the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Vishnu

As per Hindu legend, Nandi, the sacred bull of Shiva, did not respect the Dwarapalakas, the gatekeepers of Vishnu. They cursed Nandi that his body would suffer oppressive heat. Nandi informed it to his lord Shiva, who advised him to do penance in Shenbaranyam. It is the place where Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu was doing penance to get into the chest of Vishnu. Vishnu was impressed by the penance of Nandi and got his curse relieved. He was the one who explained the greatness of Lord Shiva to Lord Vishnu. Since Nandi performed Tapas (penance) seeking Lord Vishnu blessing and because of this, the place is known as "Nandipura Vinnagaram". Nandhan means "Teacher" or "Guide". As Lord Narayana guided at this place, he is called as "Nadhanadha". He took Mother on his chest here on a Friday in the full moon fortnight in the month of Aipasi-October-November. Devotees believe that their wishes would be granted with their participation in the abishek to Mother on Aipasi Fridays. The great King Sibi was a great donor. Once, Lord Indra took a form of a hunter and Lord Agni transformed himself as a pigeon. The pigeon sought Sibhi's help and to help the poor bird, he came forward to give his own flesh equal to the pigeon's weight to the hunter. So, he sat in the west plate of the Balance while the pigeon in the east. So, to see this beautiful scene, Lord Narayana faces west in this temple. Then he blessed eternity to King Sibi. Lord Jagannathan is holding his weapons sword, bow, discus, dhanda and conch. In early days, Lord was facing east. To accept Mother Mahalakshmi in his Chest and to appreciate emperor Sibi who sacrificed his flesh for the sake of a dove, He turned west then, according to sthala Purana. Nandhi and Brahamma are in the sanctum with Perumal promoting Saivism-Vaishnavism unity. As this place is like puri Jagannath temple of North India, it is called as Dakshina Jaganatham ((i.e) south Jaganatham). As Nandhi made penance here, the pushkarani (or) tank of this place is called as Nandi Theertha Pushkarani. As the Vimaanam of this place is Mandara Vimaanam, this place indicates a note of unity among all castes. At a distance of about 1 1/2 miles away from this place in the river side there is a garden named "Nandivanam" and inside it is a very old temple in a demolished stage

Nathan Kovil or Thiru Nandipura Vinnagaram Temple in Nathan Kovil, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam in the South Indian state of Tamilnadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th to 9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Srinivasan and his consort Lakshmi as Shenbagavalli. Nandi, the sacred bull of Shiva, is believed to have got his curses relieved by worshipping Vishnu here and hence the place is called Nandipuram. All the shrines and water bodies associated with the temple are named after Nandi. Six rituals are performed everyday and two festivals are celebrated every year in the temple. The Fridays during the Tamil month of Aipasi are believed to be auspicious to worship Shenbagavalli. Among the Chola Nadu Tirupatis, which are 40 in number, Nadhan Koil is the 21st. "Mannilidhupol Nagarilliayena Vanavargaltham Malargal Thoovi Nanniyuraikindra Nagar Nanthipura Vinnagaram Nannumaname" says Thiumangai Azhwar in his Mangalasasanam. Located amidst lush green paddy fields and coconut groves, three km from Patteeswaram, the temple at Nadhan Koil has a Rajagopuram with colourful sculptures of Dasavatharam, a vimanam on the sanctum sanctorum and a separate niche for Thayar. Built by the Pallava King Nandivarman, the Nathan koil in Nandipura Vinnagaram is in the Shenbagaranya Kshetram, which runs from here up to Mannargudi. Unfortunately, this historic temple now wears a deserted look and is struggling to even meet the daily pooja expenses.