Hemaranganatha Perumal Temple stands in Thirunangur, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Hemaranganatha Perumal with consort Sweda Pushpavalli. It is also known as Thirusemponsaikoil, Semponarangar Temple.
This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu shrines glorified by the Alvar saints in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, and it is one of the eleven Thirunangur Thirupathis, the cluster of Divya Desams in Thirunangur that share a legend of Vishnu appearing in eleven forms to pacify Shiva's furious tandava dance. Legend holds that Rama gifted a golden cow idol to a Brahmin from sage Dranethra's ashram at this spot, giving the place its name from chempon, meaning gold in Tamil.
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 | 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM |
| Evening | 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
Poojas and daily rituals
Four daily rituals are performed: Ushathkalam, Kalasanthi, Sayarakshai and Ardha Jamam
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Thirumangai Alwar Mangalasasana Utsavam | Tamil month Thai (January to February) | Includes Garuda Sevai, when festival deities of the eleven Thirunangur Thirupathi temples are brought together on Garuda vahanams; described as drawing thousands of visitors. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style, with a sanctum, hall, Garuda shrine and a separate festival deity chamber
History
Legend holds that Rama gifted a golden cow idol to a Brahmin from sage Dranethra's ashram at this spot, giving the place its name from chempon, meaning gold in Tamil. The temple is revered in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Periazhwar, Thirumalisai Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar. Some sources list the moolavar (main sanctum deity) here as Perarulalan, standing and facing east, with consort Allimamalar Nachiyar, and describe Hemaranganatha (also called Semponarangar) as the name of the panchaloha festival utsava deity.
Planning your visit
How to reach
About 10 km from Sirkali, en route to Thiruvenkadu.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. The name Hemaranganatha Perumal / Sweda Pushpavalli used here matches a published Divya Desam deity list, but other detailed temple sources give the moolavar's name as Perarulalan with consort Allimamalar Nachiyar and describe Hemaranganatha as the festival (utsava) deity's name instead