Thiruvali Thirunagari Divya Desam

Pancha Narasimha Kshetram
Ugra Narasimha, Veera Narasimha, Yoga Narasimha, Hiranya Narasimha and Lakshmi Narasimha in and around Thirvali - Thirunagari
Birth Place of Thirumangai Azhvaar is just a km away @ Thiru Kuraiyalur

Grand Enactment through  the night of Thirumangai Azhvaar's Vedu Pari in Panguni

Two temples north of ThiruNangur, and within a few kms of each other, Thiruvaali and Thirunagari, make up one Divya Desam. This is a Pancha Narasimha Shetram. There are 5 Narasimha temples in and around Thiruvaali and Thirunagari.

Thiruvali

Goddess Lakshmi wanted the Lord to recognize the efforts of Thirumangai Mannan. Granting her wishes, Lord Vishnu directed her to be born as the daughter of Sage Poorna with the promise that he would come there to provide darshan to Thirumangai Mannan.

Mangai Mannan way lays the Lord!!

At Vedarajapuram, a village in between Thiruvali and Thirunagari, Mangai Mannan stops the Lord in an effort to relieve him of his belongings. It is here that the Lord reveals his true form and utters the Astakshara Mantra in the ears of Mangai Mannan. This entire event is enacted here every year in Panguni on the day before Panguni Uthiram. Being the place where Lord Vishnu appeared to share the Thiru Manthiram, Thiruvaali is said to be equivalent to Badri.

Accepting the prayers of the Devas (they wanted Goddess Lakshmi to help protect the world from any further destruction after the Lord had slain Hiranyakashipu), the Goddess came here and sat on the Lord’s right thigh. Hence, this place came to be called ‘Thiru’Vali.

Thirumangai Azhvaar refers to the huge number of peacocks dancing around at Thiruvali

சோலைத்தலைக் கண மா மயில் நடம் ஆட 
மழை முகில் போன்று எழுந்து 
எங்கும் ஆளைப் புகை கமழும் 
அணி ஆலி அம்மானே 
Punnai and Serundi trees and fragrant Jasmine and Shenbagam Flowers were seen every where in the groves in Thiruvali. Bees made buzzing noises after drinking the nectar from the buds.

Thirumangai Azhvaar also refers to Thiruvali as a place where Vedic Seers lived and chanted the Vedas for several generations. They also taught the Vedas to the next generation and the entire place reverberated in Vedic Chants all the time. The sound of Conches, Chants and dances never ceased at Thiruvali.

சாந்தி வேள்வி சடங்கு நான்மறை 
ஓதி  ஓதுவித்து ஆதியாய் வரும் 

அந்தணாளர் அறா அணி ஆலி அம்மானே 

Quick Facts

Moolavar : Lakshmi Narasimha East Facing Sitting Posture

Thayar     : Poorna Valli Thayar

Utsavar    : Thiruvali Nagaraalan

Pancha Narasimha Kshetram

With five Narasimha temples in and around Thiruvali-Thirunagari, this Divya Desam is referred to as a Pancha Narasimha Kshetram. At Kuraiyalur, the birth place of Thirumangai Azhvaar, one finds Ugira Narasimha. At Mangai Mutt, where Mangai Mannan fed a 1000 Vaishnavites as per the wishes of Kumudavalli, there is Veera Narasimha.

At Thirunagari, there are two Narasimha idols- Yoga Narasimha and Hiranya Narasimha and here at Thiruvali, one sees Lakshmi Narasimha with the Goddess on his right lap.

Kulasekhara Azhvaar and his reference to Thiru Vali
Kulasekhara Azhvaar praises the Lord here referring to him as ‘The Ruler of Aali Nagar’

ஆளின் இல்லை பாலகனாய்  அன்று உலகம் உண்டவனே 
வாலியை கொன்று அரசு இளைய வானரதுக்கு அளித்தவனே 
காலின்மணி கரை அலைக்கும் கனபுரத்து என் கருமணியே 
ஆலி நகருக்கு அதிபதியே அயோதிமானே தாலேலோ

Thirunagari
This is the only Divya Desam where one can see ‘Kalyana Ranganathar’ in a sitting posture.

Brahmma’s son Karthama Prajaapathi undertook penance at Thirunagari wanting Moksham. With Lord Vishnu refusing to consider Goddess’ request of providing Moksham to Prajaapathi, an upset Lakshmi left Paramapatham and hid herself here at Thirunagari. Missing her presence, Lord came down in search and finally found her in a pond here. Hence this place came to be called‘Thiru’(Sri) Nagari, to mark the event of Goddess Lakshmi having stayed here.

While the Lord informed Prajaapathi that there was still time left for Moksham, he offered to grant any other wishes to Brahmma’s son. Though dejected, Prajaapathi requested that the Lord and Goddess remain here in the same form so all the devotees could have darshan.

Thirumangai Azhvaar seen with his trademark spear (Vel)

Thirumangai, who had won over Thirugnana Sambandhar(seen earlier in the Seerkazhi Kaazhi Cheerama Vinnagaram story) is seen here like a hunter with a spear. Thirumangai had a golden sculpture of his done at Thirukurungudi. It is believed that he transferred all his powers to this sculpture before he attained Moksham at Thirukurungudi. This idol was then moved to Thirunagari, near the birth place of Thirumangai Azhvaar and to date remains the idol of Thirumangai, on whom the daily pooja is undertaken here at ThiruNagari.

To win over his sweet heart Kumudavalli, Thirumangai fed a 1000 vaishnavites here as per the condition laid down by her). To this day, one can see the mandapam, called Mangai Mutt, where Thirumangai fed these Vaishnavites.

Quick Facts

Moolavar   : Vedaraajan, West Facing Sitting Posture

Thayar       : Amrutha valli

Utsavar      : Kalyana Ranganathar - Vayalali Manavala

Thiruvali Thirunagari details

Temple Timing : 8am-1130am and 5.30pm-730pm
Contact : Padmanabha Bhattar @ 04364 275699/94433 72567
Azhvaar : Kulasekhara Azhvaar, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

How to reach
Take Sirkazhi- Poompuhar bus to get down at Thirunagari. Auto from Sirkazhi bus stand will cost Rs. 200. Contact Auto Moorthy @ 98432 65787