The Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple, also known as Thiruppaarththanpalli, is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu and is located in Thirunangur, a small village 8 kilometres east of Sirkali on the way to Thiruvenkadu.

It is one of Thirunangur Tirupathis’ eleven Divya Desams and is intimately related to Thirumangai Alvar. It’s also the only temple among the Nangur Divya Desams that hasn’t been honoured by Thirumangai Alvar. According to Hindu lore, Arjuna dug the temple tank during the Mahabharata period. Krishna came as Parthasarathy to Arjuna here and began his education, giving rise to the temple’s name.

Story/Legend of the Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple

The narrative related to the temple is described in the Padma Purana. According to Hindu folklore, Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas from the epic Mahabharatha, came here on a pilgrimage. He was thirsty and sought water from the penitent sage Agastya. There was no water near the sage or anywhere else. Agastya recognised the trick as the work of the divine Krishna, Arjuna’s favourite deity. He instructed Arjuna to pray to Krishna, which he did. Krishna was pleased with Arjuna’s petition and offered him a weapon. Arjuna dug the earth with his sword, resulting in a burst of water and the Katka Pushkarani, or temple tank.

According to folklore, Arjuna is represented in the temple wielding a sword. Krishna also appeared to Arjuna as Parthasarathy and began to teach him about who he was. Parthanpalli is named after Parthasarathy, who established education for Arjuna here. (Parthan + Palli, which means “school”).

The legends of Thirunangur’s eleven temples are inextricably linked. According to tradition, the Hindu god Shiva began dancing in rage at this location following the death of his consort Uma as a result of Daksha’s yajna (sacrifice). Eleven additional incarnations of Shiva appeared whenever his lock of hair hit the ground. The celestial deities were concerned that if the dance continued, entire creations might be decimated. They appealed to Vishnu for assistance, who appeared at this location.

Shiva’s rage subsided when he saw Vishnu, and he asked Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like him. Vishnu came in eleven various avatars at Tirunangur at his request. The eleven spots where Vishnu appeared are thought to be the locations of the eleven temples in Tirunangur. 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 Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple

The temple, built in the Dravidian style, is mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, an early mediaeval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th to the 9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams devoted to Vishnu, known as Taamariyaal Kelvan, and his spouse Lakshmi, known as Shegamalavalli.

The architecture of Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple

It is near Thirunangur, a small village 8 kilometres east of Sirkali on the way to Thiruvenkadu. The temple complex contains a single prakaram (temple precincts) with shrines for Tamariyan Kelvan Perumal facing west, Shenbagavalli Thayar facing east, and Arjuna looking west. The temple’s vimana is known as Narayana Vimanam, and the water body linked with it is known as Katka Theertham. Tamarayan Kelvan’s shrine houses the festival images of Tamaraiyan Kalvan, Krishna, and Rama.

This is the unique temple where Rama and Krishna’s pictures are kept in the same shrine. The raja gopuram, the main gateway tower, faces west, and the temple is enclosed by walls. The temple tank is placed on the temple complex’s southern flank. The chariot and festival chariots are housed in a separate chamber within the temple compound. Sridevi, Bhudevi, Niladevi, and Jambavati are the festival deity’s four consorts. Following the narrative of the sage Agastya, a separate shrine to Agastya was created during the temple’s consecration in May 2015.

Facts about Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple

• Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple is located close to Thirunangur, Parthanpalli a small village, in Mayiladuthurai district -Tamilnadu.
• As per Hindu legend, Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas from the epic Mahabharatha reached this place on a pilgrimage.
  
• The Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.
• The Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Sri Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Alvar in one hymn and Poigai Alvar in one hymn.
• It is one of Thirunangur Tirupathis’ eleven Divya Desams and is intimately related to Thirumangai Alvar.
• It’s also the only temple among the Nangur Divya Desams that hasn’t been honoured by Thirumangai Alvar.
• It is also the only one of the eleven festivals that honour both Rama and Krishna.
• Poigai Alvar makes a reference to the god, but not directly to the temple, in his Tiruvandadi writings.

Famous Festivals In Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple

• Brahmmotsavam is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• Chitra Poornima is also a major 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 Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple

Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple is located close to Thirunangur, Parthanpalli a small village, in Mayiladuthurai district -Tamilnadu

By Air: Tiruchirapalli is the nearest airport, about 150 kilometres from the Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple.

By Railway: Sirkazhi railway station is only about 11 kilometres from Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple.

By Roadways: Devotees can take buses or private vehicles to go to this temple from nearby towns like Sirkazhi and Mayiladuthurai.

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