Vedarajan Temple, Thirunagari, Nagapattinam
Vedarajan
Temple in Thirunagari, a village in Nagapattinam district in the South Indian state of Tamilnadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. 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
Vedarajan and his consort Lakshmi as Amruthavalli. The temple is believed to be the
birthplace of Thirumangai Azhwar, one of the twelve Azhwar saints.
A
granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines, while the water tank
is located in a street axial to the eastern gateway. The temple has a
seven-tiered Rajagopuram, the gateway tower. The temple is originally believed
to have been built by the Cholas, with later additions by the Vijayanagar and Thanjavur Nayak kings who commissioned pillared halls and major
shrines of the temple during the 16th century.
Thiruvaali
and Thirunagari are two separate temples around 2 kms apart near Thirunangur
and they together are considered a single Divya Desam. They are part of the
Pancha Narasimha kshetrams. Thirunagari is the birthplace of Thirumangai Azhwar
and Thiruvaali is where Tirumangai Azhwar’s wife Kumudhavalli was brought up.
Thirumangai Azhwar refers to Perumal as Vayalali Manavalan at Thiruvaali;
however Vayalali Manavaalan is enshrined at Thirunagari.
Hence
traditionally, Thiruvaali and Thirunagari are considered to be a single Divya
Desam. Thirumangai Azhwar has referred to Thiruvaali – Thirunagari in a total
of 41 verses. Also, Kulasekhara Azhwar in his decade of verses dedicated to
Rama (Sowrirarjan at Kannapuram) refers to ‘Aali Nagarkku Atipati’ in a
lone verse.
Vedarajan
is believed to have appeared to Thirumangai Azhwar at this place. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and three
yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the fourteen-day annual
Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June)
being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the
Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.
Legends
For
brief details, please refer below link;
History
While
the exact history of the temple could not be ascertained, it is originally
believed to have been built by the Cholas, with later additions by the Vijayanagar and Thanjavur
Nayak kings who commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temple
during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and
administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.
The
Temple
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple remains open from 8.00 AM to 11.30 AM in the morning and in the evening
from 5.30 PM to 7.30 PM.
Religious
Practices & Festivals
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Literary
Mention
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Prayers
It is
believed that marriages which were not getting fixed for one reason or another
will happen smooth if a sincere prayer is offered here, as the lord himself is
known as Kalyana Ranganatha Perumal.
Contact
Arulmigu
Vedharajan Thirukoil,
Thirunagari,
Thirunangur
– 609 106,
Nagapattinam
District
Phone: +91 – 4364 –
256927 / 275699
Mobile: +91 94433 72567 /
96297 58828 / 94433 72967
Connectivity
It is
situated at about 10 kms from Sirkazhi. Buses from Sirkazhi to Thiruvenkadu go
past this place. If you drive your car it is 20 kms from Mayavaram and 10 kms
from Sirkazhi. Take Sirkazhi – Poompuhar bus to get down at Thirunagari. Auto
from Sirkazhi bus stand will cost Rs. 200. This Temple is located at about 2
kms from Thiruvali. Nearest Railway Station is located at Sirkazhi and Nearest
Airport is located at Trichy.