Sri Purushotama Perumal Temple – Thirunangur

 

Sri Purushotama Perumal Temple is located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkazhi in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamilnadu

It is one of the 108 divyadesam of Lord Vishnu

Here Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Purushottama Perumal and his consort is Purushottama Nayaki.

It is one among the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur Tirupathis and is closely associated with Thirumangai Alvar.

This temple has a small shrine with Vimanam and one Sanctum.

The temple has only one shrine, which has a small hall leading to the sanctum. There is a modern pillared hall from the shrine to the Garuda Mandapa.

The image of the presiding deity Purushottaman and his consort Purushottanayagi are depicted in standing posture inside the sanctum.

As per legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort Uma due to the yajna (sacrifice) of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground, there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place. On seeing Vishnu, Shiva's anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Tirunangur. The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Tirunangur are located. As per another variant, Shiva requested Vishnu to appear in eleven different forms like him to control the eleven Shiva forms he created. The eleven Rudras, called Ekadas Rudras and king of devas, Indra, are believed to have worshiped Vishnu at this temple.

According to the Mahabharata, Takshaka, the mighty snake king who killed king Parikshit, ruled the place called Nagapuri, which eventually became Nangur.

The Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana Utsavam celebrated annually during the Tamil month of Thai is the major festival of the temple during which the festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupathis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur.

Timings

8.30 am to 11.30 am

5.30 pm to 8.00 pm

How to reach the Temple

11 km from Sirkazhi

265 km from Chennai

22 km from Mayiladuthurai