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Thirumanikkoodam or Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. It is situated 8 km from Seergazhi, in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu. The temple complex is within a tamarind farm. This temple is one of the 108 Divya desams dedicated to the Hindu Lord Vishnu. The temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture. There are 4 daily rituals conducted in the temple. Bus facilities are available from the railway station. However, there are no decent accomodation facilities. It is one of the eleven divya desams closely associated with Thirumangai Alwar, called the Thirunangur Tirupathis.
LEGEND:
According to legend, Lord Shiva started dancing in fury at Thirunangur after the death of his consort Uma, due to the sacrifice of Daksha. Each time a lock of his hair fell and touched the ground, eleven other forms of Lord Shiva would appear. The Gods were worried that if this continued, entire earth and all their creations would be destroyed. They prayed to lord Vishnu to help. Lord Vishnu listened to them and appeared before Lord Shiva. On seing Vishnu, Lord Shiva’s anger was appeased. But to counteract the eleven forms of him that had been created, he asked lord Vishnu to also appear in eleven forms. The eleven forms in which Lord Vishnu appeared in Thirunangur were all in different places. Those eleven places in thirunangur are where the eleven temples are located.
POOJA RITUALS:
The temple timings are from 8 AM to 10 AM and from 5 PM to 7 PM. Temple rituals are performed by the priests on a daily basis as well as during festive season. The priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a brahmin sub caste. There are 4 temple rituals daily:
Ushathkalam at 8 in the morning
Kalasanthi at 10 in the morning
Sayarakshai at 5 in the evening
Ardhajamam at 7 in the evening.
Each of the rituals have 3 procedures which are the alangaram ( decoration), the neivethanam (food offering) and deeparadanai (lighting lamps) for Lord Vishnu and his consort. During the rituals, religious hymns and texts are recited from the Vedas by the priests. There are weekly, fortnightly and monthly rituals performed in the temple.
FESTIVALS:
During the new moon day of the Tamil month Thai, the festival deity of Thirumangai Azhwar is brought to the temple from Thiruvali-Thirunagari. The Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January–February). The highlight of the festival is Garudasevai, an event in which the festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupathis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur.
The festive image of Thirumangai Azhwar is also brought on a Hamsa Vahanam (palaquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these eleven temples are recited during the occasion. The festival images of Thirumangai Alvar and his consort Kumudavalli Naachiyar are taken in a palanquin to each of the eleven temples.
The verses dedicated to each of the eleven temples are chanted in the respective shrines. This is one of the most important festivals in the region which draws thousands of visitors.
FACTS:
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this Divyadesam is Sri Varadaraja Perumal. Also known as Manikooda Nayagan. He is giving his seva in Nindra (Standing) Thirukkolam in facing his thirumugham towards east direction. He is found with Four hands on the Aadhiseshan. Prathyaksham for Lord Chandran.
Thayaar:
The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Thiru Maamagal Naachiyar and Bhoomi Piratti.
Mangalasasanam:
- Thirumangaialwar – 10 Paasurams.
Total – 10 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
Chandra Pushkarani.
Vimanam:
Kanaka Vimaanam.
LOCATION GUIDE
Nearest Railway Station :
Kodai Road Railway Station
3 thoughts on “Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Thirunangur”
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The one thing that I can never wash off from my brain probably even if i get dementia would be the Thirumangaiazhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam in the month of Thai . It was a totally spectacular and a fabulous event where in images of the Perumal from the 11 Divya Desam shrines were brought on Garuda and they were returned back on the conclusion of the festival. This is one of the Thirunaangur Divya Desam closely associated with Thirumangaiazhwar.
I loved my visit to the Varada raja Perumal temple located in the Tanjore district. The main deity is called the Varadaraja Perumal who is seen in the standing position facing east and giving seva. The temple is seen surrounded by tamarind trees . Here they perform the daily pujas regularly and hymns and mantras are sung in praise of the almighty.
Located in the Tanjore district and dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Varadaraja Perumal temple is one among the 108 Divya Desam. It is said that after the furious dance of lord Shiva , the gods were extremely worried and prayed to lord Vishnu and on seeing him lord Shiva mellowed down. The temple is very calm and peaceful .