Thirunagari Vedarajan Temple / Kalyana Ranganathar Temple, Thirunangari, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Vedarajan/Kalyana Ranganathar Temple at Thirunagari was part of the Temple Visit in and around Sirkazhi on September 15th. After Thiruvali Azhagiyasingar’s darshan, our next destination was the Thirunagari Vedarajan Temple.

Thiruvali & Thirunagari are treated as one (37^th) Divya Desam of 108 temples dedicated to Vishnu and mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Alwar with 41 pasurams and Kulasekaralwar. This is one of the 11 Divya Desams, also known as Thirunangur Tirupathis, and one of the Pancha Narasimha temples around Thirunangur. Thirunagari was also called Alingnapuram and Vilvaranyam during ancient times, and it was maintained until the Vijayanagara period as Vayalali during the Thirumangai Alwar period.

எஞ்சா வெந்நகத் தழுந்தி நடுங்குகின்றேற்கு
அஞ்சேலென் றடியேனை ஆட்கொள்ள வல்லானை
நெஞ்சே நீநினையாது இறைப்பொழுதுமிருத்திகண்டாய்
மஞ்சார் மாளிகைசூழ் வயலாலி மைந்தனையே

…. திருமங்கையாழ்வார்

ஆலினிலை பாலகனா யன்றுலக முண்டவனே
வாலையை கொன் றரசிளைய வானரத்துக் களித்தவனே
காலின்மணி கரையலைக்கும் கணகபுரத்தென் கருமணியே
ஆலிநகர்க் கதிபதியே அயோத்திமனே தாலெலோ.

…. குலசேகரர்

Moolavar : Sri Vedarajan
Urchavar : Sri Kalyana Ranganathar
Thayar    : Amuthavalli  
Thayar    : Urchavar Sri Ranganayagi

Some of the important features of this temple are….
The temple faces east and has three Rajagopurams. The 1^st and entrance Rajagopuram is of 7 tiers, the second level Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers, and the third level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. A mandapa is in between the two Rajagopurams. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar are after the 1^st level Rajagopuram. 

The sanctum sanctorum is a little elevated, with a flight of 9 steps to climb. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum antarala ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Vedarajan is in sitting posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Ranganathar’s reclining on Adhiseshan posture bas-relief is on the lintel of the sanctum sanctorum entrance. Yoga Narasimhar is on the backside of the koshtam of Moolavar.

Thirumangai Alwar is also in a separate Temple like sannidhi in ardha mandapam with Dwajasthambam and balipeedam. A Vimanam is also on the sanctum sanctorum. Hiranya Narasimhar is on the back side of koshtam of Thirumangai Alwar sannidhi. Thirumangai Alwar and his consort are in a separate sannidhi with a separate Dwajasthambam in the praharam. 

Amuthavalli Thayar (the Lotus pond is around the sanctum, which is related to sthala purana) and Andal are in a separate temple like sannidhis in the praharam facing west.  In addition to this, sannidhis for Ramanujar, Udayavar, Kannan, Nadha Munigal, and Desikar.

ARCHITECTURE
This is a mada type of Temple in which a vetru thalam is added below the main temple. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and Maha mandapam. Ranganathar in sayana Kola bas relief is on the top of Sanctum Entrance in place of Gaja Lakshmi. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Sanctum Sanctorum. Moolavar Maha Vishnu is in a sitting posture along with Sri Devi and Bhudevi. 

The sanctum sanctorum is on the veRRu thalam raised to about 3.30 meters. The adhistanam is of padma bandha adhistanam with padma jagathy and silambu kumudam.

The sanctum sanctorum measures 4.93 square meters on a Upanam, kapota bandha adhistanam with prativari, vedikai, Vishnukantha pilasters with a square base, and Nagabandham, poomottu pothyal. The Vimanam 3^rd of lower tiers protrudes outside as padra with kuda panjaras in between them. The Koshtas are with mahara thoranas, which are empty, without images. In greeva koshtam Yoga Narasimhar, Vishnu in Uthkudi asana and Maha Vishnu in sukasana.  The niches between mandapam and Vimanam are with Kuda panjaras. 

The sanctum sanctorum is with sanctum and ardha mandapam. Mukha mandapam is empty. The moolavar Kalyana Ranganathar is on a platform abutting the back wall. Sridevi and Bhudevi are on both sides, sitting in Sukasana.  Moolavar’s front right hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is in kadaka hastam. Chanku and chakra are on the upper hand. Perumal is in Greeda makudam, wearing Makara kundalam, ornaments in neck and hands. 

The Vimana is of a single tier, from Greevam to Sigaram, and has 8 faces: Dravida Vimanam. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu's various avatars are on the Vimanam. 

Sanctum Sanctorum wall with Pilasters, Kumba pancharam, and niches 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that it is one of the Mada Temples built by Ko Chengat Chozha for Maha Vishnu, even though he was a Shaivite. As per ARE 1918, 406 to 409, 4 inscriptions are recorded from this temple, and the earliest belongs to the Vijayanagara period. As per the inscriptions, the Perumal of this temple was called Ulakuyya Veetruruntharuliya Nayanar alias Vayalali Manavalar.

The Viruppanna Udayar’s inscription (1386 CE) records that this was called Thirunagar alias Vigneswara nallur under Rajathi Raja Valanadu.  The inscriptions list the lands between Kaviri and Kollidam, gifted to Vayalaali MaNavalar as sarvamanyam.

Krishna Devaraya’s 1517 CE inscription records his victory and dik Vijayam. It also gives the details of donations made to Shiva and Vishnu temples with the name of the Villages in Chozha mandalam.  They are, Chirapalli, Kattupalli, Nagari, Nangur, Azhunthur, Thevur, Thiruvinnagara Akalangan, Manikuzhi, Pugalur, Muttam, Vaigal, Pathiripuliyur, Thinai Nagar, Iraivanaraiyur, Seravan mangalam, Navalur, Thittaikudi, Kanattaamarpullur, Thyagavalli Grama Vinnagar, Kurichi, Pandanainallur, Thalachangadu, Pungur, Kurukkai, Visalur, Thalainayiru, Thirumangalakudi, Velliyakudi, Thirunthuthevankudi, Suriyanar Koil, Kodikka, Courtalam, Kuraiyalur, Virkudi, Sirukudi, Achalpuram, Valputhur, Nallur, Andar koil, Gangaikondan, Thirumiyachur, and vazhuvur.

The inscription without the King’s name records that the names of the Andhanars who recited the Vedas and lands gifted to them at this Ulakuyya Veetruruntharuliya Nayanar alias Vayalali Manavalar Koil. The pieces of Najai, punjai lands, Cows, and Parikalans  at Jayangonda Chozhavalanattu Thalachangadu, Rajendra Chozha Nallur

The Inscriptions in Telugu and Tamil records that Perumal temple thirupani was done through Chennai Bolepalli Namperumal Trust, trustee Ramanujakoodam Ramanujam, on 29^th January 1940.

LEGENDS
As per the legend, Lakshmi left Srivaikundam to Bhoolok and hid in the Thirunagar temple tank/pushkarani lotus flower bud. Lord Vishnu came in search of her and could not find him. His eyes are Suriyan and Chandran. When he closed his left eye and looked through the right eye (Suryan). The Lotus flowers bloomed and found Lakshmi. Since Lakshmi stayed here, this place is called Sripuram.

Thirumangai Alwar initiated the Narayana Mantra from Lord Vishnu of this temple. Hence, Maha Vishnu is called Vedarajan. He also received the Vel from Thirugnanasambandar after his victory in a debate. Thirumangai Alwar made an idol of his own, transferred all his power to this idol, and attained mukti.

Thirumangai Alwar, a robber, looted the ornaments of Lord Vishnu and Sri Lakshmi, who were passing by as bride and bridegroom near Vedapuram, to decorate Lord Vishnu of this temple. Later, Ranganathar blessed him. As a mark of this legend, during the annual celebration, Vedupari Thiruvizha is celebrated in a grand manner. 

ANNUAL CELEBRATION
Thirumangai Alwar Mangalasasana utsava festival will be celebrated as Garuda Seva in the Tamil month Thai (January - February). Respective Urchavars will be brought from all 11 Thirunangur Thirupathis on the Garuda Vahana and Thirumangai Alwar & his consort Kumudhavalli Nachiyar in Hamsa Vahana to Thirunangur (From Thirunagari) Manimaadakkoil. Thirumangai Alwar’s pasurams will be recited on the occasion. The Urchava murtis of Thirumangai Alwar with his consort Kumudhavalli Nachiyar will be taken in a palanquin to all the 11 Thirunangur Divya Desams, and respective pasurams will be recited in each temple. The Garuda Seva Utsavam is a 3-day festival, which starts with Manjal Kuliyal Utsavam on the first day. Lakhs of devotees in and around Sirkazhi used to attend the festival.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
Padmanabha Bhattar may be contacted on his landline & mobile numbers  04364 275699/94433 72567.

HOW TO REACH:
Thiruvali and Thirunagari are about 10 km from Sirkazhi and 5 km away from each other.
Thiruvali is about  30 km from Chidambaram.
The nearest Railway station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Thayar Temple with lotus pond

 Wall reliefs with Hanuman bas-relief

Ranganathar bas-relief on the lintel of the sanctum entrance

Hiranya Narasimhar

Yoga Narasimhar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

The Heritage visit to this Sri Kalyana Ranganathar Temple at Thirunagari was a part of “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organized by “Chozha Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05^th and 6^th March 2022. Thanks to V Ramachandran, Thasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples. This is my second visit to this temple.