The visit to this Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple at Thiru
Anbil, in Tiruchirappalli District, was part of “Shiva, Vishnu and Buddhist
Temples Visit in Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Thanjavur
and Tiruchirappalli Districts”,
from 8th to 10th April 2026.
The
temple is on the northern banks of the Kollidam River, one of the 108 Divya Desam
and the 4th Divya Desam of Chozha Nadu. Mangalasasanam was done by Thirumizhisai Alwar
and Nammalwar.
2417
நாகத் தணைக்குடந்தை வெஃகா திருவெவ்வுள்,
நாகத் தணையரங்கம் பேரன்பில், - நாகத்
தணைப்பாற் கடல்கிடக்கு மாதி நெடுமால்,
அணைப்பார் கருத்தனா வான். 36
…. திருமிழிசை ஆழ்வார், நான்முகன் திருவந்தாதி
2579
உலகுபடைத் துண்ட எந்தை, அறைகழல்
சுடர்ப்பூந் தாமரை சூடுதற்கு, அவாவா
ருயிருகி யுக்க, நேரிய காதல்
அன்பி லின்பீன் தேறல், அமுத
வெள்ளத் தானாம் சிறப்புவிட்டு, ஒருபொருட்கு
அசைவோர் அசைக, திருவொடு மருவிய
இயற்கை, மாயாப் பெருவித
லுலகம்
மூன்றி னொடுநல்வீடு பெறினும்,
கொள்வதெண்ணுமோ தெள்ளியோர் குறிப்பே?
…. நம்மாழ்வார் அருளிசெய்த திருவாசிரியம்
3443
கூறாய் நீறாய் நிலனாகிக்
கொடுவல் லசுரர் குலமெல்லாம்
சீறா எறியும் திருநேமி
வலவா. தெய்வக் கோமானே,
சேறார் சுனைத்தா மரைசெந்தீ
மலரும் திருவேங் கடத்தானே,
ஆறா அன்பில் அடியேனுன்
அடிசேர் வண்ணம் அருளாயே. 6.10.2
… நம்மாழ்வார் திருவாய்மொழி
Moolavar : Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal
Utsavar : Sri Sundaraja Perumal
Thayar : Sri Sundaravalli
Utsavar : Sri Azhagiya Valli
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. A balipeedam and temple chariot
are in front of the Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, dwajasthamam, and Garudan are after
the Rajagopuram. A stucco image of Maha Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi is on
the top of the east wall. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum
sanctorum. Moolavar Sundararaja Perumal is in a reclining
posture, keeping his head on the south on Adiseshan; Sridevi and Bhudevi are at his
feet. Brahma is from the naval of Maha Vishnu. Alwars and Andal are in the Maha
mandapam.
Sri
Sundaravalli Thayar is in a separate temple on the south side of the main
temple, which faces east. Thayar is in a sitting posture with abhaya varada hastam.
In the
praharam, Senai Mudalvar, Thayar temple, Madappali, and Nandavanam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple
consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The
sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Maha Vishnu’s
reclining posture. The adhistanam consists of jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and
pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha
pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai, and taranga pothyal. The
prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The salakara vimanam
above bhumi desam is with one tala, greevam, and sigaram. Stucco images of Maha
Vishnu’s various incarnations are on the tala and greeva koshtas. The vimanam
is called “Tharaka Vimanam”.
It
seems that Thayar sannidhi is found without much damage.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is
believed that this temple was constructed by Sundara Chozha, and later received
contributions from Vijayanagaras and Nayakas.
Chozha
period fragment inscriptions are found on the wall. As per the inscription, this
place was under Naduvil Kootram. The inscription records an endowment on
Wednesday. Also, it mentions the names of Perumal Veera Pandyan, Perumal
Azhagiya…
The
inscriptions on the Jagathy and Kumudam are not legible to read and are damaged.
The
Koparakesari Barmar’s 5th reign year, an incomplete and damaged
inscription on the north of this temple records the endowment of naivedyam and
creation of nandavanam, and for the same, the Paddy and land were gifted to this
temple. The quantity of paddy for one sandhi and the periphery limits of the
lands are given.
Kovirajakesari
Varmar, Kulothunga Chozha’s incomplete and damaged inscription, on the west
wall of the sanctum sanctorum, starts with his meikeerthi. The inscription
records the celebration of 9 days Panguni Tiruvonam and the names of the 9-day
sponsors. The lands are gifted by the Sabha, and the periphery limits are also
given. In this, Maha Vishnu is mentioned as Jalasayana Pallikondalwar.
Two
inscriptions are in the form of poems. They praise Perumal of this temple.
The
Thirubhavana Chakravarthikal Madurai Kondaruliya Kulothunga Chozha’s 20th
reign year inscription; only the starting year is recorded.
Another
inscription of Kulothunga Chozha’s 44th reign year starts with “Sungam Thavirtharuliya…”. This inscription records the Appam
Naivedyam on Amavasya day, by Koyilar Pudukudi Narayanan Kula Manicka…. For
the same, a land was gifted after purchase.
The
Vijayanagara King Mahamandaleswara Hariraya Vipadan, Pashaikku Thappuvaraya
Kandan Muvaraya Kandan Kanda Nadu kondu Koda nadu kodathaan Devaraya Maharayar-II,
inscription starts with his meikeerthi, records the gift of 3 villages to this
temple.
Another
Vijayanagara period Grantha inscription records the gift of a village as
thiruvidaiyattam to this temple.
Ref:
South
Indian Inscriptions Volume – VIII.
The 1910
-1913 year inscription on a tablet records that, when the mandapam and prahara
sannidhis are in dilapidated condition, the same was rectified through the
funds received from Srirangam Devasthanam and the fund of Jayaram Pillai, Postal
Inspector, Venkatachalam Pillai, Madurakavi Dasar, and Nandavanam Executor
Venkatachala Dasar. The renovations were carried out by Tiruchirappalli Rajagopala
Naidu, and the maha samprokshanam was conducted.
LEGENDS
Brahma, the creator of this universe, thinks that he is the only beautiful person that he
has created in this world, and behaves with ego. Since he didn’t hear the
advice of Maha Vishnu, cursed to be born as a normal person on Earth. To get
rid of the curse, he went to many Maha Vishnu temples and prayed. When Brahma came to
this place and happened to interact with a beautiful person many times.
Finally, Brahma realised that the beautiful person was none other than Maha
Vishnu and begged his pardon. Satisfied with Brahma’s prayer, Maha Vishnu gave his
Vishvaroopa darshan and relieved him from the curse.
The
Mandooga Maharishi was cursed by the angry Sage Durvasa. To get rid of the
curse, Mandooga Maharishi came to this place, created a pushkarani, and worshipped
Maha Vishnu after taking a bath. Maha Vishnu relieved Mandooga Maharishi from
Durvasa’s curse. Hence, the Pushkarani is called Mandooga Theertham.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunta Ekadasi and Navaratri.
The annual Therthavari festival will be celebrated in the month of Masi pournami.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The mobile number +919003469591 may be contacted
for further details.
HOW TO
REACH
This
temple is about 8 km from Lalgudi, 34 km from Tiruchirappalli, 41 km from
Thanjavur, and 67 km from Kumbakonam.
The
nearest Railway Station is Lalgudi.
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
