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Location:
Tirunangur
(Sirkali) near Sirkazhi
(Chola Naadu)
Vishnu: Perarulaalan,
Taayaar: Alli Maamalar Naachiyaar
Theertham:Hema Pushkarini
Paasuram :Tirumangai
Vimaanam:Kanaka Vimanam
Travel Base:Chidambaram
Other: One of the 11 Tirunaangur Divya Desams
closely associated with Tirumangaialwar
Description: Five Divya
Desam Temples are located in close proximity in the town of Tirunangur
8 km east of Sirkazhi. They are Tiruvanpurushottamam,
Tiruttetriambalam, Tirumanimaadakkoyil,
Arimeya Vinnagaram and Vaikuntha Vinnagaram.
Deities:
The Moolavar is Perarulaalan in a standing posture facing east, while
the Utsavar is known as Hemarangar or Semponnarangar. Taayaar here is
Allimaamalar Naachiyaar.
Legend
has it that Rama, on his return from Srilanka, after having vanquished
Ravana, resided here in the hermitage of a saint by name Dridanetra and
that upon his advice fashioned a cow of gold, and donated it to a poor
devotee, with which, the devotee built this temple, hence the name Chemponsei
Koyil.
The Tirunaangur
Divya Desams: This is one of the 11 Tirunaangur
Divya Desams in the vicinity of Sirkazhi, glorified by the hymns of -
and closely associated with Tirumangaialwar, whose birthplace
Tirunagari, is located nearby. 11 Divya Desams in
the vicinity of Sirkazhi, Tiruvaali and Tirunagari (the birthplace of
Tirumangaialwar) are associated closely with Tirumangaialwar. Legend has
it that Shiva performed the Ekadasa Rudra Aswamedha Yagam, to rid himself
of the blemish of Bhramahatti; Vishnu is believed to have appeared in
his presence with Sree Devi, Bhu Devi and Nila Devi at the end of the
sacrifice, and upon Shiva's request, taken up 11 abodes here in the Tirunangur
area, which correspond to the 11 Tirunaangur Divya Desams held in worship
by Rudra.
Only Tirumangaialwar
has sung of these 11 Divya Desams. The Tirunaangur Divya Desam shrines
are Kavalampaadi, Tiruvanpurushottamam,
Arimeya Vinnagaram, Chemponseikoyil,
Manimaadakkoyil (Narayanan), Vaikuntha Vinnagaram, Tirudevanaar
Togai, Tiruttetriambalam, Manikkootam,
Tiruvellakkulam, and Parthanpalli.
Festivals:
The Tirumangaialwar Mangalasasana utsavam in the month of Thai (after
the new moon night) witnesses Garudasevai - a spectacular event in which
festival images of Perumaal from the 11 (Tirunaangur) Divya Desam shrines
in the area are brought on Garuda mounts to Tirunangur. An image
of Tirumangai Alwar is brought here on a Hamsa Vahanam (from Tirunagari)
and the his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 11 Divya
Desams are recited. The image of Tirumangaialwar circumambulates each
of these deities, and at the conclusion of the festival, the images are
returned to their temples. Prior to this, the image of Tirumangaialwar
and his consort are taken in a palanquin to each of the 11 Tirunangur
Divya Desams, (trampling) through the paddy fields in the area,
and the paasurams dedicated to each of the 11 Divya Desams are chanted
in the respective shrines. The Ekadasa Garuda Sevai is the most important
festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.
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