Sri Ranganathar temple - Thiruneermalai

About the temple

Thiruneermalai is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and come under Tondai naatu divyadesams. There are two temples here- one at the foothills and one at the top of the small hill. The presiding deity of the hill temple is Sri Ranganathar and at the foothills is Sri Neeravanna perumal. Sri Ranganatha is lying on adiseshan with Sridevi Bhoodevi thayar near his feet. The Lord appears as Ramar, Lakshmi at Sitadevi and Adisesha as Lakshmanan for Sage Valmiki at the temple in the foothills.

The hill temple

When Thirumangai azhwar came to have darshan here, the mountain was covered with water and due to rains and floods, he had to wait for almost 6 months to see the Lord. The place where he stayed is called Thirumangai Alwarpuram.

The temple at the base

How to reach

A 5 km diversion to the right on the GST from Chennai leads to the temple. Just after Pallavaram bus stand, take the right below the flyover to Thiruneermalai road. The temple would be visible right after crossing the bypass. The temple is also accessible from Chrompet.

Bus number 55 A from Pallavaram goes to the temple foothills.

Sannadhis

Hill temple -

Ranganatha perumal

Ranganayaki thayar

Thiruvikrama perumal

Shantha moorthy Narasimhar

Temple at foothills -

Neeravanna perumal

Alwars and acharyas

Anjaneya

Ramar

Anima malar mangai Thayar

Andal

Specialty of the temple

The Lord gives darshan in sleeping posture, sitting posture and walking posture in the hill temple and in standing posture in the temple at the foothills. So, one gets to see the Lord is all postures in the same divyadesam.

According to Thirumangai alwar, a visit to the temple is said to be equivalent to visiting four divyadesams - Thirunaraiyoor, Thiruvaali, Thirukudanthai and Thirukoviloor.

The temple is compared to Tirupathi and Srirangam by Bhootatazhwar in his paasuram.

The divyadesam is among the oldest hill temples and the only divyadesam where Lord Narasimha appears as Shantha moorthy.

The temple is a prarthana sthalam for all problems and among the eight mukhti sthalams.

Temple timings

The temple is open from 8 am to 12 noon in the mornings and from 4 pm to 8 pm in the evenings.