The Vedarajan Temple in Thirunagari, a village in the Mayiladuthurai district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, honours the Hindu god Vishnu. The Naalayira Divya Prabandham, an early mediaeval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th to the 9th century CE, mentions the temple, which was constructed in the Dravidian style. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams devoted to Vishnu as Vedarajan and his consort Lakshmi as Amruthavalli.

Thirumangai Alvar, one of the twelve Alvar saints, is said to have been born in this temple. Vedarajan is believed to have appeared to Thirumangai Alvar at this place. Thirunagari is also called Alingnapuram and Vilvaranyam during ancient times as Vayalali during the Thirumangai Alwar period and maintained till the Vijayanagara period.

Story/Legend of the Vedarajan Temple

According to Hindu legend, Karthama Prajapathi, a son of Brahma, performed penance in order to reach Moksha by adoring Vishnu. Vishnu was not pleased, and his consort, Lakshmi, was not convinced by Vishnu’s testing of Karthama. She hid in the lotus tank at this location. Vishnu went in search of her, and when he found her, he carried her to Vaikunta. According to mythology, Vishnu is also shown in an embracing stance in the neighbouring Thirungari. Karthama took several incarnations during various ages such as Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga, but Vishnu assured him that he would only receive Moksha during the Kali Yuga.

Karthama was born Prince Sangabalan during the Kali Yuga. He wanted to marry Kumudavalli when he was younger. She was a devout Vishnavite who stipulated that she would marry him only if he fed a thousand Vaishnavites or Vishnavite adherents. Sangabalan began feeding the devotees and also committed thievery to support it.

Vishnu appeared on his path, accompanied by Lakshmi, and attempted to plunder them as well. Vishnu became into Thirumangai Alvar after hearing the Ashtatra Mantra. Because Vishnu in the form of Ranganatha granted Alvar and his wife Darshana, the presiding deity is known as Kalyana Ranganatha. Locals refer to the area as Alvar Koil, but it is also known as Vedarajapuram. 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 Vedarajan Temple

While the temple’s exact history is unknown, it is thought to have been established by the Cholas, with later expansions by the Vijayanagar and Thanjavur Nayak monarchs, who commissioned pillared halls and significant shrines during the 16th century. The Vedarajan temple is mentioned in the Naalayira Divya Prabhandam, a Vaishnava canon written by Kulasekara Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar during the 7th and 9th centuries. The temple is a Divya Desam, which is one of the 108 Vishnu temples described in the Book. 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 the Vedarajan Temple

The Vedarajan temple is around 2 acres (0.81 hectares) in size and includes a seven-tiered gopuram (gateway tower) that rises to a height of 125 feet (38 metres). The temple is surrounded by massive granite walls in a rectangular courtyard. The sanctum is accessed via a second gateway tower. The initial enclosure’s basement is surrounded by a succession of pillared structures.

The central shrine is raised and contains the image of the presiding god, Vedarajan. The image is made of granite and is shown in a seated position. The festival deity is known as Kalyana Ranganathar, and his picture may also be found in the sanctuary. The vimana, or shrine above the sanctum, is Ashtanga in design, with eight pieces.

The vimana’s outside walls are stuccoed with pictures of sages, Dasavatara, Lakshmi Narasimha, Lakshmi Narayana, and other Vishnu Avatars. In the same raised enclosure is a Thirumangai Alvar shrine facing north. For the Alvar shrine, there is a separate flagstaff. The two images of Narasimhar in the temple are thought to be among the five original images of Narasimha worshipped by Thirumangai Alvar. There is a little picture of Chindanaikiniyan that the Alvar is said to have worshipped. Amruthavalli’s shrine is in the basement, in the diagonal corner of the first enclosure.

Facts about Vedarajan Temple

• Vedarajan Temple in Thirunagari, a village in Mayiladuthurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• The temple is believed to be the birthplace of Thirumangai Alvar, one of the twelve Alvar saints.
  
• The temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.
• The temple is surrounded by a granite wall, which encloses all of its shrines, and the water tank is located in a street axial to the eastern gateway.
• The gateway tower of the temple is a seven-tiered raja gopuram.
• The Cholas are thought to have built the temple, with later expansions by the Vijayanagara and Thanjavur Nayak monarchs, who commissioned pillared halls and significant shrines throughout the 16th century.

Famous Festivals In Vedarajan 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 Vedarajan Temple

Vedarajan Temple is located in Thirunagari, a village in Mayiladuthurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

By Air: Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.

By Railway: Nearest Railway Station is located at Sirkazhi

By Roadways: The Temple is situated about 10 km from Sirkazhi. Buses from Sirkazhi to Thiruvenkadu go past this place. If you drive your car it is 20 km from Mayavaram and 10 km from Sirkazhi.

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