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[1] All these 9 temples are classified as Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.[2] The temple is referred to as Sukra sthalam, a location for the planet deity, Sukra.
The same place hosts one of the Navakailasams, Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Then Thirupperai, the seventh in the series.[3]
Festival
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.[4][5]
References
- ↑ Adinathar Alwar thirukkoil Sthala varalaru; Temple publication; Page 7
- ↑ 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
- ↑ Arulmigu Kailasanathar Temple Thenthirupperai. Tirunelveli District. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ↑ Jothirlingam: The Indian Temple Guide{{#if:Suriya|, Suriya}. Partridge Publishing(2015). ISBN 9781482847864
- ↑ Temples of South India{{#if:Anantharaman|, Anantharaman}. East West Books (Madras)(2006). ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8