Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple, Devaprayag

Sthala Purāṇam

Thirukkandam, also called Kadinagar (Thiru Kandam-ennum Kadinagar), is identified with Devaprayag in Uttarakhand, the first Divya Desam encountered travelling from Haridwar toward Badrinath, lying about 45 miles from Rishikesh at roughly 1,700 feet elevation. Its defining sacred feature is the confluence (prayag) of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers, which after merging here form the Ganga proper - the union called Aadi Ganga - and from which the name Devaprayag (sacred confluence of the divine rivers) derives. The sthala puranam relates that Brahma, King Dasaratha and Sri Rama performed austerities at this place; an image of Raghunathji is said to have been installed by Adi Shankara. The presiding deity, Sri Neelamega Perumal - also venerated as Purushottaman - stands facing east, and is said to have granted darshan (prathyaksham) to Bharadwaja Maharishi; his consort is Pundareekavalli Thayar. The vimanam is the Mangala Vimanam and the temple's pushkarani is the Mangala Theertham together with the Ganga Nadhi. In the Nalayira Divya Prabandham this kshetram is unique in being sung exclusively by Periyalvar, who composed pasurams of mangalasasanam upon Neelamega Perumal.

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