Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple, also known as Tiruindaloor, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu in Thiruvilandur, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 Vishnu temples venerated in Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the Alvars, or poet-saints. This temple is one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams and is located beside the Kaveri. Parimala Ranganathar is believed to have appeared for Chandra, the moon god.

The term Parimala Ranganathar refers to the fragrance imparted to the Vedas by Vishnu after reclaiming them from the demons Madhu and Kaitabha during the Matysa Avataram.

Story/Legend of the Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

According to Hindu belief, the location is where the moon deity, Chandra, was released from his curse. The name Tiruindaloor comes from the mythology Indu, which means moon. Chandra worshipped Vishnu, who appeared to him to delight him.

Another tradition has it that the Alvar saint Thirumangai Alvar visited the temple while the doors were closed. He was singing in favour of Parimala Ranganathar, but the door remained closed. When the doors were opened, he felt agitated by the continual singing and begged Parimala Ranganathar to keep the temple for himself.  This temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams.

What is Divya Desams– A Divya Desam or Vaishnava Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu and Lakshmi temples recorded by the Alvars, the poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnava faith. 105 of the 108 temples are in India, one is in Nepal, and the final two are thought to be in space, in Tirupparkatal and Vaikuntham. They are distributed over the Indian states of Tamil Nadu (84), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (2), Gujarat (1), Uttar Pradesh (4), and Uttarakhand (3). Muktinath, Saligramam is Nepal’s sole Divya Desam. The 12 Alvars respect the Divya Desams in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil hymns.

History of Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

The Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple is thought to be of substantial antiquity, with donations from the Mediaeval Cholas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Madurai Nayaks at various eras. The temple is surrounded by a stone wall, and the complex houses all of the temple’s shrines. The main gateway, the Rajagopuram, has five storeys.

Architecture of Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

The central shrine is composed of 12 ft (3.7 m) of green stone and houses the presiding deity Parimala Ranganathar. The God is seen reclining and gazing east. Parimala Ranganayaki, also known as Chandrasaapa Vimochanavalli and Pundareekavalli, is Parimala Ranganathar’s consort. The images of the river gods Cauvery and Ganga, as well as Santhanagopalakrishnan, are housed in the sanctum. Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, is sculpted on the wall. Yoga Narasimhar, Rama, Anjaneya, Suryam, and Chandra have shrines at the temple.

The Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple contains three prakarams (precincts) that house all of the shrines, as well as a five-tiered Rajagopuram facing east. The Dvajasthamba Mandapam and Garuda Mandapam both include sculpted pillars, with the latter featuring representations of Vishnu’s 10 avatars.

Facts about Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

• The Parimala Ranganathar Perumal Temple, or the Tiruindaloor temple, is located in Tamil Nadu, India.
• The temple is respected in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the Vaishnava canon from the 7th to the 9th centuries, and is designated as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples honoured in the Vaishnava canon.
• Pancharanga Kshetrams (also known as Pancharangams, which means “five Rangams or Ranganathas”) is a series of five ancient Hindu temples on the banks of the Kaveri River devoted to Ranganatha, a reclining form of the god Vishnu.
• The Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples mentioned in the book.
• Sri Kola Valvilli Ramar Perumal Temple has a three-tiered Raja Gopuram and is enclosed within brick walls.
• The Lord here is also supposed to have rescued Chandra, the Moon God, of his curse. ‘Indu’ means Moon, and the location that provided him with relief became known as Indaloor or Thiru Indaloor.
• Lord Vishnu is the supreme protector, and Goddess Lakshmi is the universal mother.
• It is believed that worshipping the divine couple here can ward off harm in all forms and bestow devotees with health, wealth, and all-around welfare.

Famous Festivals In Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

• Brahmmotsavam is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• Chitra Poornima is also a significant occasion for celebration in the temple.
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi – Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• Aaandal Aadi festival – Celebrated during July–August

How to reach Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

The Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple is located in Thiruvilandur of Mayiladuthurai town.

By Air: The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli, about 140 kilometres from the temple.

By Railway: The Mayiladuthurai railway station is nearby, and well-connected by trains with many parts of the state and the country.

By Roadways: Government and private buses, cars, taxis, and autos, are available for travelling to the temple from far and wide.

Also Read – Kazheesirama Vinnagaram – Tiruvikrama Temple