Azhagiya Manavalar Koil/ அழகிய மணவாளர் கோயில், Arulmigu Kamalavalli Nachiyar / அருள்மிகு கமலவல்லி நாச்சியார், Uraiyur, Tiruchirappali District, Tamil Nadu.

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 18^th to 19^th 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 2^nd 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.

PC: website

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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 08^th – 09^th 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. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Oppiliappan Temple / Sri Oppiliappa Perumal Temple / Thiruvinnagar / Arulmigu Venkatachalapathy Thirukoil / உப்பிலியப்பன் கோயில், திருநாகேஸ்வரம் / Thirunageswaram, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Oppiliappan Perumal Temple, also called Thiruvinnagar at Thirunageswaram, is the 15th Divya Desam of 108 Diva Desams and 13^th Divya Desam of Chozha Nadu. Also, this is one of the Pancha Kshetras, where Maha Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi. The 5 kshetras are, Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam, the Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Salem, the Nachiyar Koil, and Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. This place was called Agasa Nagaram, Vaikunta Nagaram, Thiruvinnagar, Oppiliappan Sannidhi, and Uppiliappan Sannidhi during ancient times. Moolavar is also called Venkatachalapathy, Thiruvinnagarappan, Thanoppiliappan, Uppiliappan Srinivasan, etc.

Mangalasasanam was done by Peyalwar (2342 & 2343), Thirumangai Alwar (1448-77, 1855, 2080, 2673 (72), 2674 (113) and Nammalwar (3365-77). Nammazhwar mentions the Moolavar of this temple as Ponnappan, Maniappan, Muttappan, Ennappan, and Tiruvinnagarappan. 

2342

பண்டெல்லாம் வேங்கடம் பாற்கடல் வைகுந்தம்,

கொண்டங் குறைவார்க்குக் கோயில்போல், - வண்டு

வளங்கிளரும் நீள்சோலை வண்பூங் கடிகை,

 இளங்குமரன் றன்விண் ணகர்.

….. பேயாழ்வார்

1477

தாரார் மலர்க்கமலத் தடஞ்சூழ்ந்த தண்புறவில்,

சீரார் நெடுமறுகில் திருவிண் ணகரானை

காரார் புயல்தடக்கைக் கலிய னொலிமாலை,

ஆரா ரிவைவல்லார் அவர்க்கல்லல் நில்லாவே

…… திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்

3365

நல்குரவும் செல்வும் நரகும் சுவர்க்கமுமாய்,

வெல்பகையும் நட்பும் விடமும் அமுதமுமாய்,

பல்வகையும் பரந்தபெரு மானென்னை யாள்வானை,

செல்வம்மல்கு குடித்திரு விண்ணகர்க் கண்டேனே. 

…… நம்மாழ்வார்

Moolavar  : Sri Oppiliappa Perumal / Sri Uppiliappan

Thayar     : Sri Bhumi Devi / Bhoomidevi Thayar

Utsavar    : Than Oppiliappan

Some of the salient features of this temple are ….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, dwajasthambam, and Garudan are after the Rajagopuram under a mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the maha mandapam.

Moolavar is in a standing posture with shankha and chakra in the upper hands, and the lower right hand is in varada hastam, and the left hand is in kadi hastam, similar to Tirupati Sri Venkatesa Perumal. Sridevi and Bhudevi are in the sanctum sanctorum. No images are in the kostas.

Desikar is in the ardha mandapam. Maha Vishnu’s various avatars, Alwars, sthala purana, and Purana are in the form of paintings around the praharam wall.

In praharam, Sri Maniappan Sannidhi, Ennappan Sannidhi, Thulabaram, Ramar with Sita and Lakshmana, Sannidhi, Anjaneyar, Ramanuja, Alwars, Garudan Sannidhi, Krishna, and Ramanuja.

Vahanas Garudan, Hanuman, Kuthirai / Horse Vahana, Hamsa Vahana, Kamala Vahana, Sesha vahana, and Elephant Vahana are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padma bandha adhistanam on an upana. The adhistanam is with padma jagathy, kadaka / Silambu kumudam, pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone from the upanam to the prastaram. A two-tier brick vimanam is above the prastaram. Maha Vishnu’s various forms are on the tala and greeva koshtam. The sigaram is of the vesara style. The vimanam is called "Sudhdhanandha Vimanam" (Vishnu Vimanam).

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to the 08^th Century, maybe be Pallava period, and the same was reconstructed during the Chozha period. The temple also received contributions from Vijayanagaras, Thanjavur Nayakas, and Marathas. Two Chozha-period inscriptions are recorded from this temple.

The inscriptions recorded in ARE 211 & 218 of 1911 are actually inscribed at Thirunageswaram Shiva Temple and mention this Maha Vishnu Temple- Thiruvinnagaram. 

The inscription in ARE 211 of 1911 on the northern wall of the Sanctum Sanctorum belongs to the Chozha King Parakesarivarman, Rajendra Chozha-I (1042 – 44 CE), and records the  gift of a gold jewel studded with gems and pearls to the temple.   

The second inscription in ARE 218 of 1911 belongs to Chola king Rajaraja Rajakesari Varman I’s 14^th reign year, on the Sanctum sanctorum’s southern wall. The inscription records a gift of land to the temple.

The tradition in many ancient temples in Tamil Nadu, including this one, is that the original image of the presiding deity was made of wood and replaced later with stone. Similarly, the moolavar was also replaced.

There were a lot of additions like mandapas, built in the temple by Govinda Dikshitar, the minister of successive Nayak rulers, Achuthappa Nayak (1560–1614) and Raghunatha Nayak (1600–34).

This Arulmigu Venkatachalapathy Thirukoil, also called Oppiliappan Koil maha Samprokshanam, was performed on 8^th February 2009 at Rs. 12 Crores (12 Crores .. ?).

Kodimara Yantra Prathista was done on 26^th April 2023, and Preparation for Maha Samprokshanam, ie, palalayam, was conducted on 05^th June 2023, and Maha Samprokshanam was performed on 29^th June 2023.

Ref:

Annual Report on Epigraphy 1911.

The inscriptions on the wall.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Bhudevi was reborn as the daughter of Markandeya Maharishi. As decided already, Maha Vishnu came to the ashram in the form of an old man and told that he would marry his daughter. Markandeya Maharishi does not want his daughter to get married to an old man. To reject the old man, Maharishi said that his daughter is not well versed in household duties, and also she will even forget to add salt to the food while preparing. Maha Vishnu revealed Himself and married Bhudevi. Hence, the prasadam offered to Moolavar, Maha Vishnu, will be without salt. Hence, Moolavar is called as Uppiliappan, ie, Uppillatha appan – உப்பில்லாத அப்பன்.

As per another legend, Garudan, Kaveri, Markandeya Muni, and Nammalwar worshipped Sri Oppiliappan of this temple.

During the festival, Perumal and Thayar are taken in procession outside the temple, which is a unique procedure of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas as per the Vaikhanasa agama of Vadakalai,  special poojas are conducted on the Annual Brahmotsavam with chariot procession in the months Panguni and Puratasi, Dolotsavam, 6 days Vasanthotsavam in the month Vaikasi, 5 days Pavithrotsavam in the month Avani, Nine days Brahmotsavam in the month Purattasi, From Sravana Nakshatra day 12 days Thirukalyana Utsavam in the month Aippasi, Rama Navami, Sravana Nakshatra days of every month, Vaikunta Ekadasi, etc.

Golden chariot procession

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs and 13.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

http://www.oppiliappan.org/, WWW.oppiliappanswamytemple.org

The temple’s landline number, +91 435 2463385, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Thirunageswaram is about 5 km from Kumbakonam, 6 km from Nachiarkoil, 41 km from Thiruvaiyaru, and 51 km from Thanjavur.

The nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Theppam - used during Theppa Thiruvizha

Ennappan Temple

Ennappan

The visit to this temple was a part of the "Divya Desam Temples Visit" near Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, organized by Culture Circuit.  Thanks to Mr. Balakumaran G S.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---