Tamilnadu Tourism: Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple, (Sundararaja Perumal Temple), Anbil, Trichy

Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple, (Sundararaja Perumal Temple), Anbil, Trichy

Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Anbil Village near Lalgudi in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is also called as Sundararaja Perumal Temple / Thiru Anbil. 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 6^th – 9^th centuries AD. This temple is considered as the 5th Divya Desam located in the Chola region. Presiding Deity is called as Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal / Sundararajan and his consort is Lakshmi called as Sundaravalli Nachiyar.

The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8^th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. The copper plate inscriptions from Anbil indicate generous contribution by the Chola kings to the temple. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and bodies of water. The Rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower, is east facing and has a 3-tier structure. The temple is located on the banks of river Kollidam.

Sundararajan is believed to have appeared to Brahma (the Hindu god of creation) and sage Suthaba. Six daily rituals and two yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Theerthavari festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Maasi (February–March), is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu. The specialty of this Anbil village is that both Divya Desam and Paadal Petra Sthalam are located. The famous Shiva temple Alanthurai is a Devara Sthalam.