Gopalakrishnan, Tirunangur, Nagapattinam

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Gopalakrishnan	Ambal / Thayar:	Rukmini, Bhama, Madavaral Mangai, Senkamala Naachiyar
Deity:	Perumal	Historical name:	Tirukkavalambadi
Vriksham:		Teertham:	Thadamara Poigai
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 (26 km)	Nagapattinam (60 km)
	Tiruvarur (62 km)	Kumbakonam (64 km)

Location

Tirunangur is located 10 km from Sirkazhi. This temple is located a bit outside Tirunangur, and is about 11km 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.

This temple is also called Tirukavalampadi or Kavalampadi. Kavalam comes from the Tamil Ka or kavu, meaning garden. Narakasura had usurped Aditi’s earrings, umbrella and other possessions. At the Indra’s request, Krishna vanquished Narakasura and brought back the stolen items and gave them back to Indra. Later, Satyabhama wanted the parijata flower in Indra’s garden. However, an ungrateful Indra refused to part with it, and Indrani said that a celestial flower cannot be worn by humans. And so, an angry Krishna destroyed Indra’s garden, and moved the parijatam, kalpaka vriksham and other plants and trees to his own kavalam here, set up for the exclusive enjoyment of Satyabhama.

Another meaning of “Kavalam” is elephant, and “Padi” is a field or a place to graze. This is possibly related to Indra’s elephant Airavatam, which would graze in Indra’s garden. The garden that Krishna created was perhaps fit for Airavata, and hence this place is called Kavalam Padi.

It is believed that Perumal, who is in the form of Krishnan here, has come from Dwarka.

Vishvaksena – commander of Vishnu’s army – was granted vision of Krishna here, for his devoted service. While there is a separate sannidhi for Thayar, Perumal here is considered to be one with Thayar, and so worshipping Perumal is considered worshipping Thayar as well.

In the Tamil month of Thai (January-February), the Garuda Sevai utsavam takes place at the nearby Badrinarayana Perumal temple at Nangur, where 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.

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.