Tiruvellakkulam

One of the 108 Temples & Celestial Abodes of Vishnu revered by the Tamil hymns of the Alwars of the 1st millennium CE

Deities: The Moolavar here is Srinivasan, also known as Kannan, Narayanan, Annan Perumaal - in a standing posture facing east; Taayaar here is known as Alarmelmangai, and here Utsavar is Padmavati.

Legends: A prince by name Swetan (son of the Suryavamsa King Dundumaaran) was saved from the clutches of death at the age of 9, upon having meditated upon the Mrityunjaya mantram, under a vilvamaram, on the banks of the Swetapushkarini (in a legend similar to that of Markandeya). Interestingly this legend is very similar to the one held at Tiruvenkadu (Swetaranyam) nearby where the sage Swetaketu was saved from the clutches of death by the grace of Shiva.

Kumudavalli Naachiyaar, a pious and firm devotee, and wife of Tirumangaialwar was discovered here. There is a shrine to her here.

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 to Tirunaangur  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.