Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Thirunarayur Nambi Temple), in Nachiyar Kovil in Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Srinivasa Perumal / Thirunarayur Nambi (Vishnu) with consort Vanjulavalli Nachiyar. It is also known as Nachiyar Kovil, Thirunaraiyur Nambi Temple, Thirunarayur Divya Desam.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet saints, and is counted as the 14th Divya Desam of Chola Nadu. Thirumangai Alvar composed over a hundred hymns here. The site is regarded as one of the Pancha Kshetrams where Lakshmi was found as a child named Vanjulavalli, daughter of sage Medhavi, and later married Vishnu here.
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 | 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
Some sources report slightly different hours (6:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM); confirm locally before visiting.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Kal Garudan / Garuda Sevai | Panguni (March/April) | The temple's famed stone Garuda idol is said to progressively increase in weight during the procession, requiring more bearers at each stage, then decrease on return |
| Brahmotsavam | 10 days, Margazhi (December/January) | Major annual festival at the temple |
| Thirukalyana Utsavam | Aavani (August/September) | Celebrates the divine wedding of the deity |
History and architecture
Architecture
A five tiered rajagopuram about 75 feet high marks the eastern entrance; the complex includes a sixteen pillared hall, a hundred pillared marriage hall, and worship follows the Vaikhanasa agama
History
The site is regarded as one of the Pancha Kshetrams where Lakshmi was found as a child named Vanjulavalli, daughter of sage Medhavi, and later married Vishnu here. This is the only Divya Desam where the goddess (Nachiyar) is given primary importance over the Lord in worship, which is why the temple is popularly called Nachiyar Kovil rather than by the Perumal's name.
Planning your visit
How to reach
About 9 km from Kumbakonam railway station on the Kumbakonam to Thiruvarur road; reachable by local bus, taxi, or auto-rickshaw. Nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli (Trichy), about 90 km away.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Sources differ on whether the village falls in Thanjavur or Thiruvarur district, and the founding date associated with Kochengat Cholan is based on temple legend rather than verified history