Thiru Devanaar Thogai – Sri Deiva Naayaga Perumal Temple, Seergazhi
About the Temple & Location:
This place is near Thiruvaali Kshetram of Tanjore district in Tamil Nadu. It’s about 4 miles southeast of Seerkazhi Railway station. Can drop at Thiruvaali by bus of Thiruvennkadu route. There is no place to stay.
Sthala Puranam:
It’s been said that Lord Narayana married Goddess Lakshmi Devi who emerged out of the Thiruparkadal at this place. As the Deva’s (celestial persons) came in a group (Thogai in Tamil) this place is called Thiru devanaar Thogai.
It is situated on the South bank of river Manni. It is believed that after having darshan of this Perumal, unmarried persons get married and childloss couples got the boon of childbirth.
As this place was graced by the Celestial persons, the shadow of the Vimaanam falls within the range of the Vimaanam (temple tower) itself. The term Madhavan, Emperumaan is common for both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Henceforth to represent this unison, though the temple is a Vishnu temple, there is a burial ground the favorite place of Lord Shiva in the backyard of this temple.
The Vimaanam of this temple consists of two stories and is of a Magnificent structure.
As the Lord is in the Marriage pose, the Vimaanam and Pushkarani are named Shobana Vimaanam and Shobana Pushkarani respectively. And in order of homage to the celestial persons, the pushkarani also named Devashaba Pushkarani.
Among the Saptha rishis (7 great saints) Vashista is considered as the topmost person. He is the son of Lord Bhrama (ie) he was born by the mental thought of Lord Brahma. The term Vashister means “Best Rishi among all others”.
So Lord Deiva Nayagan gave darshan to this great Rishi as a young married couple. The idols of Thaayar and Perumal are of small size only.
Specials:
1. The temple gate faces west and the shadow of the Vimaanam falls within the Vimaanam itself.
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this Divyadesam is Sri Deiva Naayagan. He is giving his seva Nindra (Standing) Thirukkolam facing his thirumugham towards the west direction. Prathyaksham for Vashista Maharishi.
Thayaar:
The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Kadal Magal Naachiyar. She has a separate sannadhi. The Utsavar Thaayar is Madhava Nayaki.
Utsavar:
The Utsavar found in this sthalam is Madhava Perumal.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumangaialwar – 10 Paasurams.
Total – 10 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
Shobana Pushkarani.
Prathyaksham for Vasishtar.
Legend
The legend of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur is 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 the 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 as he did. At his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Tirunangur. The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Tirunangur are located. It is believed that the celestial deities had an assembly here at the temple. It is also believed that sage Vasishtha is believed to have worshiped Vishnu at this temple. As per another variant, Shiva requested Vishnu to appear in eleven different forms like him to control the eleven Shiva forms he created. The eleven Rudras, called Ekadas Rudras and king of devas, Indra, are believed to have worshiped Vishnu at this temple
Architecture
The temple faces west. It is located in Keezhchaalai, 6.5 km from Sirkali and 1 km away from Thiruvali. It is located close to Thirunangur, a small village, 10 km away from Sirkali en route to Thiruvenkadu. The temple has a three-tiered raja gopuram and all the shrines are enclosed in concentric rectangular walls. The presiding deity, Deivanayagan, in standing posture faces east. The images of the consort, Kadalmagal Nachiyar, and the festival deities, Madhava Perumal and Madhava Nayagi are housed in the same shrine. The Garuda mandapa is located near the flagstaff axial to the sanctum. There is a precinct around the sanctum. The temple tank is located in front of the temple
Temple Timings It is normally open from 7 am – 10 am and 5 pm-7 pm. As at writing of this, there is only one archakar in charge of three temples, plan your visit accordingly.
Religious significance
The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Periazhwar, Thirumalisai Alvar, and Thirumangai Azhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. It is believed that saint Thirumanagai Azhwar visits the place every year to the festival to consecrate the eleven deities. As per local belief, the fresh winds which swirl the paddy fields before the day of the festival indicate a good harvest for the season. As per another legend, the sages Madangar, Domyar, Vyaghrapada, and Udangar set up their hermitages in this place. During the period of Mahabharatha, Takshaka, the mighty snake king who killed king Parikshit, ruled the place called Nagapuri, which eventually became Nangur.
Vimanam:
Shobana Vimaanam.
