Saileshchauhan at 19:06, 9 November 2025

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{{Short description|Perumal temple in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name =
| image = Nachiyar4.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|10.8269|N|78.6734|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Tiruchirapalli]]
| location = [[Uraiyur]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = {{Plainlist|
* Azhagiya Manavala Perumal ([[Vishnu]])
* Kamalavalli Nachiyar ([[Lakshmi]])
}}
| facade_direction =
| temple_tank =
| tower =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator = [[Cholas]]
| website =
}}

'''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 Azhagiya Manavalan ([[Vishnu]]) and Goddess Kamalavalli ([[Lakshmi]]). Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha]]'', 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]]'' dedicated to [[Lakshmi Narayana]].

The temple is believed to have been built by the [[Medieval Cholas]] of the late 8th century CE, with later contributions from [[Pandyan Dynasty#Pandya revival (7th–10th centuries CE)|later Pandyas]], [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagar kings]] and [[Madurai Nayaks]]. As per Hindu legend, Azhagiya Manavalan appeared to Kamalavalli, the daughter of Chola king Nanda Cholan, in this place to marry her.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and bodies of water. The temple has a five-tiered ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'', the temple's gateway tower. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the chariot festival, celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Chittirai'' (March–April), is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

== Legend ==
[[File:Nachiyar1.jpg|Legend of Nachiyar's marriage to Azhagiya Manavalar|thumb|200px|left]]
As per Hindu legend, the god [[Vishnu]] was pleased by the worship of the childless [[Chola]] king Nanda Chola. 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 Kamalavalli by the king. Time came when Kamalavalli fell in love with Vishnu in the form of [[Ranganatha]], the presiding deity of [[Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple]]. The Chola king readily got her married to Ranganatha, who appeared here as the groom. Since Vishnu appeared as Azhagiya Manavalan, meaning a beautiful groom, the temple built here is called Azhagiya Manavalan Temple.<ref name="iskcon"/><ref>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|ref=R.|pages=486–7r}}</ref> The event is celebrated as Serthi Sevai festival every year.<ref name="hindu">{{cite news|title=Re-enacting the celestial wedding|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/reenacting-the-celestial-wedding/article1567580.ece|work=The Hindu|last=S.|first=Prabhu|date=24 April 2011|access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About the temple|url=http://www.woraiyurvekkaliamman.tnhrce.in/history-vekkaliamman.html|publisher=Temple administration, Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=2013-05-05}}</ref>

As per another legend, a fowl (called ''kozhi'' in [[Tamil language|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.<ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|publisher=Asian Educational Services|page=533|last=Ayyar|first=P. V. Jagadisa|isbn=9788120601512|location=New Delhi|year=1982|ref=Ayyar}}</ref>

==History==
The temple is believed to be in existence much before the 7th century.<ref name="TN">{{cite web|title=Trichy Temples|url=http://www.tn.gov.in/trichytourism/other.htm|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Lord Sri Ranganatha Temple - a study|journal=Monthly Multidisciplinary Research Journal|last1=J.|first1=Sulochana Gandhi|last2=R.|first2=Soundarajan|pages=2–5|url=http://aygrt.isrj.net/UploadedData/1911.pdf|issn=2231-5063|volume=2|issue=7|date=January 2013|access-date=2013-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002140622/http://aygrt.isrj.net/UploadedData/1911.pdf|archive-date=2013-10-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Architecture==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
|total_width=350
|width1=876| height1=657
|width2=3264| height2=2448
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Tirukozhi4.jpg
|image2=Nachiyar5.jpg
|footer=Pillared halls in the temple
}}
The temple has a five-tiered ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'' (gateway tower).<ref name="iskcon"/> The [[vimana (tower)|vimana]], is called Kamala Vimanam.<ref name="dinamalar"/> The central shrine has the image of Vishnu as Azhagiya Perumal in sitting posture. The shrine of the goddess Kamalavalli Nachiyar faces North and it is the only ''divyadesam'' where the presiding goddess has a north-facing shrine.<ref name="hindu"/><ref name="iskcon"/> There are separate shrines for the saints [[Ramanuja]] and [[Nammalvar]]. There are paintings on the inner walls of the shrine of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saint Nammalvar. The temples were painted during the early 1800s and has images of [[Matsya]] and [[Narasimha]] [[avatar]]s of Vishnu, Vaishnava Acharyas, Alvars, Vaishnavite mythology, the law of justice and ''[[dharma]]'' as enunciated by [[Ambarisha]].<ref name="TN"/>

==Festivals and religious practices==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=left
|total_width=350
|width1=3264| height1=2448
|width2=3264| height2=2448
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Nachiyar8.jpg
|image2=Nachiyar9.jpg
|footer=Paramapada Vasal and entrance of Tirupanazhwar shrine
}}
The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 7 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandamkalam'' at 7:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Azhagiya Manavalan and Kamalavalli. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the ''[[Vedas]]'' (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the [[Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu#Dvajasthamba and Pali Peedam|temple mast]]. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite news|title=Sri Azhagia Manavalar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=168|newspaper=Dinamalar|access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref>

Serthi Sevai, the annual home coming festival is celebrated in the temple annually during the ''Ayilyam'' star in the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Panguni''. The festival is a part of the Panguni Uthiram festival of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, when the festival idol of Srirangam temple, Namperumal, is brought to the Nachiyar temple and the images of Nachiyar and Namperumal are adorned in the Serthi hall of the temple. Special rituals are performed during the occasion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Devotees throng Nachiyar temple to witness 'Serthi Sevai'|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/devotees-throng-nachiyar-temple-to-witness-serthi-sevai/article3275734.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=3 April 2012|location=Tiruchi|access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref> The other major festivals celebrated in the temple are Dolostava, Vasanthothsava (spring festival) and [[Navaratri]].<ref name="iskcon">{{cite journal|title=Krishna Voice |pages=11–12 |url=https://www.iskconbangalore.org/sites/default/files/kv-March-2013.pdf |last=Dasan |first=Sampathkumar Ramanuja |volume=14 |issue=3 |date=March 2013 |publisher=Sankirthana Seva Trust |location=Bangalore |access-date=2013-09-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819024145/http://iskconbangalore.org/sites/default/files/kv-March-2013.pdf |archive-date=2013-08-19 }}</ref>

The temple is believed to be the birthplace of [[Thiruppaan Alvar]], one of the Alvar saints belonging to the 6th-8th centuries. In Srirangam Ranganthaswamy temple, a yearly birth festival of Thiruppaan is celebrated with [[Vishvarupa|Viswaroopa]] [[Darśana|darshan]] of Ranganatha at the sanctum on the occasion of his birthday. The festive idol of Thiruppaan is taken from the temple to Srirangam. Thiruppaan is accorded with grand honours called "Keezha Padi Honours". A ''Parivattam'' (silk turban) is tied on the Alvar's head, adorned with a garland, a shawl is wrapped around his shoulders and sacred sandal paste is handed to him, all of which are believed to bring a smile on the face of the Alvar. An hour later, the image of the Alvar is taken to Nammalvar shrine and then to the goddess shrine, with the chanting of ''Nalayira Divya Prabandham'' with the verses of the Alvar's work ''Amalanaathipiraan''. In the Azhagiya Manavala Perumal temple, a 10-day festival is celebrated in parallel that includes ''Araiyar sevai'', ''Veda Paaraayanam'' (reciting of ''[[Vedas]]''), special ''thirumanjanam'' (ablution) and procession inside the temple.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ranganatha suffered his pain|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/ranganatha-suffered-his-pain/article2778704.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=6 January 2012|access-date=2013-07-21|last=S.|first=Prabhu}}</ref>

==Religious significance==
[[File:Nachiyar10.jpg|200px|thumb|Entrance of the sanctum]]
The temple is revered in ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by [[Kulashekhara Alwar|Kulasekara alvar]] in eleven hymns and [[Thirumangai Alvar]] in thirteen hymns. The temple is classified as a ''[[divyadesam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.<ref>{{cite news|title=Siva temple of yore |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/11/05/stories/2004110503201000.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629105912/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/11/05/stories/2004110503201000.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|date=4 November 2004|last=V.|first=Ganapathy|work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref> The temple is counted as the second in the line of ''divyadesams'' after Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple.<ref name="TN"/> The temple is one of the few ''divyadesams'' where the goddess has prominence over Vishnu. Some of the other temples where such female dominance is observed are [[Srivilliputhur Divya Desam|Andal Temple]] at [[Srivilliputhur]], [[Nachiyar Koil]] and [[Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple]] in Thiruvellarai. During all festive occasions, the first rights are reserved for Nachiyar, who moves ahead, while the god follows her. The food served to Nachiyar is prepared with pepper instead of chillies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Unique drama unfolds during procession|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/unique-drama-unfolds-during-procession/article4244915.ece|last=S.|first=Prabhu|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 December 2012|access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Unique drama unfolds during procession|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/04/08/stories/2005040800110300.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125070614/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/04/08/stories/2005040800110300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=8 April 2005|access-date=2013-09-09}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090807033855/http://www.divyadesamonline.com/hindu/temples/trichy/tirukozhi-temple.shtml Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple]
*[https://www.dinamalar.com/koil/248_alagimanavalan_uriyur_trichy.asp About the temple (in Tamil)]

{{Famous Vishnu temples}}
{{commons category|Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple}}

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Tiruchirappalli]]

Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple - Revision history

Saileshchauhan at 19:06, 9 November 2025