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{{Short description|Perumal temple in Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu, India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Thirumanikkoodam
| image = Thirumanikoodam2.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|11|10|46|N|79|47|17|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Mayiladuthurai district|Mayiladuthurai]]
| location = Thirunangur
| elevation_m =
| deity = Varadaraja Perumal,<br />Senkanmal ([[Vishnu]])<br />Thirumamagal,<br />Bhoodevi ([[Lakshmi]])
| facade_direction =
| tower = Kanaka
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Thirumanikkoodam''' or '''Varadaraja Perumal Temple''' is located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of [[Sirkazhi|Sirkaḻi]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It 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 Varadharaja Perumal.

It is one among the eleven ''Divya Desams'' of [[Thirunangur tirupathi|Thirunangur Tirupatis]] and is closely associated with [[Thirumangai Alvar]]. It is also the only temple in the Nangur Divya Desams to have revered by a poet-saint other than Thirumangai Alvar. As per Hindu legend, the temple tank for dug by [[Arjuna]] from the age of ''[[Mahabaratha|Mahabharata]]''. [[Krishna]] is regarded to have appeared as [[Sarathi (name of Krishna)|Parthasarathy]] to Arjuna here and initiated his education, leading to the name of the temple.

The temple is open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m and has four daily rituals at various times of the day. The Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana Utsavam celebrated annually during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Thai'' is the major festival of the temple during which the festival images of the eleven [[Thirunangur tirupathi|Thirunangur Tirupathis]] are brought on mount designed like [[Garuda]], called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur. The temple follows the [[thenkalai|Tenkalai]] mode of worship.

== Legend ==
The [[Sthala purana|temple legends]] of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with each other. As per legend, the Hindu god [[Shiva]] started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort [[Uma (goddess)|Uma]] due to the ''[[Daksha yajna|yajna]]'' (sacrifice) of [[Daksha]]. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground, there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to [[Vishnu]] for help, who appeared at this place. On seeing Vishnu, Shiva's anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Tirunangur. The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Tirunangur are located.<ref name="R">[[#R.|R. 2001]], pp. 470-1</ref> As per another variant, Shiva requested Vishnu to appear in eleven different forms like him to control the eleven Shiva forms he created.<ref name=Malai>{{cite web|title=திருநாங்கூர் நாராயண பெருமாள் கோவில்|language=Tamil|url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/devotionaltopnews/2019/10/21070922/1267133/thirunangur-narayana-perumal-temple.vpf|date=21 October 2019|accessdate=17 July 2021}}</ref> The eleven [[Rudras]], called Ekadas Rudras and the king of [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]], [[Indra]], are believed to have worshipped Vishnu at this temple.<ref>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1982]], p. 535</ref>

==Architecture==
The temple complex has a single ''[[prakaram]]'' (outer courtyard) and a single shrine. It is located close to Thirunangur, a small village, 8 km east of [[Sirkali]] en route to Thiruvenkadu. Eleven Rudras and the king of celestial deities, Devas, are believed to have worshipped Varadarajar.<ref>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1993]], p. 535</ref> The presiding deity, Varadharajaperumal is housed in the sanctum in standing posture, facing east. The images of his consort, [[Lakshmi|Sridevi]] (also called Thirumaamangal Nachiyar) and [[Bhudevi]] are housed in the same shrine. The images of the festival deities are housed in the respective sanctums, while the figurative images of the vehicles carrying the deities are housed in the hall leading to the sanctum.<ref name=A>{{cite book|title=Temples of South India|first=Ambujam |last=Anantharaman|pages=62–67|publisher=East West Books (Madras)|year=2006|isbn=978-81-88661-42-8}}</ref>

== Festival ==
[[File:Thirumanikoodam1.jpg|250px|left|thumb|[[Vimana (tower)|Vimana]] and pillared hall as seen from outside the temple]]
The temple is open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] community, from the [[Brahmin]] class. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 8 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 10:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 5:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 7:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Pallikonda Perumal and Shenbagalavalli. During the worship, 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.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Senganmal Ranganathar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=306|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref>

The annual Theerthavari festival is celebrated during the New moon day of [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Aadi'' when the festival deity of the temple is taken in a procession to the sea at [[Poompuhar]]. During the new moon day of the Tamil month ''Thai'', the [[utsavar|festival deity]] of Thirumangai Alvar is brought to the temple from [[Thiruvali-Thirunagari]].<ref name="hindu">{{cite news|title=Shrine dedicated to Arjuna|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/shrine-dedicated-to-arjuna/article3631326.ece|work=[[The Hindu]] | date=12 July 2012|access-date=2013-09-09|last=S.|first=Prabhu}}</ref> The Thirumangai Alvar 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 tirupathi|Thirunangur Tirupatis]] are brought on mount designed like [[Garuda]], called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur. The festive image of Thirumangai Alvar is also brought on a ''Hamsa Vahanam'' (palanquin) 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.<ref name="hindu" /><ref name="Garuda Sevai Festival">{{cite news| title=Garuda Sevai| work=Ramanuja.org|
url=https://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ramanuja/archives/feb08/pdfUQOxvBFB4v.pdf|access-date= 2011-08-19}}</ref>

== Religious significance ==
The temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabhandam]]'', the 7th–9th century [[Sri Vaishnavism|Sri Vaishnava]] canon, by [[Periazhwar|Periyalvar]], [[Thirumalisai Alvar|Tirumalisai Alvar]], and [[Thirumangai Azhwar|Tirumangai Alvar]]. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like ''108 Tirupati Antati'' by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.<ref name="dinamalar" /> It is believed that saint Tirumangai Alvar visits the place every year to the festival to consecrate the eleven deities. As per local belief, the fresh winds which swirl the paddy fields before the day of the festival indicates a good harvest for the season.<ref name=Malai/> As per another legend, the sages Madangar, Domyar, [[Vyaghrapada]] and Udangar set up their hermitages in this place. During the period of [[Mahabharatha|Mahabharata]], [[Takshaka]], the mighty snake king who killed king [[Parikshit]], ruled the place called Nagapuri, which eventually became Nangur.<ref>{{cite web|title=அருட்சேவை அருளும் திருநாங்கூர் கருடசேவை|url=https://www.dailythanthi.com/Others/Devotional/2020/01/24215411/Thirunangur-Garudaseva-of-the-Blessed-Sacrament.vpf|publisher=Daily Thanthi|language=Tamil|date=25 January 2020|accessdate=17 July 2021}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Notes ==
* {{Cite book |last=Ayyar |first=P. V. Jagadisa |title=South Indian shrines: illustrated|year=1993|edition=2 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&q=tiruvidaimaruthur&pg=PA535|ref=Ayyar}}
{{Thirunangur Tirupathis}}
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}
{{Mayiladuthurai Topics}}

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Vishnu temples in Mayiladuthurai district]]

Thirumanikkoodam - Revision history

MableHaight9: created a entry.