Tiru Naagai (Nagappattinam)

One of the 108 Temples & Celestial Abodes of Vishnu revered by the Tamil hymns of the Alwars of the 1st millennium CE

Location: Nagappattinam near .
(
Chola Naadu)
Vishnu: Neelamegapperumal
Taayaar: Soundaryavalli
Theertham:Sarapushkarini
Paasuram :Tirumangaialwar
Vimaanam:Soundarya Vimanam
Travel Base:Thanjavur
DescriptionThis Divya Desam is a vast beautiful temple, in the town of Nagappattinam. Also in Nagappattinam is the Vitanka Stalam Naagaikkaronam sung by the Tevaram hymns.

Deities: The Moolavar is Neelamegapperumaal in a standing posture facing east; there are also shrines of Govindaraja Perumal (Veetrirunda Perumal) and Ranganathar in a reclining posture. There is a rare bronze image of Narasimhar, shown in the gesture of blessing Prahladan, and vanquishing Hiranyakasipu at the same time. The Utsavar here is Soundaryarajan.

Legend has it that Vishnu was worshipped by Nagarajan here, as in the Shivastalam Naagaikkaaronam.  Legends related to this temple are referenced in the Bhrahmaanda puraanam.

Legend has it that it was decreed that the third breast of a local princess would disappear upon her sightiing her groom to be. This princess sighted Nagarajan offering worship to Vishnu here at Nagappattinam, and married him, and that Vishnu appeared in front of the couple in three different postures, as seen in the temple and blessed them.

Legend has it that Dhruva the son of the king Uttanapada performed severe penances towards Vishnu; Dhruva enchanted by the presence of Vishnu on his Garuda mount in a stunning form. It is this form that is revered as Soundarya raja Perumal, the processional deity.

This temple with 3 prakarams has a 7 tiered Rajagopuram which was constructed by during the period of Dutch occupation here. The bronze image of Ashtabhuja Narasimhar here is said to be of great beauty. A mango tree constitutes the stala vriksham here. There are shrines to Ranganathar, Srinivasa, Andal, Rama.

Festivals: Six worship services are offered each day here in the Pancharatra Agama protocol. The annual Bhramotsavam is celebrated in the month of Pankuni; Vaikuntha ekadasi and Aadi Pooram are other festivals of importance here.

 

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