Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple

Sri Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple
240px
Sri Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Geography
Coordinates
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Tuticorin
Location	Tirukkolur
Culture
Primary deity	Vaithamanidhi (Vishnu)
Consort	Kumudavalli, Kolurvalli(Lakshmi)
Temple tank	Kubera
Shrine	Srikara
Poets	Nammazhwar
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture
History and governance
Website	http://navathirupathitemples.tnhrce.in/

Sri Vaithamanidhi Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi., nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the southern bank of Thamiraparani river.Thirukkolur is located at a distance of 4 km from Alwarthirunagari.This is the eighth temple of Nava thirupathi and is for mars (Sevvai). It is also called as Kuberasthalam. All these 9 temples are classified as "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.

The Temple

File:Thirukkolur2.jpg

Image of a hall inside the temple

The place is the birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar. The main deity has a reclining posture facing east. The temple has two prakaram(closed precincts of a temple).

History

Kubera the lord of wealth lost his prominence due to the curse of Lord Shiva for Kubera's evil glance on Parvathi. When he repented for his sin and sought forgiveness from Shiva and Parvathi, they advised him to do penance at Thirukkolur. After his penance at Thirukkolur, Vaithamanithi perumal blessed him with his original position with the wealth.

Vaithamanithi perumal is in reclining pose with the wooden measurement tool (Marakkal) as his pillow to measure the wealth and looking at the palm of his left hand to watch over location of the wealth.

It is believed that people pray here are blessed with great wealth.

Festival

File:Thirukkolur1.jpg

Elephant (Kumuthavalli) in the temple

The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) witnesses 9 Garudasevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana(sacred vehicle). An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on a Anna Vahanam(palaquin) and his paasurams(verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. The utsavar(festival deity) of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 9 Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.