VanBoas1588 at 14:55, 12 March 2026

2026-03-12T14:55:46Z

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{{Short description|Village in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{This|an Indian village|temple in this village|Kallalagar Temple}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Alagar Kovil
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = AzhagarKovil Madurai.JPG
| image_alt = Image of [[Kallalagar Temple]], after which the village is named
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = 
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| coordinates = {{coord|10|04|29.45|N|78|12|47.15|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Madurai district|Madurai]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 266
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
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}}
{{Vaishnavism}}

'''Alagar Kovil''' is a village in [[Madurai district]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The village is centered around [[Kallalagar Temple]]. Constructed in the [[Tamil architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha|Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]s'' dedicated to [[Vishnu]], who is worshiped as [[Vishnu|Kallalagar]] and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Tirumamagal.<ref>{{cite book|title=108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu|last= M. S. |first=Ramesh|publisher=[[Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam]]|year=1993}}</ref>

==Kallalagar Temple==
[[Kallalagar Temple]] covers an area of about {{cvt|2|acre}} and has a five-tiered ''[[gopuram]]'' (gateway tower). The temple is enclosed in a rectangular enclosure with large granite walls. The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity, [[Vishnu|Sundarabahu Perumal]] in standing posture. The images of [[Lakshmi|Sridevi]] and [[Bhūmi|Bhudevi]] are also housed in the sanctum. There are two life size images of [[Narasimha]], the [[avatar]] of Vishnu. One of them is shown holding the [[asura]] [[Hiranyakasipu]] and other slaying him.<ref>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu|last=Rao|first=A.V.Shankaranarayana|publisher=Vasan Publications|isbn=978-81-8468-112-3|year=2012|pages=229–231}}</ref>

The temple houses various sculptures dated to the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara period]]. The temple has an idol of [[Sudarshana Chakra|Chakaratalvar]], who is represented with 16 hands holding various weapons, and is not accompanied by Narasimha.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Raṅga-maṇḍapa of the Tāṭikkompu Temple A Study of an Iconographic Programme of the Vijayanagara Tradition|journal=East and West|volume=46|last=S.|first=Gopalakrishnan|issue=3/4|date=December 1996|jstor=29757285|pages=415–431}}</ref>

=== Chithirai festival ===
[[Meenakshi Tirukalyanam|Chithirai festival]] is an annual festival celebrated during the month of [[Chithirai]]. During the festival, Kallalagar is taken on a procession from Alagar Kovil and reaches Madurai on [[Purnima|Pournami]] (Full Moon day).<ref>{{cite book|title=Saints, Goddesses and Kings: Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fxqtx8SflEsC&q=azhagar+kallar&pg=PA43|year=2004|page=43|isbn=978-0-521-89103-5|last1=Bayly|first1=Susan}}</ref> During Ethir Sevai, Alagar changes his appearance as a [[Kallar (caste)|Kallar]] and enters Madurai. The god is taken on a ceremonial dip to the [[Vaigai]] river, in a horse mount.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/divine-wedding-under-lockdown-chithirai-festival-at-madurai-meenakshi-temple/story-qZotuPYKznlpKznD1LGg4O.html|title=Divine wedding under lockdown: Chithirai festival at Madurai Meenakshi Temple|work=[[The Hindustan Times]]|date=4 May 2020|access-date=6 July 2023}}</ref> The [[Dashavatara]] of Vishnu is enacted throughout the night at Ramarayar Mandapam, located to the north of Vaigai. After this event, Alagar is taken to Mysore Veera Mandapam on decorated Anantharayar palanquin. The next morning, Alagar returns to Alagar kovil in 'poo pallakku' (palanquin decorated with flowers).{{cn|date=March 2026}}

During the month of [[Aadi (month)|Aadi]], the brahmotsavam festival is being celebrated for ten days. This festival occurs within the precincts of the temple, and the [[temple car]] is taken in procession during Pournami.{{cn|date=March 2026}}

== Transport ==
{{refimprove|section|date=March 2026}}
Alagar Kovil is connected by road to Madurai and [[Melur]]. [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation]] operates buses to the village. The nearest major railway station is [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai Junction]], and the nearest airport is [[Madurai Airport|Madurai International airport]]. [[Taxi]]s and [[auto rickshaw]]s also operate to the location.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Madurai district}}

[[Category:Villages in Madurai district]]

Alagar Kovil - Revision history

VanBoas1588 at 14:55, 12 March 2026