Perarulalan Perumal Temple, Thirusemponsei Koil

Sthala Purāṇam

Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil is one of the eleven Thirunangur Divya Desams near Sirkazhi, sung by Thirumangai Alvar. The Lord is worshipped as Perarulalan, the one of abundant grace, with alternate names Hema Rangar (Hemaranganatha), Sem Pon Arangar and Damodaran, reflecting his form akin to Lord Ranganatha bestowing wealth on devotees. The distinctive sthala puranam tells how Lord Rama, after slaying Ravana, sought relief from brahmahatya dosham. After visiting Rameswaram he came to this site and stayed at the ashram of Thrida Nethra Maharishi; following the sage's counsel, Rama fashioned a cow of pure gold, remained upon it, and after the prescribed days donated it to a Brahmin. The Brahmin sold the gold and built this temple with the proceeds, making it celebrated as the Divya Desam where the Perumal himself, in effect, provided the means to construct his own shrine. From this Sem Pon (pure gold) gift the place took the name Sempon Sei Kovil, the temple made of pure gold. The shrine also embodies the shared Thirunangur legend in which Lord Shiva performed the Ekadasa Rudra worship and Narayana manifested in eleven forms to bless him. The Moolavar, Sri Perarulalan, stands facing east, with the Thayaar Allimaamalar Naachiyar and the Utsavar Hema Rangar. The sacred tank is the Nithya Pushkarani, and the vimana over the sanctum is the Kanaka Valli Vimaanam.

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📍 11.17833, 79.77944

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