Badrinarayana Perumal, Tirunangur, Nagapattinam

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Badrinarayana Perumal	Ambal / Thayar:	Pundarika Valli Thaayar
Deity:	Perumal	Historical name:	TiruManimaada Kovil
Vriksham:		Teertham:	Rudra Pushkarini
Agamam:		Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	8 to 10 & 5 to 7	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Divya Desam	–
Sung by:	Tirumangaiazhvar	Temple set: Ekadasa Divya Desam
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Tirunangur	District:	Nagapattinam
Maps from (click):	Current location	Mayiladuthurai (22.9 km)	Nagapattinam (57.7 km)
	Tiruvarur (59 km)	Kumbakonam (60.9 km)

Location

Tirunangur is located 10 km from Sirkazhi.

Sthala puranam and temple information

It will be useful to read this overview of the Nangur Ekadasa Divya Desam and Ekadasa Rudra Peethams, if you have not already done so, to set the context for the eleven temples (including this temple) in Nangur.

After the events of Daksha Yagam, Siva was inconsolable. As Rudra, he started a terrible and fierce dance – the Rudra Tandavam – and every time his flowing hair touched the ground, another Rudra sprang up – this way, there came to be a total of eleven Rudras. All of this took place at what is Nangur today. At the request of the Devas, Vishnu came to quell Rudra’s anger, and rid the latter of the Brahmahathi dosham caused by the decapitation of Daksha. This Perumal came here from Badrinath (Badarikashramam). The Manimaada Koil is the first place that Vishnu came, and gave pratyaksham to Rudra. The temple tank is therefore called the Rudra Teertham.

Lord Vishnu came here on a chariot, instead of on Garuda. This is important for two reasons. Firstly, the temple is shaped like a chariot. The second is that in the Tamil month of Thai (January-February), the Garuda Sevai utsavam takes place here, where (as if to compensate for Vishnu not coming here on Garuda), the Perumal and Garuda of each of the 11 Nangur Divya Desam temples arrive here. This festival is a must visit for those who are interested. Mangalasasanam for Perumal is done by Tirumangaiazhvar and in turn, mangalasasanam for Tirumangaiazhvar is done by Manavala Mamuni.

Indra has worshipped here to be rid of a curse. Similarly, Airavata has worshipped here.

Perumal is in amarndha kolam, with a prayoga chakram in His hand. Since He did not use the Garuda vahanam to reach here, Garuda is not near the dwajasthambam but instead at Perumal’s feet in the garbhagriham.

This temple is called Manimaada Koil. Mani refers to knowledge or gnanam (also see below). Maada koil refers fsto any temple at a raised level (which is the same concept of the 78 maadakoils constructed by Kochchenga Cholan, though this temple is not one of them).

Tirukoshtiyur Nambi (from whom Ramanujar received his Tirumandiram (Ashtaksharam) upadesam at Tirukoshtiyur) has a separate shrine here. It is believed that Perumal Himself gave upadesam to Tirukosthiyur Nambi. Tirumangaiazhvar has sung on this temple, Nanda Vilakke Alathakariyaai…. This is the literal equivalent of the Upanishadic Satyam Gnanam Anantam Brahma.

Other information for your visit

There are no accommodation options in Nangur. The nearest place for decent budget and mid-range accommodation is Mayiladuthurai. Lately, some hotels and AirBnB type accommodation has come up around Sirkazhi.