Thiruchemponsey Perarulaalan Perumal Temple, Thirunangur, Nagapattinam
| Date built: | – |
|---|---|
| Deity: | Thiruchemponsey Perarulaalan Perumal |
| Architectural style: | Dravidian architecture |
| Major festivals | – |
| Locale: | Thirunangur |
| District:: | Nagapattinam |
| Address: | Sri Perarulalan (Semponnarangar) Temple, Sempon Sei Koil, Thirunangur – 609 106, Nagapattinam District |
| Phone | +91- 4364-236 172 |
It is one among the eleven divyadesams of Thirunangur Tirupathis and is closely associated with Thirumangai Alvar. The temple is open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m and has four daily rituals at various times of the day. The Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam celebrated annually during the Tamil month of Thai is the major festival of the temple during which the festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupathis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur.
Among the 108 Divya Desams, this is the only Divyadesam where the Perumal himself gave the money to construct his own temple. It is located under ½ km east of Purushothama Divya Desam. Sempon Arangar is said to have come from Uraiyur. Hence the Lord here has 2 Goddesses similar to Azhagiya Manavaalan of Uraiyur. This sthalam is called with other names like Hema Rangam, Nagapuri and Nangai Nagaram. This divyadesam is situated within and at North-eastern side of Thiru Nangur.
Festivals
The temple is open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamilnadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 7:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Perarulalan and his consort Allanimalar Nachiyar.
During the worship, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. During the new moon day of the Tamil month Thai, the festival deity of Thirumangai Azhwar is brought to the temple from Thiruvali-Thirunagari.
The Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January–February). The highlight of the festival is Garuda Sevai, an event in which the festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupathis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur. The festive image of Thirumangai Azhwar is also brought on a Hamsa Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these eleven temples are recited during the occasion.
The festival images of Thirumangai Alvar and his consort Kumudhavalli Naachiyar are taken in a palanquin to each of the eleven temples. The verses dedicated to each of the eleven temples are chanted in the respective shrines. This is one of the most important festivals in the region which draws thousands of visitors. Aipasi Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the temple in October-November on the Swati Star day, the birth star of Perumal.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Prayers
Those worshipping Lord here in all sincerity will be relieved of the poverty they are in with good jobs and progress financially, it is believed. Devotees perform Thirumanjanam to Lord and Mother and offer vastras.
Pooja Timings
- Ushathkalam Pooja – 8 a.m.
- Kalasanthi Pooja – 10:00 a.m.
- Sayarakshai Pooja – 5:00 p.m.
- Ardha Jamam Pooja – 7:00 p.m.
Architecture
Legend / Local stories
Vishnu appearing in eleven forms on Shiva request:
The legends of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with each other. As per legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort Uma due to the yagna (sacrifice) of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground; there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place.
On seeing Vishnu, Shiva’s anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Thirunangur. Arimeya Vinnagaram literally translates to the place where Hari (another name of Vishnu) resides.
The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Thirunangur are located. They are;
| Thirukavalampadi | Gopalakrishnan along with Rukmini and Satyabama. |
| Thiruvannpurushothamam | Purushothaman along with Purushothama Naayaki. |
| Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil | Perarulalan along with Allimaamalar Naachiyar. |
| Thiru Devanar Thogai | Deiva Naayagan along with Kadal Magal Naachiyar. |
| Thiru Mani Koodam | Varadharaja Perumal along with Thirumagal Naachiyar and Bhoomi Piratti. |
| Thiru Paarthanpalli | Thamarai Kelvan along with Thamarai Naayaki, in standing posture in all the above Kshetrams. |
| Thirumanimaada Kovil | Narayana Gyana Nandha Vilaku along with Pundarigavalli. |
| Thiruvaali Thirunagari | Amrudhavalli Vedharajan, Narashimar along with Amrudha Kada valli. |
| Thiru Vaigunda Vinnagaram | Vaigunda Nadhan along with Periya Piratti. |
| Arimeya Vinnagaram | Kudamaadu Koothan along with Amrudha Kada valli, in sitting posture in above 4 Kshetrams. |
| Thirutheythri Ambalam | Shenkann Maal along with Sengamalavalli, in sleeping posture of the type Bhujanga Sayanam. |
Rama gifting a golden idol of cow to a poor Brahmin:
Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu came to this place after killing Ravana. He made a golden idol of a cow and gifted to a Brahmin from the ashram of sage Dranethra, from where the place obtained its name. It is believed that Azhagiya Manavalar, the presiding deity at the Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple in Trichy came to this place at the request of Shiva. The Brahmin is believed to have built the temple with the gold he obtained and hence it is called Thiruchemponsey (chempon indicated gold in Tamil).
Worshipping Perumal here is equivalent to worshipping Srirangam Ranganathar, Thirupathi Venkatesar and Kanchi Varadhar:
Thirumangai Azhwar had seen Srirangam Ranganathar, Thirupathi Venkatesar and Kanchi Varadhar in this Perumal Himself as mentioned by the Azhwar in his various pasurams about this kshetram, so worshipping this Perumal is considered equivalent to worshipping all these three Perumals at this very same place.
Mukunda getting back all his riches by worshipping Vishnu here:
Once there lived a Brahmin Mukunda, elder son of Kashyapa. He chanted the Ashtakshara Mandiram continuously for 32,000 times here and gained abundant wealth from Perarulalan.
Perarulalan:
As the Lord gives away love and wealth generously to His devotees along with Lord Shiva, He is called as Perarulalan, i.e., a person of generosity. To indicate the never ending generosity of Perarulalan, Lilly flower blooms even during night time (Thaayar has the name of Alli).
Other Names:
This sthalam is called with other names like Hema Rangam, Nagapuri, and Nangai Nagaram.
Sages got darshan of Vishnu here:
Sages Rudra and Dhrudanetra Muni had the gift of enjoying the darshan of Lord in this temple.
Photo Gallery
How to Reach:
This temple is in the village of Thiru Nangur and called as Thiru Sempon Sei Koil. It’s about 5 miles (8 kms) away from Sirkazhi. It is one among the eleven divyadesams of Thirunangur Tirupathis.
By Road:
The temple is on the Sirkali-Nagapattinam route. The devotee has to get down at Annan Koil stop. The temple is 3 km southward from this bus stop. Auto facility is available. There are buses from Mayavaram/ Sirkazhi that goes past Thiru Nangur. Direct special buses are available only on special occasions. If you are going in car it is 20 kms from Mayavaram and 8 kms from Sirkazhi.
The road leading to this village is narrow and you might miss the turning from the main road if you are not watchful. Extensive network of roads connect it to Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Pondicherry, Thanjavur and all other major cities. Nagapattinam is located at a distance of about 330kms from Chennai by Road.
By Train:
Nagapattinam railway junction connects Thiruvarur in the west, Nagore in the north, Velankanni in the south and Karaikal in the east. There is a daily express train to Chennai via Mayiladuthurai and Ernakulam via Coimbatore and it connects all major cities. Nearest Railway Station is located at Sirkazhi.
By Air:
The nearest Airport is Tiruchirapalli Airport, located 145 km (90 miles) away from the town.
Contact Details
Sri Perarulalan (Semponnarangar) Temple,
Sempon Sei Koil, Thirunangur – 609 106,
Nagapattinam District
Phone: +91- 4364-236 172