Sri Thotadri Nathan perumal temple, Vanamamalai- Nanguneri

About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Pandiya Naatu divyadesams. Nanguneri is the headquarters of the popular Vanamamalai mutt. The temple is among the eight Swayamvekhta kshetrams of Sri Vaishnavas. The utsava moorthy is known as Deivanayakan perumal.

The Lord gives darshan in a sitting posture with one leg folded and Prayoga chakra in his hand. There are in all 11 swayambu moorthies in the main sannadhi- a unique feature of this divyadesam. A bath in the temple tank -Chetruttamari theertham is said to relieve the devotees of all curses. The prakarams have beautiful pillars and the architecture is simply superb.

How to reach

The temple is about 33 kms from Thirunelveli. A small diversion from the Kanyakumari expressway leads to the temple.

The temple along with Thirukurungudi divyadesam can be covered in half a day's trip from Tirunelveli.

Sannadhis

Thotadri nathan perumal with sooryan, chandran and more-in all 11 swayambu moorthies

Chakratalwar

Lakshmi Varahar

Vishwaksenar

Lakshmi Narayanan and Tirukacchi Nambi

Kannan, Srinivasan, Alwars and Acharyas

Ramanujar

Kooratalwar

Varamangai nacchiyar

Andal (looking like thayar)

Ramar

Pillai Lokacharyar

Venugopala

Manavala Mamunigal

Specialty of the temple

There are 11 swayambu moorthies in main sannadhi..Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi thayar, Sooryan, Chandran, Bruhu rishi, Markandeya, Urvashi, Thilothama, Garuda and Vishwaksenar. Urvashi and Thilothama gained their place besides the Lord fanning him to keep his cool by undertaking penance here to be freed from rebirth.

When Lord Vishnu killed the asuras Madhu and Kaitapa, their impure blood fell on Mother Earth and she took penance here to be freed from impurities. The Lord then showered nectar over her and she was given a place below the Vaikunda vimanam as per her wish.

Nammalwar first surrendered to the Lord here and hence his vigraham is present on the Satari of the Lord thereby blessing all devotees.

Abhisekham is performed to the Lord daily with gingelly oil and the oil used for it is later stored in the Oil well inside the temple. It is a huge well and the oil is said to have medicinal properties to cure any disease. Devotees can offer oil for the abhisekham and can also purchase the abhishekam oil to carry back home. The oil is considered to be very sacred.

The utsava moorthy of Thayar was orginally said to be in Tirupathi. The Lord appeared in the dream of the Jeer and said that Varagunamangai thayar was the consort of the Lord in Nanguneri. Accordingly the Jeer brought thayar to the Nanguneri temple and she is worshipped here as the Lord's consort.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 8 am to 12 pm and in the evenings from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Temples in proximity

Thirukurungudi Nambi perumal temple.