Thirunagai Soundararaja Perumal Temple | Divya Desam - 19

Thirunagai Soundararaja Perumal Temple

Moolavar : Neelamegha Perumal, Azhagiya Perumal
Utsavar : Sowndirarajan
Thayar : Sowndaryavalli Thayar
Utsavar : Gajalakshmi Thayar
Blessing Posture : Standing Pose Facing East Dhana Hastham
Vimanam : Sowndarya Viamanam
Puranam : Brahmanda Puranam
Pushkarini : Saara Pushkarini
Praised By : Thirumangai Azhwar with --- Pasurams
Agamam : Paancharaadhram

Other Sannidhis : Ashtabuja Narasimhan, Sreenivasan, Vaikundanathan, Garudalwar, Adisheshan, Azhwars, Senai Mudalwar

Specialities : ALMIGHTY Blessed Adhishesgan to be HIS Sayanam only in this Temple and hence the name Nagapattinam
Specialities : 15 Vimanams in the Temple, Ashtabuja Narasimhar as Dushta Nigrahan and Sishta Paripalanan are Unique

Abaya Hastha Ashtabuja Narasimhar

Thiru Nagappattinam Soundararaja Perumal Divyadesam is very distinct and dates back across 4 Yugams. Adhisheshan, the King of Serpants had darshan in Krudha Yuga where as Bhoodevi in Thredhayuga, Markandeya Mahirishi in Dwabara Yuga and Salisugan, the Chozha King in Kali Yuga. This is the One and Only Divyadesam where the Moolavar is blessing in HIS 3 Poses, in Sayana Posture as Rangnathan, Sitting Posture as Govindharajan and Standing Posture as Soundararajan. The temple main Vimanam is being worshipped as "Soundarya Vimanam" which has 5 Kalasas which is very unique and distinct and the other uniqueness is that Periya Thiruvadi Garudalwar is seen in his unusual Sitting Posture. Thirumangai Alwar had been attracted by the beauty of ALMIGHTY as Soundara Rajan. Adhisheshan got Blessed to be the Sayanam for Ever to the ALMIGHTY only here in this Thiru Nagai Divyadesam. Hence the Place and the Temple is being called as Thiru Nagai. In Tamil Nagam means The Serpant.

Here in Thiru Nagai Divyadesam, Ashtapuja Narasimhar is seen blessing Prahalatha in HIS One Hand and Abaya Hastham in the other. He performs dual duties here as Dushta Nigraham as well Sishta Paribalanam. Once Dhuruvan underwent a penance wanting to rule entire world. Pleased ALMIGHTY gave HIM prathyaksham to him on HIS Garuda Vahanam. By seeing the ALMIGHTY on Garuda Vahanam, Druva was admired by HIS beauty and requested HIM to grant Moksham so that to see HIS beauty all the time. Devotees can worship a small statue of Lord Narasimha blessing Prahalatha with one hand and destroying Hiranya Kasibu on his other hand. Once Dhuruvan underwent a penance here towards the ALMIGHTY to get a boon that he should rule the entire world. But when he had the Darshan of the ALMIGHTY, he got mesmerized, requested HIM to be with HIM for ever to see HIS splendour for ever and got blessed. Adhisheshan got blessed with a Daughter by worshipping Sowndararajan here in Thiru Nagai, who got later admired the Chola King Salisugan and also got married with him in the presence of the ALMIGHTY here

Special status for Adisesha

In Kretha Yugam, pleased with severe penance by the Serpent King Adisesha, Lord Vishnu agreed to accept Adisesha as his recliner. Since the Serpent King bagged this big gift from the Lord, this place was referred to as ‘Naagar’ Pattinam which in course of time became Nagapattinam. Also, it was here that Bhoo Devi, in Tretha Yugam, and ‘Markandeya’ rishi, in Dwapara Yugam, undertook penance.

Legend has it that, seeking to rule the entire world, young Dhruva undertook severe penance and invoked the blessings of the Lord. Pleased with his penance, the Lord came on Garuda vahanam to grant his wish.

However, on seeing the beautiful Lord, Dhruva changed his mind and sought Moksham here and the opportunity to enjoy the Lord’s beauty forever at this temple.

In Kali Yugam, Naga Raja performed ‘Kanniga Dhanam’ and presented his daughter in marriage to Sali Sugan Raja at this kshetram. Here the Lord can be seen in all three kolams - standing, sleeping and sitting postures - having provided darshan in each of these three postures to Naga Raja.

Thiru Mangai Azhwar was so lured by the charm of Lord Soundaryarajan that he imagined himself as a woman (Nayaki) to admire better the beauty of the Lord. He is seen admiring the Lord’s beauty and exclaiming in delight ‘Achcho Oruvar Azhagiya Vaa’ (Isn’t he so beautiful).

‘Achcho’ as expressed by Thirumangai Azhwar is a phrase used when one is in an excited state of mind.

Thirumangai Azhwar in his Periya Thirumozhi verses on Thiru Nagai compares the beauty of Soundaryaraja Perumal with the Lords of several other divyadesams. He compares the Lord with Lord Aaravamudhan of Thiru Kudanthai, with Lord Sathya Moorthy of Thiru Maiyam, with the Lord at Maliruncholai, Uraiyur, Koodal (Madurai) and Neermalai.

There is a unique bronze statue of Ashtabhuja Narasimha where He is seen blessing Prahlada with one hand and destroying Hiranyakashipu with the other.

In centuries gone by, the seven-tiered gopuram of this divyadesam had a light atop the tower that served as a ‘light house’ for ships coming into and crossing Nagapattinam.

The seven-tier rajagopuram at the eastern entrance will soon wear a fresh look. The kalasam for all the vimanams will be coated with gold and there will be a ‘granite’ addition to the maha mandapam and artha mandapam.

While there are festivals celebrated all round the year at the temple, the avataara utsavam in the month of Chithirai and Brahmotsavam in Panguni are of special significance.