01Nine shrines, nine grahas
Pilgrims go round the nine in a single day. Srivaikuntam, where Vishnu stands as Vaikuntanathar, is the shrine of Surya; Varagunamangai of Chandra; Thirukolur, birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar, of Mangal; Thirupulingudi of Budha; Alwarthirunagari, where Nammalvar sat in yoga under the tamarind, of Guru; Thentirupperai of Shukra; Perungulam of Shani; and the twin temples of Irattai Tirupati of Rahu and Ketu. In Srivaikuntam the sun’s rays fall on the murti on two days of Chithirai each year.
02Garuda Sevai
Nammalvar sang all nine in the Tiruvaymoli, and the river country between them is his own. Each year in Vaikasi, on Nammalvar’s birth star, the utsava murtis of all nine temples are brought to Alwarthirunagari and carried out together on Garuda vahanas before the saint, the Garuda Sevai. Nammalvar himself is carried on a swan vahana to meet them.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodNammalvar sings the nine temples in the Tiruvaymoli.
- Nayaka periodMandapas and gopurams are added at Srivaikuntam and Alwarthirunagari.
Srivaikuntam is about 30 km east of Tirunelveli; hire a car to cover all nine in a day, as they close at midday.
