Sundara Kothandarama Perumal Temple, Nallur,
Nagapattinam
Sundara
Kothandarama Perumal Temple is situated at Nallur village, Arappallam post,
Sirkazhi Taluk, Nagapattinam district. This is a 350 Year old temple enshrining
Sri Rama along with Seetha, Lakshmana and Hanuman, located at about 2 kms from
Achalpuram en route Mahendrapalli. Till about 110 years ago, the Utsava
idol of Thirumangai Azhwar (from Thiruvali/Tirunagari) made annual visits to
the Nallur shrine. Nallur village is also known as Thirumana Nallur temple
since the bridal reception during the wedding of Saint Tirugnanasambandar took
place here.
The
large temple has a small shrine for Garuda in front of it. A large mandapam,
where devotees gather during temple festivals, also houses the Vahanas. There
is a large passage around the ardha mandapam and the sanctum sanctorum,
connected to the western side of the maha mandapam, where devotees perform
circumambulation (Pradhakshinam). All these mandapams are in very bad shape.
The
temple also has a well, a kitchen, a garden and a bell-tower in ruins. The
sanctum sanctorum and the ardha mandapam, though structurally intact, need to
be repaired immediately. The conduct of daily pujas (which had been suspended
for more than seven years) has been restored since October 2003, by the natives
of the village.