the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Vishnu

This temple is in the village of Thiru Nangur and called as Thirumanikkoodam or Varadaraja Perumal Temple. It's about 5 miles (8 kms) away from Sirkazhi. It is one among the eleven divyadesams of Thirunangur Tirupathis. The place is 8 km far from Sirkali. Buses are available only at specific hours. The visitor may reach Sirkazhi – Annankoil. The temple is 1 km from here. There are buses from Mayavaram / Sirkazhi that goes past Thiru Nangur. Direct special buses are available only on special occasions. If you are going in car it is 20 kms from Mayavaram and 8 kms from Sirkazhi.

The legends of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with each other. As per legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort Uma due to the yagna (sacrifice) of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground; there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place. On seeing Vishnu, Shiva's anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Thirunangur. Arimeya Vinnagaram literally translates to the place where Hari (another name of Vishnu) resides. The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Thirunangur are located. Thakkan had 27 daughters. The Moon married all the 27 daughters of Thakkan. The Moon promised Thakkan that he would love all the 27 wives equally and not biased to anyone. But the moon was with great love only to Rohini. All the other daughters appealed to their father, Thakkan cursed the Moon to decline his beauty and light every day. The Moon started to decline every day. To get redressed from the curse he went to many temples and finally reached Thirumanikudam. The Lord Vishnu (Perumal) appeared in the form of Varadha Raja Perumal and removed the curse of the Moon.

The temple complex has a single prakaram (outer courtyard) and a single shrine. It is located close to Thirunangur, a small village, 8 km east of Sirkali en route to Thiruvenkadu. Eleven Rudras and the king of celestial deities, Devas, are believed to have worshipped Varadarajar. The presiding deity, Varadharaja Perumal is housed in the sanctum in standing posture, facing east. The images of his consort, Sridevi (also called Thirumamagal Nachiyar) and Bhoodevi are housed in the same shrine. The Moolavar, Sri Varadaraja Perumal facing east with four hands, also known as Manikooda Nayakan, is in a standing posture on the Aadhisesan. Theertham is Chandra Pushkarini; Lord Vishnu saved Lord Chandra from curse and hence the name Chandra Pushkarani. Vimanam is Kanaga Vimanam. The Lord Varadharaja is known for his act of bestowing abundant wealth to his devotees and hence the name of the Vimaanam as Kanaka (gold) Vimaanam. Lord of this place has Chandran as ornament and Garuda as vehicle He gave special Dharsan to Lord Chandra and Garuda here. This is an act of illustrating the unity between the Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. As the Lord Shiva solved the curse of Chandran, here Lord Vishnu also once saved Chandra from his Curse and hence the Pushkarani is named as Chandra Pushkarani. This temple is in the 37th place of the 108 Divya Desams. Garudazhwar shrine is present at the entrance of the temple. Mahamandapam and Ardhamandapam are present in this Temple. Varadaraja Perumal the presiding deity in the Sanctum Sanctorum in a standing posture on a lotus pedestal is facing east. In the right hand side of the square shaped lotus pedestal Sridevi appears in the standing position and the Earth Goddess is seen on the left hand side. The procession God stays nearby. In the northern side of Ardhamandapam Nammazhwar graces in the sitting posture. Chronic diseases will be cured on worshipping the God in Thirumanikudam.

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.