01Nandi’s release
Nandi Maharaj once passed the dvarapalakas of Vaikuntha without due respect, and they cursed him to burn with a heat that would not leave his body. Shiva told him to do tapas in the Shenbagaranyam near Kumbakonam, where Lakshmi was already in tapas to win a place on Vishnu’s chest. Vishnu was pleased with both. He freed Nandi from the curse, and took Lakshmi to his chest. So the place is Nandipuram, and everything here carries Nandi’s name: Nandi Theertham, Nandi Vimanam, Nandi Pushkarani. Nandi’s image stands in the sanctum beside the Perumal, and Shenbagavalli faces west, towards the Lord. Fridays in Aippasi are her days.
02Sundara Chola’s temple
Thirumangai Alvar sings of Nandipura Vinnagaram in a decad of ten pasurams, and tradition holds that the Pallava Nandivarman II, his contemporary, was devoted to this Perumal. The temple is also called Sundara Chola Vinnagaram after the gifts of Sundara Chola (957–970). Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Nayaka of Thanjavur added to it later. The gopuram has three tiers, and the shrines and some of the temple’s seven tanks lie within one wall. Today the temple is cared for by the Vanamamalai Mutt.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodThirumangai Alvar sings a decad on Nandipura Vinnagaram.
- Sundara Chola (957–970)The king endows the temple, which takes his name.
At Nathan Koil, about 6 km south of Kumbakonam near Patteeswaram. Fridays in Aippasi draw devotees to Shenbagavalli Thayar.
