Uraiyur Kamalavalli Nachiyar Temple, in Uraiyur in Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Azhagiya Manavala Perumal (Vishnu) enshrined together with his consort Kamalavalli Nachiyar (Lakshmi) in a single sanctum, in kalyana thirukolam (wedding attire). The temple has no separate processional (utsavar) image for the Lord, since the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple's utsavar is considered the utsavar for this shrine. It is also known as Thirukkozhi, Nachiyar Koil, Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple.
This 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 revered in verses by Tirumangai Alvar. It is one of the few Divya Desams where the Thayar (Goddess) is given prominence over the Lord, alongside Srivilliputhur and Thiruvellarai. It is also regarded as the birthplace of Thiru Panazhwar, who has a dedicated shrine here. According to temple legend, Sage Bhrigu cursed Sri Lakshmi to be born on earth.
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 | 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Evening | 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM |
Secondary sources give slightly different hours (one lists 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM), so treat these as approximate until confirmed by the temple or HR&CE.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Kalyana Utsavam | Panguni Pooram (March to April) | The wedding festival of Azhagiya Manavala Perumal and Kamalavalli Nachiyar, the central annual celebration of this temple. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style temple. The Moolavar stands facing north in kalyana thirukolam (wedding posture) beside Kamalavalli Nachiyar, an unusual orientation among Divya Desams.
History
According to temple legend, Sage Bhrigu cursed Sri Lakshmi to be born on earth. The Chola king Nandha Cholan, who was childless, found a female infant near a lotus pond and named her Kamalavalli. When she came of age she saw Lord Ranganathar at Srirangam and vowed to marry him; the Lord confirmed in the king's dream that she was Lakshmi herself, and Nandha Cholan built this temple at Uraiyur to mark their wedding.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Uraiyur is about 3 km from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) Junction railway station and is reachable by auto-rickshaw or local bus from Chatram or the central bus stand. Trichy is well connected by air, rail and road.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Darshan timings vary slightly between secondary sources and could not be confirmed against an official temple or HR&CE listing; poojas, entry fee and dress code are not covered by any source found and are left blank.