In Thirunangur, Tamil Nadu, Vaikundanatha Perumal Temple honours Vaikundanatha Perumal, also called Vaikuntanathan, with consort Vaikundavalli. It is also known as Thiruvaikunta Vinnagaram, Vaikunta Nathan 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, and is closely associated with 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 temple with a single prakaram, a tower known as Anantasatyavartaka, a Garuda mandapa positioned near the entrance and axial to the shrine, and a temple tank called Lakshmi Viraja to the north of the entrance; the sanctum is said to mirror the layout of the celestial Vaikuntam, with the deity standing facing east
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 presiding deity is traditionally said to have been worshipped by a sage and a king in ancient times. The temple is mentioned in the 18th-19th century work 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar
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; the nearest railhead is Sirkazhi Junction
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Core facts corroborated across two sources, but some specifics from the second source (contact details, exact modern festival dates) were not independently verified and are omitted