108 Divya-deshams: Thiruvali & Thirunagari

BY: SUN STAFF - 13.12 2023

Thirunagari and Thiruvali temples Photos: Wiki CC

A tour of the 108 Divya-desams, the divine abodes of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi.

The Thiruvali - Thirunagari Temples are paired temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Located 10 km from Sirkali in Tamil Nadu and 5 km apart from each other, they are considered to be among the 108 Divya Desams. The temples are believed to have originally been built by the Cholas, with later additions by the Vijayanagara and Thanjavur Nayak kings who commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temples during the 16th century.

The exact history of the temples is apparently not known. Both temples are revered together in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Kulasekara Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temples were also mentioned in 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.

Granite walls surround the temple, enclosing all its shrines, while the water tank is located in a street axial to the eastern gateway. The temple has a seven-tiered rajagopuram, the gateway tower. There are many lila pastimes associated with the eleven temples residing within Tirunangur.

Lord Shiva began dancing in fury at this place after the death of Sati during the yajna of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground, there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continued, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to Lord Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place. On seeing Vishnu, Shiva's anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Lord Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Tirunangur, and these eleven places are where the eleven temples in Tirunangur are located.

An assembly of celestial deities took place in the temple complex, and the sage Vasishtha is said to have worshiped Vishnu here.

The Aḻagiyasingar Temple at Thiruvali has a small west facing shrine. Aḻagiyasingar temple covers an area of about 0.5 acres. The central shrine houses the presiding deity, Aḻagiyasingar. The granite deity is in a sitting posture, with Lakshmi seated on His lap, on the right side. This posture is unique as usually the image of Lakshmi on Narasimhar temples are sculpted on the left side.

The festival deity is named Thiruvali Nagaralan and that deity is also housed in the sanctum. A south facing shrine of Thirumangai Alvar is located outside the temple walls, opposite to the Garuda Mandapam. It is believed that the deity of Narasimhar in the temple is among the five original images of Narasimha worshipped by Thirumangai Alvar. The temple mast, the shrine of Garuda and a four pillared hall are located axial to the sanctum, outside the compound wall.

The vimana over the sanctum is Ashtanga in architecture, which has eight parts. The outer parts of the vimana have stucco images of sages, the Dashavatara, Lakshmi Narasimha, Lakshmi Narayana and the other avatars of Vishnu. A north facing shrine of Thirumangai Alvar is located in the same elevated enclosure.

Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the fourteen-day annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June) is the most prominent. Today the temples are maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.