Vijayaasana Perumal Temple at Natham / Thiruvaragunamangai, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th June 2019.

The Nine Vishnu temples on the banks of the river Thamirabarani in the Thoothukudi district are called Nava Tirupati. Nammalwar has sung pasurams on Lord Vishnu of these temples. Hence, these 9 Vishnu temples are classified under 108 Divya Desams. These nine Vishnu temples are associated with Vishnu’s ten incarnations and the planets.  Thiru Varagunamangai temple is associated with Krishna Avathara and the planet Chandran (Moon).

புளிங்குடி கிடந்து வரகுணமங்கை இருந்து வைகுந்ததுள் நின்று

தெளிந்த என் சிந்தை அகங்கழியாதே என்னை ஆள்வாய் எனக்கு அருளி

நளிர்ந்த சீர் உலகம் மூன்றுடன் வியப்ப நாங்கள் கூத்து ஆடி (நின்(று) ஆர்ப்ப

பளிங்கு நீர் முகிலில் பவளம்போல் கனிவாய் சிவப்ப, நீர காண வாராயே

( நம்மாழ்வார் திருவாய்மொழி )

Moolavar  : Sri Vijayaasana Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Varagunamangai and Sri Varagunavalli 

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. A 16-pillar mandapa is in front of the Rajagopuram; now, it is being used by the vendors. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are after the Rajagopuram under a mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and a muka mandapam. A stucco ekathala vimana  ( Vijaya Kodi ) is on the sanctum. In Sanctum, moolavar is in a sitting posture like a triumphant king under Adhiseshan's hood. On both sides are Sri Varagunamangai and Varagunavalli Thayar. Urchavars are in Antarala. In arthamandapam Alwars and Dwaralapalakas. Garudalwar is in the muka mandapam, and the temple tank is outside.

History & Architecture:

It was said that the temple was built during the Pandya Period and later expanded during the Vijayanagara and Nayak periods. The maha Samprokshanam was performed on 20^th June 1996. The sanctum is built with Upana, and the adhistana is above the upana. Koshta niches are provided, and no deity is installed. The prastaram has the kapotam with nasi kudu. Kodungai is somewhat similar to  Thiruperundurai.

LEGEND

It is believed that the people who prayed to Perumal will attain moksha. A Brahmin called Vedhavi undertook penance at this place Varagunamangai, chanting the “Aasana mantra”. Perumal was pleased with the penance and gave darshan. As a result of chanting the “Aasana mantra,” the Brahmin attained Moksha. Hence, the Lord is called “Vijaya” or “Aasana” Perumal.

In another legend, a fisherman in his previous birth as a King died due to being bitten by a snake. He attained Moksha. As a king, the fisherman was harsh in ruling; that’s why he had to take birth as a fisherman.  This story was narrated by Romasa Rishi to his disciples.

Agni, Romasa Rishi, and Sathyavan worshiped Sri Vijayaasana Perumal of this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 18.00 hours with a lunch break for one hour.

CONTACT DETAILS

Rajagopal Bhattar may be contacted on the mobiles 98656 52280 and 94864 92279 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Natham is about 3 km from Srivaikuntam, and Srivaikuntam is on the way to Tiruchendur from Tirunelveli. All the buses will stop at Srivaikuntam.

The temple is 38 km from Thiruchendur, 34 km from Tirunelveli, and 198 km from Madurai.

The nearest Railway Station is Srivaikuntam (4.5 km) and Tirunelveli Junction (34 km).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 A Mandapa pillar pothyal relief

A typical Vijayanagara pillar relief

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---