Sri Uriayur Azhagiya Manavalan Perumal, Trichy

Address

Sri Kamala Valli Nachiar temple, Sri Azhagia Manavalar Temple, Uraiyur, Trichy – 108,

Diety

Manavala Perumal, Amman: kamala valli

Introduction

Azhagiya Manavalan Perumal Temple (also called Thirukozhi or Nachiyar Koil) in Uraiyur, a suburb Tiruchirappalli in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Azhagiya Manavalan and his consort Lakshmi as Kamalavalli. The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from later Pandyas, Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. Azhagiya Manavalan is believed to have appeared to Kamalavalli, the daughter of Chola king Nanda Cholan, in this place to marry her.

Puranic Significance

The temple is believed to be in existence much before the 7th century. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. An Executive officer appointed by the Board manages the temple along with Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple at Thiruvellarai, Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple and Mariamman Temple at Anbil. Annadhanam scheme, which provides free food to devotees, is implemented in the temple by the Board. Under the scheme, free food is offered to hundred devotees every day in the temple and the expenditure is fully funded by the contributions from devotees. As per Hindu legend, the god Vishnu was pleased by the worship of the childless Chola king Nanda Chola, and he blessed the king with a child that was an incarnate of Lakshmi, his consort. The king found the child in a 1000 petal lotus tank while hunting in a forest. Since the child was born out of lotus, she was named Kamalvalli by the king. Time came when Kamalavalli fell in love with Vishnu in the form of Ranganathar, the presiding deity of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. The Chola king readily got her married to Ranganathar who appeared here as the groom. Since Vishnu appeared as Azhagiya Manavalan, meaning a beautiful groom, the temple built here is called Azhagiya Manavalan TempleThe event is celebrated as Serthi Sevai festival every year. As per another legend, a fowl (called kozhi in Tamil) and an elephant fought at this place, with the fowl victorious. Since the fowl won, the place came to be known as Kozhiyur. It has another name Nichulapuri. The temple is also believed to be the place where King Ravivarmaraja worshiped the presiding deity.

Beliefs

Devotees pray for unity among the couples. Devotees perform special Tirumanjanam for Mother.

Special Features

The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower).The vimana, is called Kamala VimanamThe central shrine has the image of Vishnu as Azhagiya Perumal in sitting posture. The shrine of the goddess Nachiyar faces North and it is the only divyadesam where the presiding goddess has a north-facing shrine.[3][1] There are separate shrines for Ramanuja and Nammalvar. There are paintings on the inner walls of the shrine of the Alvar saint Nammalvar. The temples were painted during the early 1800s and has images of Matsya and Narasimha avatars of Vishnu, Vaishnava Acharyas, Alvars, Vaishnavite mythology, the law of justice and dharma as enunciated by Ambarisha.