The visit to this Sri Azhagiya Manavalar Koil, also called Kamalavalli Nachiyar Temple, at Uraiyur, in Tiruchirappalli District,
was a part of “திருச்சி மரபு
நடை - Tiruchirappalli Heritage Walk”, from 18th to 19th July
2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”. This place, Uraiyur, was called Thirukozhi, Nisulapuri. Uranthai, Woraiyur, etc.
This is one of the 108 Divya Desams and the 2nd
Divya Desam of Chozha Nadu. Also, this is one of the Divya Desams in which
Mahalakshmi Thayar was given more importance than Maha Vishnu, and this is one
of the were Maha Lakshmi Thayar faces North (Srirangam). Mangalasasanam was
done by the Alwars Kulasekara Alwar and Thirumangai Alwar.
கோழியும் கூடலும் கோயில்
கொண்ட
கோவல ரேயொப்பர் குன்றமன்ன
பாழியும் தோளுமோர் நான்கு
டையர்
பண்டிவர் தம்மையும் கண்டறியோம்
வாழிய ரோவிவர் வண்ண
மெண்ணில்
மாகடல் போன்றுளர் கையில்வெய்ய,
ஆழியொன் றேந்தியோர் சங்கு
பற்றி
அச்சோவொருவரழகியவா. (1762)
….. திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்
அல்லிமாமலர் மங்கைநாதன்
அரங்கன்மெய்யடி யார்கள்தம்
எல்லையிலடி மைத்திறத்தினில்
என்றுமேவு மனத்தனாம்
கொல்லிகாவலன் கூடல்நாயகன்
கோழிக்கோன்குல சேகரன்
சொல்லினின்தமிழ்
மாலைவில்லவர்
தொண்டர்தொண்டர்க ளாவரே (667)
……. குலசேகர ஆழ்வார்
Moolavar : Sri Azhagiyamanavalar
Thayar :
Sri Kamalavalli Nachiyar
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces north with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. A 4-pillar mandapam is in front of the Rajagopuram. The second-level Rajagopuram is of
3 tiers. Stucco dwarapalakas are on either side of the ardha mandapam. A stucco image of Ranganathar is on the top of the entrance of the ardha mandapam. In the sanctum sanctorum, Maha Vishnu as Manavala Perumal and Kamalavalli Nachiyar are
in marriage kolam, facing Srirangam, i.e., north. The utsavar image of Kamalavalli
Nachiyar is in front of the moolavar. This sannidhi faces north towards
Srirangam Namperumal Temple.
In the praharam, Senai Mudaliyar, Garuda, Nammalvar,
Thiruppanazhvar, Udayavar, and Paramapada vasal.
Ramanujam
PC: website
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, and vasantha mandapam. The temple was built with
atone from adhistam to the prastaram. The Vimanam above the prastaram was built
with bricks and lime mortar. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam, and
adhistanam with Jagathy, threepatta kumudam and Pattikai. The bhitti starts
with vedikai. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base,
kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam and vettu pothyal. The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus
The vimanam over the bhumi desam is with one tala,
greevam and vesara sigaram. Maha Vishnu’s various forms are on the tala and
greeva koshtams. Vimanam is called Kamla Vimanam.
The Rajagopuram is full of stucco images. The first level of the Rajagopuram is of the mada style. Stucco images of the Uraiyur Nachiyar
wedding procession and the Celestial deities are on the east and west
sides of the Rajagopuram. On the eastern side of the tower, beneath the “Kalpaka
Vriksha” (celestial tree), stucco images can be seen depicting Sri Ranganatha
and Kamalavalli bestowing their vision upon the thirty-three crore Devas
(celestial deities) during their wedding ceremony (Panigrahanam). On the
western side of the Rajagopuram, stucco images of Manavala Perumal and Uraiyur
Nachiyar’s wedding.
The corridor walls adorn the Nayaka period painting of
Maha Vishnu and Vaishnava puranas.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the temple was built during 08th
– 09th Century CE. Later received contributions from the Chozhas and Vijayanagaras.
As
per the inscriptions, this place was called Thirukozhi, Uranthai, Nikalapuri,
etc.
இத்தலம் திருக்கோழி, உறந்தை,
மற்றும் நிகளாபுரி ஆகிய பழமையான
பெயர்களால் அழைக்கப்பட்டதை கல்வெட்டுகள் பதிவு செய்கின்றன.
இடைக்காலச் சோழர்கள் மற்றும்
பிற்காலச் சோழர்கள் காலத்தில் கோயிலுக்கு நிலங்கள், பொன் மற்றும் விளக்குகள் தானமாக வழங்கப்பட்டதை
இக்கல்வெட்டுகள் குறிப்பிடுகின்றன.
பொயு 16
ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு கிருஷ்ணதேவராயர் கால
கல்வெட்டுகள், கோயிலின்
தேர் மற்றும் அதற்கான பாதை தொடர்பான செய்திகளை பதிவு செய்கின்றன.
Ref
வாதி கேசரி அழகிய மணவாள ஜீயர் மடம்
LEGENDS
In ancient times, the town also acquired the name
'Kozhiyur' because a rooster defeated an elephant in battle here. This legend is also told in another way: the Elephant’s musth was removed by hitting it on the forehead with the rooster.
The place came to be known as 'Thiru-Uraiyur' because
Goddess Mahalakshmi incarnated on a lotus flower and took up residence here,
thereby resolving King Nanda Chola's sorrow over not having a child. King Nanda
Chola also arranged the marriage of Kamalavalli Nachiyar of Uraiyur to Maha
Vishnu.
Thiruppaanazhwar, the eleventh of the 12 Azhwars, was
born at this place.
Devotees pray to Nachiyar to get rid of marriage
obstacles on Ayilya nakshatra day (the birth star of Nachiyar), and to reunite the separated couples.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas as per pancharathra, special
poojas are conducted. On Masi month Deipirai Ekadasi day, Kamalavalli Thayar
alone comes out through parama pada vassal / Swarga Vasal.
In the month of Panguni, on the birth star of Ayilyam Nakshatra
day of Goddess Kamalavalli Nachiyar of Uraiyur, Sri Ranganatha visits Nachiyar
temple, where the Sriranganatha and Nachiyar give darshan to the devotees.
Thayar blesses young women born under the Ayilyam star with marriage; this is a
sacred site where devotees offer prayers for this purpose.
Festivals such as the Kodai Utsavam, Vasantha Utsavam,
Jyeshtabhishekam, Thiruppavadai, Navaratri Festival, Oonjal Utsavam,
Thiruadhyayana Utsavam (opening of the Paramapada Vasal), and the Float Festival
(Teppa Utsavam) are celebrated for the Uraiyur Nachiyar Temple. On the day of
the Float Festival and the following day— called the Pandakkatchi event—the Nachiyar
is taken on a procession through the streets in a floral palanquin.
Just like Srirangam, naivedyam such as Pongal,
Periyavasaram, Sheerannam, Vellichamba, and Aravanai Thaligai are offered for
Azhagiya Manavalan and Kamalavalli Nachiyar. For naivedyam, instead of Chilli,
only pepper is used.
Utsava mandapam
Played during poojas and celebrations
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept
open from 06.00 hrs to
12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
Darshan timings are from 06.15 hrs to 08.00 hrs, from 09.45 hrs to 12.15 hrs, from 16.30 hrs to 18.00 hrs, and from 18.45 hrs to 20.15 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Rangaraja Battar may be contacted on his
mobile number +919443307605 for poojas.
HOW TO REACH
The temple is at Uraiyur,
about 400 meters from Sri Panchavarneswarar Temple, one of the Padal Petra
Shiva Temples, 4 km from Trichy Central Bus Stand, 4.6 km from Trichy Railway
Station, and 5.8 km from Srirangam.
The nearest Railway
Station is Trichy Junction.
