Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple is a Vishnu temple where Vaikunta Nathar is revered. This temple, also known as the Thiruvaikunda Vinnagaram, is located in Thirunangur village, near Sirkazhi town in Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuthurai district. The Lord’s consort is the Goddess Vaikuntavalli. This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, or special abodes of Vishnu because the Azhwar saints extolled the Lord and the temple in their sacred hymns.

Thirunangur Tirupathi refers to a group of 11 Divya Desams living in and around Thirunangur. Thiruvaikunda Vinnagaram is one of them. All of these temples share a common mythology and a close relationship with the local saint Thirumangai Azhwar. Uthankar, the guru, and Uparisarvasara, the monarch, are said to have worshipped this Perumal. In addition to the Azhwars’ Divyaprabhandham, the temple has been praised in later works such as Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Iyengar’s 108 Tirupathi Anthathi.

Story/Legend of the Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple

Thirunangur’s eleven temple legends are inextricably linked. According to legend, the Hindu god Shiva began dancing in rage at this location after his consort Uma died as a result of Daksha’s yagna (sacrifice). When Shiva’s lock of hair fell to the ground, eleven more incarnations of Shiva appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance went on, entire creations would be destroyed.

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 take eleven different forms like him in order to manage the eleven Shiva forms he created. It is said that the eleven Rudras, known as the Ekadas Rudras, and the deva ruler, Indra, worshipped Vishnu in 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 Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple

The Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple is mentioned in the 7th-9th century Vaishnava canon Nalayira Divya Prabhandam by Periyalvar, Thirumalisai Alvar, and Thirumangai Alvar. 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.

The architecture of Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple

The Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple compound has a single prakaram (temple’s closed precincts). The sanctum here is thought to be comparable to celestial Vaikuntham. It lies in Thirunangur, a little village 10 kilometres from Sirkali on the road to Thiruvenkadu. The temple tank is located to the temple’s north. Sage Uthankar and King Uparisarvasara are said to have worshipped the presiding god.

The sanctum houses the presiding god, Vaikuntanathar (also known as Thamaraikannudiyabiran – the one with lotus eyes), his bride, and the festival pictures. There is only one shrine at the temple. The walls that surround the temple are a recent addition. The Garuda Mandapa is next to the entryway and is axial to the major shrine.

Facts about Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple

• Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple is located in Tirunangur, a village on the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
•  As per legend, Shiva requested Vishnu to appear in eleven different forms like him to control the eleven Shiva forms he created.
• The Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.
• It is one among the eleven divya desams of Thirunangur Tirupathis and is closely associated with Thirumangai Alvar.
• The eleven Rudras, called Ekadas Rudras, and the king of devas, Indra, are believed to have worshipped Vishnu at this temple.
• This is a location where we can get a direct darshan of the Lord during our lifetime on Earth before approaching him after death.
• This is his Paramapada in its entirety. The sanctum here is thought to be comparable to the celestial Vaikuntam.
• The temple tank may be found to the north of the temple.
• Devotees pray to Perumal for family togetherness. Devotees fulfil their wishes by performing Thirumanjanam to the Lord and offering Tulsi garlands and Vastras.
• Married couples who consistently do special puja on Star Magam for 6 months are said to be blessed with children.

Famous Festivals In Vaikunta Nathan 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 Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple

The temple is on the Sirkali-Nagapattinam route. The devotee has to get down at Annan Koil’s stop. The temple is 1 km from this bus stop.

By Air: Trichy International Airport is about 150 km from the temple.

By Railway: Sirkazhi railway station is about 10 km from the temple.

By Roadways: Buses from Mayavaram/ Sirkazhi pass through Thiru Nangur. Only in rare instances are direct special buses available.

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