Koodal Azhagar Temple stands in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Koodal Azhagar / Vyuga Sundararaja Perumal (Vishnu) with consort Maragadhavalli (Mathuravalli) Thayar. It is also known as Thirukkoodal, Koodal Alagar Koil.
Koodal Azhagar Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints. It is especially notable as the traditional site where Periyalvar composed the Thirupallandu hymns, and for its unique triple posture Ashtanga Vimanam depicting the deity seated, reclining and standing on its three levels. It stands in Madurai city itself, not far from the Meenakshi Amman Temple, making the two temples an easy joint visit. The site is mentioned in Sangam era Tamil literature including Paripadal, Kalithogai and Silappatikaram, indicating the temple's antiquity goes back many centuries.
Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
Some sources list slightly different hours (e.g. 5:30 AM opening or 9:00 PM closing); timings may also change during festivals, so confirm locally before visiting.
Poojas and daily rituals
Six daily rituals are performed, including Kalasanthi (around 8:00 AM), Uchikalam (12:00 PM), Sayarakshai (5:00 PM) and Aravanai Pooja (6:00 PM), each with alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (lamp waving)
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Vaikasi Brahmotsavam | Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June) | A fourteen day annual festival featuring processional chariot celebrations of the deity |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style temple with a five tiered rajagopuram about 125 feet (38 meters) tall, on roughly 2 acres. Its most distinctive feature is a rare three tier Ashtanga Vimanam in which the deity appears in three different postures on three levels: seated on the ground floor, reclining on the second level, and standing on the third
History
The site is mentioned in Sangam era Tamil literature including Paripadal, Kalithogai and Silappatikaram, indicating the temple's antiquity goes back many centuries. It is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham; the Alvar saint Periyalvar is traditionally said to have composed the opening Thirupallandu verses of the Prabandham at this temple. Inscriptions from the 8th century record donations toward construction of the Ardha Mandapa, and the temple was substantially developed during the Pandya and later Madurai Nayak periods. The Mathuravalli Thayar shrine was renovated in 1923 by Muthu K.R.V. Alagappa Chettiar, and the temple underwent a Kumbhabhishekham (consecration) in January 2024.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located within Madurai city, a short distance from the Meenakshi Amman Temple; easily reached by city bus, auto or taxi, with Madurai's rail station and airport well connected to the rest of Tamil Nadu
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Reported opening/closing times vary slightly between sources