Narayana Perumal Temple, Thirumanimada Koil

Sthala Purāṇam

Thiru Manimaada Kovil is one of the eleven Thirunangur Divya Desams near Sirkazhi, sung by Thirumangai Alvar, who composed verses in its praise. The Lord is worshipped as Narayanan, bearing the special name Nanda Vilakku, the eternal lamp, for he stands radiating the unceasing light of Pranava Gnana, the spiritual knowledge of Om, the primal sound of the universe. Temple tradition equates this Lord with Nara Narayana, both forms embodying supreme jnana, which is why he is also associated with Badrinarayana. The place itself is linked to the Mahabharata: the serpent king Parikshit is said to have ruled this region called Nagapuri, a name later corrupted into Nangur. The sthala puranam centres on the eleven Rudras (Ekadasa Rudras) receiving the Lord's grace here, and recounts how Indra, who had lost his wealth, regained his prosperity following the churning of the ocean and obtained darshan at this sacred site. As with the wider Thirunangur group, the eleven shrines are held to have arisen to absolve Lord Shiva of his grief connected with the destruction at Daksha's yajna. The Moolavar, Sri Narayanan (Nanda Vilakku), is seated facing east, with the Thayaar Pundarikavalli (Pundariga Valli). The sacred tanks include the Indra Pushkarani and Rudhira Pushkarani, and the vimana over the sanctum is the Pranava Vimaanam.

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📍 11.17750, 79.77917

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