Perarulaalan Perumal Temple also Known as Thiruchsemponsey is a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Vishnu located in the village of Thirunangur, Tamil Nadu. The Lord is known as Perarulaalan, and his consort is known as Alli Mamalar. As a result, it is also known as the Perarulaalan Perumal Temple. This temple is located in the village of Thirunangur, on the outskirts of Sirkazhi town, in the Tamil Nadu district of Mayiladuthurai.

This is a Divyadesam, a particular abode of Vishnu that has been praised in the Azhwar saints’ sacred songs. The temple is also one of the Thirunangur belt’s 11 Divyadesams, commonly known as Thirunangur Tirupathi. These temples are intimately associated with Thirumangai Azhwar, the saint-poet who hails from this region. In his poems from the 18th and 19th centuries, Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar, an ardent devotee of Vishnu, also extolled this Lord.

Story/Legend of the Thiruchsemponsey – Perarulaalan Perumal Temple

Lord Rama is reported to have arrived here after defeating Ravana. In order to atone for the murder, he is claimed to have given a golden cow to a Brahmin from the Ashram of guru Dranethra. This temple is thought to have been erected by that guy using the gold he received. Because ‘Sempon’ means gold in Tamil, this location was given the name Thiruch Sempon Sey. According to another account, Lord Azhagiya Manavala Perumal, the presiding deity of the Trichy temple, also arrived here at Shiva’s request.

Furthermore, all 11 Thirunangur Tirupathi temples are in close proximity to one another. According to tradition, when Sati, Shiva’s spouse, perished in her father Daksha’s sacrifice, Shiva, the God of Destruction, was overcome with grief and rage and began dancing madly in this location. During this process, his hairlocks began to touch the ground, giving rise to 11 new Shiva forms. This development frightened the celestial creatures since it could contribute to the annihilation of all living things.

Vishnu appeared in front of Shiva and soothed him at their request. Lord Vishnu also settled at 11 sacred sites around this location at Shiva’s invitation. These are the 11 Thirunangur Tirupathi temples, according to legend. 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 Thiruchsemponsey – Perarulaalan Perumal Temple

Periazhwar, Thirumalisai Alvar, and Thirumangai Alvar respect the shrine in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th-9th century Vaishnava canon. The temple is a Divya Desam, which is one of the 108 Vishnu temples described in the Bible. The temple is mentioned in various publications from the 18th and 19th centuries, including Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar’s 108 Tirupathi Anthathi. Saint Thirumanagai Alvar is said to visit the site every year for the festival to consecrate the eleven deities.

Architecture of Thiruchsemponsey – Perarulaalan Perumal Temple

Thiruchsemponsey’s temple complex is tiny. It lies in Thirunangur, a little village 10 kilometres from Sirkali on the road to Thiruvenkadu. Perarulalan, the presiding god, is represented in a standing posture facing east. Hemaranngar or Chemponarrangar, the festival deity, is a panchaloha idol located in the sanctum. Allimamlar Thayar, Hemarangar’s consort, is likewise housed in the sanctum. Garuda’s shrine is located at the altar axial to the central shrine. A hall leads to the sanctum, which contains the other festival deities.

Facts about Thiruchsemponsey – Perarulaalan Perumal Temple

• Thiruchsemponsey or Perarulaalan Perumal Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• Takshaka, the strong serpent king who slew King Parikshit during the Mahabharatha period, governed Nagapuri, which subsequently became Nangur.
• The Perarulaalan Perumal Temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.
• As per local belief, the fresh winds which swirl the paddy fields before the day of the festival indicate a good harvest for the season.
•  As per another legend, the sages Madangar, Domyar, Vyaghrapada, and Udangar set up their hermitages in this place.
• As mentioned by Thirumangai Azhwar in his various pasurams about this kshetra, Thirumangai Azhwar saw Srirangam Ranganathar, Thirupathi Venkatesar, and Kanchi Varadhar in this Perumal Himself, so worshipping this Perumal is considered equivalent to worshipping all three Perumals at the same location.
• It is thought that the Perumal may remove obstacles, alleviate problems, and grant life advancement to devotees who worship him with faith and sincerity. People often come to this temple to pray for peace and tranquillity.

Famous Festivals In Thiruchsemponsey – Perarulaalan 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.
• The Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana Utsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January–February).
  

How to reach Thiruchsemponsey – Perarulaalan Perumal Temple

The Perarulaalan Perumal Temple is on the Sirkali-Nagapattinam route. The devotee has to get down at Annan Koil’s stop. The temple is 3 km southward from this bus stop.

By Air: The nearest Airport is Tiruchirapalli Airport, located 145 km (90 miles) away from the town.

By Railway: There is a daily express train to Chennai via Mayiladuthurai and Ernakulam via Coimbatore and it connects all major cities. Nearest Railway Station is located at Sirkazhi.

By Roadways: Buses from Mayavaram/ Sirkazhi pass through Thiru Nangur. Direct special buses are only available on rare occasions. It is 20 kilometres from Mayavaram and 8 kilometres from Sirkazhi by automobile.

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