Thirumanikkoodam or Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a Vishnu temple also considered as 108 Divya Desams where he is worshipped as Varadaraja Perumal. Goddess Thirumaamagal is his consort. This temple is a Divya Desam, or holy abode of Vishnu because it was exalted in Azhwar saints’ hymns many years ago. Thirumanikkoodam Divya Desam, also known as the Varadaraja Perumal temple, is located in Thirunangur hamlet, near Sirkazhi town, in Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuthurai district. This is also one of the Thirunangur Tirupathi, a belt-wide cluster of 11 Vishnu shrines.

All of these Thirumanikkoodam are linked to the saint poet Thirumangai Azhwar, who wrote poems glorifying all of these deities. In addition to Thirumangai Azhwar, Thirumanikkoodam is the only temple among these 11 Tirupathis that has been sung about by an Azhwar saint. It is also claimed that Krishna, as Parthasarathy, Prince Arjuna’s charioteer, began his lessons to Arjuna exclusively at this location, hence the temple’s name Thiru Mani Koodam. Arjuna is claimed to have dug the temple tank as well.

Story/Legend of the Thirumanikkoodam

The temple tales of Thirunangur’s eleven temples are inextricably linked to one another. 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. According to another version, Shiva asked Vishnu to appear in eleven different forms like him to manage the eleven Shiva forms he created. It is said that the eleven Rudras, known as the Ekadas Rudras, and the monarch of the devas, Indra, worshipped Vishnu at this temple. 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 Thirumanikkoodam

The temple, built in the Dravidian style, is mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, an early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th to the 9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, known as Varadharaja Perumal in Hinduism.

Architecture of Thirumanikkoodam

There is only one prakaram (outside courtyard) and one shrine in the temple complex. It is near Thirunangur, a small village 8 kilometres east of Sirkali on the way to Thiruvenkadu. Varadarajar is said to have been adored by eleven Rudras and the monarch of celestial deities, Devas. Varadharaja Perumal, the presiding deity, is situated in the temple in a standing posture facing east. Sridevi (also known as Thirumaamangal Nachiyar) and Bhudevi’s pictures are housed in the same temple. The festival deities’ pictures are stored in their individual sanctums, while the figurative images of the vehicles conveying the gods are housed in the hall leading to the shrine.

Facts about Thirumanikkoodam

• Thirumanikkoodam Divya Desam or the Varadaraja Perumal temple is located in the Thirunangur village, near Sirkazhi town, in the Mayiladuthurai district of the Tamil Nadu state.
• Thirumanikkoodam is a temple of Vishnu, where he is housed as Varadaraja Perumal
  
• The Thirumanikkoodam is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples mentioned in the book.
• The Thirumanikkoodam is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Sri Vaishnava canon, by Periyalvar, Tirumalisai Alvar, and Tirumangai Alvar.
• It is believed that Saint Tirumangai Alvar visits the place every year for the festival to consecrate the eleven deities.
• 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.
• The sages Madangar, Domyar, Vyaghrapada, and Udangar set up their hermitages in this place.
• During the period of Mahabharata, Takshaka, the mighty snake king who killed King Parikshit, ruled the place called Nagapuri, which eventually became Nangur.
• Lord Krishna is worshipped here because he is claimed to have begun his spiritual lessons to Arjuna here, and he is especially revered by individuals seeking heavenly knowledge and blessings.
• Varadaraja is also known as the ‘King of Granting Boons,’ as his name suggests.
• As a result, his blessings are thought to confer strength, success, professional advancement, progeny blessing, and joy.

Famous Festivals In Thirumanikkoodam

• 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 Thirumanikkoodam

Thirumanikkoodam or Varadaraja Perumal Temple is located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

By Air: Tiruchirapalli is the nearest airport, about 150 kilometres from the temple.

By Railway: Sirkazhi railway station is only about 11 kilometres from here.

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

Also Read – Taamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple