Sri Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple – Thirukoshtiyur

 

Sri Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple is located in Thirukoshtiyur a village in Sivaganga district of Tamilnadu State

It is one of the 108 divyadesam temples of Lord Vishnu

Here Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Sowmya Narayana Perumal and his consort Lakshmi devi as Thirumamagal

This temple was built in Dravidian style of architecture

It is said that Ramanuja, the exposition of Vishishtadvaita philosophy, preached the sacred ashtakshara "Om Namo Narayanaya" to everyone, regardless of varna, in the temple.

This temple has a five tier Rajagopuram

The temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance.

Hiranyakshipu, the asura king, got arrogant after he got boons from Brahma, which nearly made him invincible. He troubled the devas (celestial deities) and they prayed to Vishnu for rescue. Vishnu was ready to take the Narasimha avatar to slay the asura king. The devas pleaded with Vishnu to assume the form before he could take it. Vishnu showed them the avatar, but not satisfied merely one vision, the devas and sages pleaded with him to show it again. Vishnu appeared in three forms of himself standing, sitting, and resting posture at Thirukoshtiur. Since, Vishnu showed his form after hardship (called Thirukkai in Tamil) of Devas, the place came to be known as Thirukoshtiur.

This temple covers an area about 2 acres.

The presiding deity Uragamellayan Perumal is shown in the central shrine in a reclining position on a serpent bed resembling that of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. In the sanctum are also the statues of Sridevi and Bhudevi.

Though it is a Vishnu temple, the temple has image of Shiva in the form of Lingam, Vinayaka and Subramanya.

The Utsava deity is named Sowmya Narayana Perumal made of panchaloha.

There are smaller shrines of Lakshmi Narasimha, Rama, Lakshmi Narayana and Krishna located close to the sanctum.

The shrines of Andal, Narasimha and Manavala Mamunigal are found in separate shrines around the first precinct. The shrines of Garuda, Anjaneya, Ramanuja, Vedanta Desika and Alvars are found in the second precinct.

Vaikunta Ekadasi, Navratri and Float festival during the tamil month of Masi(jan-feb) are the festivals celebrated here.

Timings

6.30 am to 12.30 pm

3.45 pm to 7.30 pm