Purushottama Perumal Temple, in Thirunangur in Tamil Nadu, honours Purushottama Perumal with consort Purushotthama Nayaki, also worshipped with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. It is also known as Thiruvanpurushothamam.
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. Purushottaman stands in the sanctum in Nindra Thirukkolam (standing posture) facing east.
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 |
Daily poojas: Ushathkalam 8 to 8:30 AM, Kalasanthi 10 to 10:30 AM, Sayarakshai 5 to 5:30 PM, Ardha Jamam 7 to 7:30 PM
Poojas and daily rituals
Ushathkalam, Kalasanthi, Sayarakshai and Ardha Jamam, each with decoration, food offerings and lamp waving
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. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style with a single sanctum, a three tiered vimana known as Sanjeevi Vigraha Vimanam, rectangular enclosing walls, and an axial Garuda Mandapa. Inner prakara shrines include Andal, Rama with Sita and Lakshmana, Anjaneya, Nammazhwar and Udayavar Sri Ramanuja.
History
Purushottaman stands in the sanctum in Nindra Thirukkolam (standing posture) facing east. Vaishnavite Acharya Manavala Mamunigal is said to have resided and served at this temple for two years. It is the 30th of the 108 Divya Desams and was glorified by Thirumangai Alvar with ten pasurams.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Nearest railway stations are Sirkazhi and Mayiladuthurai; nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli International Airport; reachable by state buses and taxis from nearby towns.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Confidence level as originally recorded for this entry; no further explanatory note was written at the time