Thenthiruperai Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar Temple, Thoothukudi- Nava Tirupati

Address

Thenthiruperai Makaranetunkuzhaikkaadar Tirukkovil, Thenthiruperai – 628 623, Thoothukudi District Phone: +91 4639 272 233, +91 4639273902 Mobile: +91 99760 10911 / 93605 53489

Diety

Makara Nedunkuzhaikathan (Vishnu), Amman: Kuzhaikaduvalli, Thiruperai Nachiyar (Lakshmi)

Introduction

Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu located Thenthiruperai along Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the southern bank of Thamiraparani river. It is located 5 km from Alwar Thirunagari All these 9 temples are classified as Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or AlwarsThe temple is referred to as Sukra sthalam, a location for the planet deity, Sukra. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar and his consort Lakshmi as Thiruperai Nachiyar. Planet: Venus Specialized day: Friday

Puranic Significance

As per Hindu legend, once Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu was left alone as he went to earth and lived with Bhudevi. Lakshmi prayed to sage Durvasa to give her the beauty of Bhudevi. The sage went to meet Bhudevi, who was with Vishnu. She pretended not to have seen the sage. In his fury, the sage cursed Bhudevi to transfer her form to Lakshmi. Bhudevi pleaded with the sage to propitiate her off the curse. The sage asked her to pray Vishnu on the banks of river Tamirabarani. On a new moon day when she was doing the prayer in the river, she found a pair of ear rings in the form of a fish. She offered it to Vishnu who appeared before him. When Vishnu accepted the ear ring, Bhudevi got her original form. Since Bhudevi offered Makara kundala, the ear rings, the presiding deity came to be known as Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar, the one who attained the ear rings

Beliefs

Devotees pray here for relief from the adverse aspects of planets faced by them. Devotees perform Thirumanjanam for the Lord and don him with new clothes.

Special Features

The temple is located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is constructed in Dravidian style of architecture. All the shrines of the temple are located in a rectangular granite walls, pierced by a three-tiered gopuram. The presiding deity is sported in a standing posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi on either of his sides. The images of Bhoodevi and Sridevi along with the festival images are located inside the sanctum. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Festivals

The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) witnesses 9 Garudasevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana(sacred vehicle). An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on a Anna Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams(verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. The utsavar(festival deity) of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 9 divya desams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.