Sri Vijayaasana perumal - Thiru Varagunamangai / Naththam

About the temple

The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Vijayaasana perumal in a sitting posture with Adiseshan over his head like an umbrella like in Srivaikundam temple. Thayar is known as Varagunamangai /Varagunavalli thayar and there is no seperate sannadhi for thayar in this temple. It is interesting to note that in many of the Nava thirupathi temples, the thayar is known by the name of the place itself. The temple is the second among the Nava thirupathi divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Pandiya naatu divyadesams among the 108 temples. The place is also called as Naththam and Mokshapuri. It is believed that one's soul attains moksham if death occurs at this place. This temple occupies the chandra sthalam in the nava grahas.

How to reach

The temple is just 2 kms away from Sri Vaikuntam divyadesam. Nearest station is Srivaikundam on the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur route and nearest railhead is Tirunelveli junction.

Sannadhis

Vijayaasana perumal

Garuda

Yoga Narasimhar

Alwars and Acharyas

Vimanam and Pushkarni

The temple tank is called Agni theertham and the vimanam is Vijayakoti vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 8 am to 12 noon and from 1 pm to 6 pm in the evenings.

Temples in proximity

Nava tirupathis, Tiruchendur Murugan temple, Karungulam Srinivasar temple, Vana tirupathi - Srinivasar temple

Sri Vaikunta Natha perumal, Srivaikuntam

About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Nava thirupathi and Pandiya naatu divyadesams. It is situated on the banks of the Thamirabharani river. The Lord had come down to here to help Lord Brahma recover the book having secrets about creation of the world here and hence the place is called Thiruvaikundam. The temple occupies the Soorya graha place among the Nava thirupathis. The presiding deity is Sri Vaikunta natha perumal in standing posture with Adiseshan above his head -  a unique feature as normally the Lord is found only in a sleeping posture over Adiseshan. The utsavar is known as Kallabiran as he had given darshan to a king through a thief according to the sthala puranam. The Lord is also known as Paal Pandyan. The architecture of the temple is simply amazing and there are three prakarams in the temple. It is believed that Sun god prays to the Lord here twice a year with rays all over the Lord. There is a small impression on the cheeks of the utsava moorthy as the sculpturist who made the utsavar got immersed in the beauty of the Lord and pinched him forgetting everything else.

How to reach

Buses are available from Tirunelveli bus stand to Srivaikuntam. The temple is about 30 kms from Tirunelveli. Alternatively if one wants to cover all the Nava thirupathis, they can even hire a taxi directly from Tirunelveli or can travel by bus till Srivaikuntam and then hire a taxi or auto from there for remaining temples.

The nearest station is Srivaikundam on the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur route. Nearest railhead is Tirunelveli station.

Sannadhis

Vaikuntapathi perumal

Vaikunta nayaki thayar

Soranathanayaki thayar

Ramar

Anjaneyar

Lakshmi Narasimhar

Alwars acharyas

Dasavatharam

Thiruvenkatamudayan

Temple timings

The temple is open from 7 am to 12 noon in the mornings and from 5 pm to 8 pm in the evenings.

Temples in proximity

Nava tirupathis, Tiruchendur Murugan temple, Karungulam Srinivasar temple, Vana tirupathi - Srinivasar temple

Nava Tirupathi divyadesams - General information for travel

Nava Thirupathis come under Pandiya naatu divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas. Each of the nine temples represent one of the nine grahas of navagrahas- namely Sooryan, Chandran, Rahu, Ketu, Guru, Shukran, Shani, Mangalan, Sowmyan. Although the number of temples are nine, it constitutes only eight divyadesams with two temples called Irratai tirupathi combinedly considered as just one divyadesam.

Some of these temples are really big and takes time to pray at all sannadhis and come around the prakaram admiring the beautiful sculptures and architecture. The timings of the temple are also quite varied. However one can easily cover all the nine temples in half a day's trip.

Three of the temples are on one side of the Thamirabharani river and six of them on another side. Have a look at the map below..click to enlarge

The roads are really small and rough as one goes into the interiors and it is advisible to either hire a guide if going by personal vehicle. However most of the taxi drivers from Tirunelveli and Srivaikundam are well versed with the routes and temple timings.

Have a look at the temple timings -

Depending on what time one starts visiting the temples, it would be ideal to mark the temples that close early and finish it off first and then go on to visit the temples that remain open even during the afternoon.

Accomodation facilities are good only at Thirunelveli and Alwar Thirunagari

Temple that can also be visited in the same day -

1. Bhavisyatar sannadhi - Right behind Alwar Thirunagari temple

2. Punnai nagar Srinivasa temple - Managed by the famous Hotel Saravana bhavan group

3. Karungulam Srinivasa temple - On the Tirunelveli- Tiruchendur highway

4. Krishnapuram Venkateshwara temple- On the Tirunelveli- Tiruchendur highway closer to Tirunelveli

5. Tiruchendur Murugan temple