Varadaraja Perumal, Tirunangur, Nagapattinam

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Varadaraja Perumal	Ambal / Thayar:	Bhoonayagi
Deity:	Perumal	Historical name:	TiruManikoodam
Vriksham:		Teertham:	Chandra Pushkarini
Agamam:		Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	8 to 11.30 & 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 (25 km)	Nagapattinam (58 km)
	Tiruvarur (60 km)	Kumbakonam (63 km)

Location

Tirunangur is located 10 km from Sirkazhi. This temple is located a bit outside Tirunangur, on the way to Kavalampadi, and is about 12 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.

The legend of this temple is also connected to the legend of the nearby Tirutetriambalam temple, as they share a common puranam.

After the churning of the ocean, in order not to give amritam to the Asuras, Vishnu took the form of Mohini and started distributing the amritam to the Devas first. When the Asuras realised what was happening, one of the asuras (son of Simhika, an asura woman) disguised himself as a Deva and sat with the Devas waiting for amritam. Suryan and Chandran noticed this and indicated this to Mohini, who tapped the ladle on her pot. As a result, the asura’s head and body split, becoming Rahu and Ketu. Since Suryan and Chandran were the cause of this, till date it is considered that Rahu extracts revenge on them by causing eclipses!

This place is also called Tirumanikoodam. The Perumal at this temple is said to be the Varadaraja Perumal in Kanchipuram, and so grants all the wishes of devotees who worship here. Perumal here – also called Gajendra Varajadaraja Perumal – is in nindra kolam at this temple. Nachiyar does not have a separate shrine, but is present with Vishnu in the garbhagriham.

Suryan and Chandran were afraid, and so they hid in two tanks they created – the Surya Pushkarini and Chandra Pushkarini – which are the tanks of this temple and the nearby Tirutetriambalam temple. Vishnu came here and blessed Chandran.

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.