Sri Senganmal Ranganathar Temple / Pallikonda Perumal Temple / Thiru Thetri Ambalam / திருத்தெற்றியம்பலம், Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Senganmal Ranganathar Temple also called Thiruthetri Ambalam at Thirunangur was a part of Shiva and Maha Vishnu Temples around Sirkazhi Visit on 1^st & 2^nd July 2023. This Sri Senganmal Ranganathar Temple is one of the 11 temples of Thirunangur, under the Administrative control of – Thirunangur Ezhu Koil adheenam- திருநாங்கூர் ஏழு கோயில் ஆதீனம். Mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Alwar. In that Thirumangai alwar mentions the temple as ThirutheRRi Ambalam and Maha Vishnu as Sengakanmal in the eyes as the red Lotus flower.  

திருத்தெற்றி அம்பலம் ( பள்ளிகொண்ட பெருமாள் திருநாங்கூர் ) 

சிலம்பினிடை சிறு பரல் போல் பெரிய மேரு

        திருக்குளம்பில் கணகணப்பத் திருவாகாரம்

குலுங்க. நில மடந்தை தனை இடந்து புல்கிக்

        கோட்டிடை வைத்து அருளிய எம்கோமான் கண்டீர்

இலங்கிய நான்மறை அனைத்தும் அங்கம் ஆறும்

        ஏழிசையும் கேள்விகளும் எண்திக்கு எங்கும்

சிலம்பிய நற்பெருஞ்செல்வம் திகழும் நாங்கூர்த்

        திருத்தெற்றியம்பலத்து என் செங்கண்மாலே.

….. திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார் - பெரியதிருமொழி 4-4-8

Moolavar  : Sri Senganmal Ranganatha Perumal

Utsavar    : Sri Lakshmi Narayanar

Thayar     : Sri Sengamalavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. The stucco image of Ranganathar on Sayanakolam facing east on adiseshan with Lakshmi is on the head side on the top of the entrance. Garudan and balipeedam are after the entrance arch.  Moolavar Sri Ranganathar is in the sanctum sanctorum sayana kolam on Adhiseshan, keeping head on the marakkal, with Maha Lakshmi on the head side and Bhudevi on the leg side. Utsavars Lakshmi Narayanar, Sridevi, Bhudevi and santhana Gopalan are in front of Moolavar. There are no images in the koshtam.

Alwars and Hanuman are in maha mandapam. Sengamalavalli thayar is in a separate sannidhi, on the right side of Sri Ranganathar temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Sri Ranganathar’s Sayanakolam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Kapota bandha  Upanam and adhistanam is of Kapota bandha adhistanam with jagathi, threepatta kumudam, and kapotam. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are of Vishnukantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, plain mandi, palakai and Vettu pothyal. Kumbha panjaras are between salaipathi and karnapathi. The prastaram consists of Valapi with madhalai and kapotam with Nasi kudus. A 2-tier stucco salakara Vimanam is on the Bhumidesam and Vimanam is called Veda vimanam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may belong to the 7^th to 8^th century Pallava period and might have been reconstructed during the Chozha period. The temple is being managed by the Thirunangur 7 temples Adheenam.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Hiraniakshan had stolen the earth and kept it inside the earth. Maha Vishnu took the Varaha avatar and went inside the earth and came with earth after killing Hiranyakshan. Due to the fight, Maha Vishnu’s eyes turned red like Lotus's. He came along with Bhudevi and took a rest at this place. He gave darshan to Maha Lakshmi, Shiva, and Adiseshan.

As per the legend, the 11 temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with each other. After Datchayini jumped into Dakshan’s Yaga Kunda. Shiva took the body of Datchayini and danced furiously. Each time the Jada mudi touches the ground, 11 forms of Shivas appear. The Celestial deities were afraid, that if Shiva’s dance continued, the entire creation will be ceased. So they requested Maha Vishnu to stop Shiva’s dance. On Seeing Maha Vishnu Shiva became normal and requested Maha Vishnu to appear in 11 different forms at this place, Thirunangur. Maha Vishnu is also called “Thamaraikannudiyabiran - the one with lotus eyes”.

Since Perumal is in Sayanakolam on Adiseshan, similar to Srirangam, it is believed that worshipping Perumal at this temple is equivalent to Srirangam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas as per Pancharathra agama, Garuda Seva, and Vaikunda Ekadasi are celebrated in a grand manner.

During Garuda Seva in the Tamil month Thai, all the 11 temple’s Utsavars on Garuda vahanam and Thirumangai Alwar with his consort Kumudavalli Nachiyar, on Hamsa Vahanam are taken to Sri Narayana Perumal’s temple also called as Manimaada Koil and the respective pasurams are recited. After the Garuda Seva, Thirumangai Alwar with his wife Kumudavalli Nachiar will be taken to all the 1l divya desam temples of Thirunangur. The 11 Diva Desams are 1. Sri Narayana Perumal (Manimaadakkoil), 2. Sri Kudamaadu koothar (Arimeya Vinnagaram), 3. Sri Semponarangar (Semponsei Koil), 4. Sri Pallikonda Perumaal (Thiruttetriambalam), 5. Sri Annan Perumaal (Thiruvellakkulam), 6. Sri Purushothama Perumaal (Vanpurudothamam),  7. Sri Varadarajan (Thirumanikoodam), 8. Sri Vaikuntha Nathar (Vaikuntha Vinnagaram),  9. Sri Madhava Perumaal (Thirudevanaar thogai), 10.Sri Partha Sarathy (Thiruparthan Palli) and 11. Sri Gopalan ( Thirukavalampaadi ).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline number +91 4364275689 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 3 KM from the Chennai – Nagapattinam Highway, 10 KM from Sirkazhi,  26 KM  from Mayiladuthurai, 31 KM from Chidambaram, and 247 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station of Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---