Sri Deivanayagar Temple / Madhava Perumal Temple

Overview

Thiruthevanartthogai or Madhava Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thirunangur, a village at the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamilcanon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as Madhavaperumal and his consort Goddess Lakshmi as Kadalmagal. It is one among the eleven divyadesams of Thirunangur Tirupathis and is closely associated with Thirumangai Alvar. The temple follows thenkalai mode of worship.

About the Temple

The temple faces west. It is located in Keezhchaalai that is 6.5 kms away from Sirkali and 1 km away from Thiruvali. It is located close to Thirunangur, a small village, 10 km away from Sirkali en route to Thiruvenkadu. The temple has a three-tiered rajagopuram and all the shrines are enclosed in concentric rectangular walls.

Mangalasasanam

Thirumangaialwar - 10 Paasurams.
Total - 10 Paasurams.

Pushkarani

Shobana Pushkarani.

Vimanam

Shobana Vimaanam.

About the Deity

The Moolavar of this Divyadesam is Sri Deiva Naayagan. He is giving his seva Nindra (Standing) Thirukkolam facing his thirumugham towards west direction. Prathyaksham for Vashista Maharishi. The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Kadal Magal Naachiyar. She has a separate sannadhi. The Utsavar Thaayar is Madhava Nayaki. The Utsavar found in this sthalam is Madhava Perumal.

Legend and Stories

Mythology says that Lord Shiva had a move of decimation (Rudra Tandava) conveying half blazed collection of goddess Sati after goddess Sati's self-immolation. To stop the move of decimation performed by Lord Vishnu tossed His Chakra (Sudharshan Chakra) on Goddess Sati's body which dismantled Her body into 52 sections. What's more, it is said that every time the hair of Lord Shiva touches the earth, there seemed eleven different types of Lord Shiva. Master Vishnu showed up in eleven structures as Lord Shiva did and comforted Lord Shiva saying that His move of decimation may bring about the obliteration of whole manifestations on the world.

The eleven types of Lord Vishnu which showed up at Thirunangur is said to be the place the eleven sanctuaries of Lord Vishnu are arranged. Consequently, the eleven sanctuaries at Thirunangur are firmly related to one another in restricted or the other. Furthermore, the other mythology says that this is the spot where Lord Vishnu wedded Goddess who showed up out of Thiruparkadal in the vicinity of gathering of Devas and consequently this temple is additionally called as Thiru Devanaar Thogai.

Festivals

During the new moon day of the Tamil month Thai, the festival deity of Thirumangai Azhwar is brought to the temple from Thiruvali-Thirunagari. The Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai(January–February). The highlight of the festival is Garudasevai, an event in which the festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupathis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur. The festive image of Thirumangai Azhwar is also brought on a Hamsa Vahanam (palaquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these eleven temples are recited during the occasion. The festival images of Thirumangai Alvar and his consort Kumudavalli Naachiyar are taken in a palanquin to each of the eleven temples. The verses dedicated to each of the eleven temples are chanted in the respective shrines. This is one of the most important festivals in the region which draws thousands of devotees.

Rituals

The temple rituals are performed four times a day:Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 7:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration),neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Madhavaperumal and his consort Kadalmagal. During the worship, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.

Best Time to visit

Vaikasi Brahmotshavam, every Saturday has festivals celebrated in this temple. The festival time is best time to visit this temple. Throughout the year, the devotees used to visit this temple.

Significance

The temple gate faces west and the shadow of the Vimaanam falls within the Vimaanam itself. It is believed that by having a darshan of Lord Perumal, unmarried persons get married soon and childless couples get the boon of child birth.

Religious significance

The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Periazhwar, Thirumalisai Alvar and Thirumangai Azhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.

Nearby Places to Visit

1. Kayaroganeswarar Temple
2. Thanthondreeswarar Temple
3. Neelakandeswarar Temple
4. Pallavaneswarar Temple
5. Aranyeswarar Temple
6. Naganathar Temple

Accessibility

Airport

The nearest Airport is Tiruchirapalli Airport, located 145 km (90 miles) away from the town.

Railways

Nagapattinam railway junction connects Thiruvarur in the west, Nagore in the north, Velankanni in the south and Karaikal in the east. There is a daily express train to Chennai via Mayiladuthurai and Ernakulam via Coimbatore and it connects all major cities.

Road

Extensive network of roads connect it to Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Pondicherry, Thanjavur and all other major cities. Nagapattinam is located at a distance of about 330kms from Chennai by Road.

Temple Address

Sri Deiva Naayaga Perumal Temple ,
Keezhachalai, Thiruvali (Thiru Devanaar Thogai),
Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.