |
