Tamilnadu Tourism: Devapiran Temple, (Irattai Tirupati Temple), Tholavillimangalam, Thoothukudi

Devapiran Temple, (Irattai Tirupati Temple), Tholavillimangalam, Thoothukudi

Devapiran Perumal Temple in Tholavillimangalam, a village in Thoothukudi district in the South Indian state of Tamilnadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is located 22 km from Tirunelveli. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Devapiran and his consort Lakshmi as Karunthadankanni.

The temple is also classified as a Navathiruppathi, the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar located in the banks of Thamiraparani River. Along with the Aravindalochanar temple located 100 yards away, the temple is referred as Irattai Thirupathy (meaning twin Tirupathis). A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. Unlike other South Indian temples, the temple does not have a Rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower. The Vijayanagar and Nayak kings commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temple during the 16th century.

Devapiran is believed to have appeared to slay the demon Somuka who abducted the four Vedas. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten day annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April - May) and the Nammazhwar birth celebrations with Garudasevai with all nine temple of Navathiruppathi, being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

There are nine sacred shrines in this Pandya region equal to those in the Chola region attributed to nine planets. As Lord Vishnu himself is acting as the nine planets in these places, there are no separate shrines for the Navagrahas the nine planets. Those facing any adverse aspect of a planet are advised to visit the Nava – nine Tirupathis for relief.

It would be difficult to catch buses for each such place causing more days to complete this pilgrimage. A cab can be hired to visit the places for completing the tour in a day. Those in Chennai can avail the services of Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation which is arranging the trip twice a month on the first and third Friday of the month. They can return by Wednesday morning. The Nava Tirupathis are related with the nine planets as Perumal himself is the planet of the particular place.

The List of Nava Tirupathi Temples and its related Grahas (Planets) are:

· Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal Temple – Surya (Sun)

· Thiru Varagunamangai Perumal Temple – Chandra (Moon)

· Thirupulinkudi Perumal Temple — Budha (Mercury)

· Irattai Tirupathi Perumal Temple – Rahu (North node)

· Irattai Tirupathi Perumal Temple – Ketu (South node)

· Thirukuzhandhai (Perungulam) Perumal Temple – Sani (Saturn)

· Thenthiruperai Perumal Temple – Shukra – (Venus)

· Thirukkolur Perumal Temple – Mangala (Mars)

· Alwarthirunagari Perumal Temple – Guru (Jupiter)

Legends