Thirukkavalampadi Sri Gopalakrishna Perumal Temple, Mayiladuthurai

Address

Thirukkavalampadi Sri Gopalakrishna Perumal Temple, Thirukkavalampadi( Tirunangur ), Nadu St, Nangur, Tamil Nadu 609106

Diety

Gopalakrishna Perumal (Vishnu) Amman: Rukmini, Sathyabhama (Lakshmi)

Introduction

Thirukkavalampadi or Gopalakrishna Perumal Temple is located in Thirunangur 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 Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Gopalakrishnan and his consorts Lakshmi as Rukmini and Sathyabama. It is one among the eleven divyadesams of Thirunangur Tirupathis and is closely associated with Thirumangai Alvar.

Puranic Significance

The legend of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with each other. As per legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort Uma due to the yagna (sacrifice) 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 continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to 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, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Tirunangur. The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Tirunangur are located

Special Features

Gopalakrishna temple is located in Thirunangur, a small village, 10 km away from Sirkali, on the way to Thiruvenkadu. The temple has a small shrine with Vimanam. The shrine houses the granite image of Gopalakrishna and his consorts Rukmini and Sathya Bhama on either sides. Gopalakrishna is sported in standing posture with his consorts Rukmini and Sathyabama. The name of the consort in a separate shrine is Madavaragal Mangai and Sengamala Nachiar. The temple has a three-tiered Gopuram and the shrine of Garuda is located outside the gopuram, axial to the central shrine. There are only two major shrines, one that of Gopalkrishna and one for his consorts.

Festivals

The Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam celebrated annually during the Tamil month of Thai is the major festival of the temple during which the festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupathis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur.