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{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Nathan Kovil
| image = Nathankovil (1).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|11|10|39|N|79|46|45|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Thanjavur]]
| location = Nathan Kovil, [[Kumbakonam]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Jagannathan, Nathannathan, Shenbagavalli
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}{{Short description|Hindu temple of Vishnu near Kumbakonam, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}

'''Nathan Kovil''' or '''Thiru Nandipura Vinnagaram Temple''' in Nathan Kovil, a village in the outskirts of [[Kumbakonam]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Vishnu]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha|Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desams]]'' dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Jagannathan and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Shenbagavalli.<ref>''Hindu Pilgrimage: A Journey Through the Holy Places of Hindus All Over India''. Sunita Pant Bansal.</ref>

[[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]], the sacred bull of [[Shiva]], is believed to have got his curses relieved by worshipping Vishnu here and hence the place is called Nandipuram. All the shrines and water bodies associated with the temple are named after Nandi. Six rituals are performed every day and two festivals are celebrated every year in the temple. The Fridays during the [[Tamil month]] of ''Aipasi'' are believed to be auspicious to worship Shenbagavalli.

==Legend==
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|image1=Nathankovil (2).jpg
|footer=Shrines in the temple
|image2=Nathankovil (6).jpg
}}
As per Hindu legend, [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]], the sacred bull of [[Shiva]], did not respect the [[Dvarapala|dvarapalakas]], the gatekeepers of Vishnu. They cursed Nandi that his body would suffer oppressive heat. Nandi informed it to his lord Shiva, who advised him to do penance in Shenbakaranyam (also called Nadhivanam), a forest near modern-day Kumbakonam. It is the place where [[Lakshmi]], the consort of Vishnu was doing penance to get into the chest of Vishnu. Vishnu was impressed by the penance of Nandi and got his curse relieved.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Jagannatha Perumal temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=353|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref><ref name="hindu"/> As per another legend, Lakshmi did penance at this place to seek a place in Vishnu's chest. Vishnu was impressed by her devotion and took Lakshmi her in his chest. The image of Lakshmi in the form of Shenbagavalli faces west indicating the legend. Devotees worship Shenbagavalli of the temple during the [[Tamil month]] of ''Aipasi'' and believe that their wishes will be fulfilled.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|ref=R.|pages=510–1}}</ref>

==Architecture==
The temple has a 3-tier gateway tower, the raja[[gopuram]]. Since Nandi got relieved of his curse here, the names of the temples bodies are named after Nandi; the temple tank is called Nandi Theertham, the ''[[vimana (tower)|vimana]]m'' as Nandi Vimanam, the place called Nandipuram and other water body as Nandi [[Pushkarani]]. The main sanctum houses the image of the presiding deity, Srinivasa Perumal, the metal image of the festival deity, [[Jagannatha]], the images of [[Bhūmi|Bhoodevi]] and Sridevi on either sides of Srinivasa. The image of Nandi, which is otherwise part of Shiva temples, is present in the main sanctum. There is a separate shrine for Shenbagavalli Thayar. The rectangular walls around the temple enclose all the shrines and some of seven water bodies associated with the temple.<ref name="hindu"/>

The place was once the capital of [[Cholas]] who did benevolent contributions to the temple. During the regime of [[Thanjavur Nayak]]s, the temple received contributions from Vijayaranga Chokkappa Nayak.<ref name=R/> The temple is maintained and administered by the Vanamamalai Mutt.<ref name="hindu">{{cite news|title=Divyadesam and Nandi connection|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/divyadesam-and-nandi-connection/article4977504.ece|last=G.|first=Srinivasan|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=1 August 2013|access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref>

==Festivals and religious practices==
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|image1=Nathankovil (3).jpg
|footer=[[vimana]] of the presiding deities
|image2=Nathankovil (5).jpg
}}
The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple follows the Thenkalai sampradaayam and agamas of South Indian [[Vaishnavism]]. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 7 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandamkalam'' at 7:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Srinivasan and Shenbagavalli. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the ''[[Vedas]]'' (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the [[Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu#Dvajasthamba and Pali Peedam|temple mast]]. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Pavitrotsavam is a festival organised in the temple by Karimaran Kalai Kappagam of Triplicane, Chennai, every July. The festive images of the deity are taken out in procession and special ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|poojas]]'' are performed during the occasion.<ref name="hindu"/> [[Akshaya Tritiya]] is another major festival celebrated in the temple when the festival deity is taken in procession in a [[Garuda]] mount around the temple.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grand Garuda Sevai marks Akshaya Tritiya|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/grand-garuda-sevai-marks-akshaya-tritiya/article7128087.ece|date=22 April 2015|access-date=6 September 2020|publisher=The Hindu}}</ref>

==Religious significance==
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| width1 = 2144 | height1 = 1779
| width2 = 2552 | height2 = 1859
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Nathankovil1.jpg
|image2=Nathankovil5.jpg
|footer=Festival images
}}
The temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Thirumangai Azhwar|Thirumangai Alvar]] in eleven hymns. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.<ref name="hindu"/> Thirumangai Alvar eulogised the presiding deity in ten verses classified between 1438-47.<ref name=R/> The temple is a symbol of unity between the two sects of Hinduism, namely, [[Vaishnavism]] and [[Saivism|Shaivism]] and [[Nandi (mythology)|Nandi]] the sacred bull Shiva and image of [[Brahma]] are depicted in the main sanctum. The temple is frequented by people seeking timely wedding, reunion of married couples, children, court verdicts and cure from neural issues.<ref name="dinamalar"/> The temple is also called Sundara Chola Vinnagaram on account of the contributions made by the Chola king [[Sundara Chola]] (957–970 CE).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Killer Sword Ponniyin Selvan - Part 3|last=C.V.|first=Karthik Narayanan|publisher=Pustaka Digital Media|isbn=9789352859504|year=2018}}</ref> It is also believed that king [[Sibi (king)|Sibi]] worshiped Vishnu at this place.<ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|publisher=Asian Educational Services|page=534|last=Ayyar|first=P. V. Jagadisa|isbn=9788120601512|location=New Delhi|year=1982|ref=Ayyar}}</ref> It is also believed that the [[Pallava]] king [[Nandivarman II]] (also called Pallava Malla), a contemporary of Thirumangai Alvar, was an ardent devotee of the temple.<ref name=early>{{cite book|title=Early Chola temples Parantaka I to Rajaraja I (AD. 907-985)|last=S.R.|first=Balasubramanyam|year=1975|publisher=Thomson Press (India) Limited|url=http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/49443.pdf|pages=179-180|format=PDF}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Nathan Kovil}}
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}
{{Hindu Temples of Kumbakonam}}

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Thanjavur district]]

Nathan Kovil - Revision history

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