Aravindalochanar Perumal Temple (Irattai Tirupati
Temple), Tholavillimangalam, Thoothukudi – Religious Significance
Brahmanda
Purana, is one of the eighteen sacred texts of Hinduism and
written by Veda Vyasa contains a chapter called Navathiruppathi Mahatmiyam
that describes all the nine temples of Navathiruppathi. Aravindalochanar temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammazhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in
the book. The temple is also classified as a Navathiruppathi, the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar located in the
banks of Thamiraparani River.
Nammazhwar
makes a reference about the temple in his works in Thiruvaimozhi. During
the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works
like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal
Aiyangar. The temple also forms a series of Navagraha temples where each
of the nine planetary deities is associated with one of the temples of Navathiruppathi.
The temple is associated with Rahu, a snake planet. Along with the Devapiran
temple located 100 yards
away, the temple is referred as Irattai Thirupathy (meaning twin Tirupathis).
