In Thirunangur, Tamil Nadu, Sashvatha Deepaya Narayana Perumal Temple is dedicated to Sashvatha Deepaya Narayana Perumal, also called Narayana Perumal, with consort Pundareegavalli. It is also known as Thirumanimadakoil, Narayana Perumal Temple, Badrinarayana Perumal Temple.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu shrines glorified by the Alvar poet saints in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, and it is one of the eleven Thirunangur Thirupathis, the cluster of Divya Desams concentrated in the small town of Thirunangur. It is revered in verses by Peryalvar, Thirumalisai Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar Local legend holds that after a dispute Shiva began a furious tandava dance and Vishnu appeared in eleven forms across Thirunangur to pacify him, this temple marking one of those manifestations.
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 |
Four daily rituals are performed: Ushathkalam (8 AM), Kalasanthi (10 AM), Sayarakshai (5 PM) and Ardha Jamam (7 PM)
Poojas and daily rituals
Ushathkalam, Kalasanthi, Sayarakshai and Ardha Jamam, each including alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (lamp waving) for both deities
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana Utsavam (Garudasevai) | Tamil month of Thai, roughly January to February | Festival images of all eleven Thirunangur Thirupathis are mounted on a Garuda shaped vehicle, while Thirumangai Alvar's festival image travels on a Hamsa Vahanam and his devotional verses are recited at each of the eleven shrines |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style with a five tiered gopuram, granite walled shrines and an elevated central sanctum reached by a flight of steps; three holes in the gopuram let sunlight fall on the deity's image at certain times of year; a temple tank sits opposite the gopuram
History
Local legend holds that after a dispute Shiva began a furious tandava dance and Vishnu appeared in eleven forms across Thirunangur to pacify him, this temple marking one of those manifestations. The site is said to have been earlier known as Nagapuri, ruled by the snake king Datsagan of Mahabharata legend, and the name Thirumanimadakoil is said to derive from the rich houses with balconies (madam) once found in the locality. Tradition also holds that the presiding deity of Badrinath once visited this shrine and that the philosopher Ramanuja studied sacred texts here. Inscriptions from the Chola and Nayak periods survive at the temple
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located in Thirunangur village, about 10 km from Sirkali on the way to Thiruvenkadu, in Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Based on a single well-established source (Wikipedia); built era, entry fee and dress code could not be independently verified