हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Neervanna Perumal Temple, Thiruneermalai

A hill once ringed by water, Toyadri. Thirumangai Alvar waited six months for the flood to go down before he could climb it, and he found Bhagwan here in all four of his postures: standing, lying, sitting and striding.

Built: Hill and foothill shrines with Chola and later Pandya inscriptionsWhere: Tamil Nadu (Chengalpattu district, Chennai suburbs)Deity: Neervanna Perumal (standing) with Thayar Animamalar Mangai below; Ranganatha, Trivikrama and Narasimha on the hill12.96° N, 80.11° E
  1. Alvar period
  2. Chola period
Photo: Salemjones · CC BY-SA 4.0

01Four postures on one hill

At the foot of the hill Neervanna Perumal stands, the Lord the colour of water, with shrines for Animamalar Mangai Thayar, Kalyana Rama and Andal. Up the steps the hill temple has Ranganatha reclining under the Ranga vimana, Trivikrama with his foot raised, and Narasimha seated, with Ranganayaki Thayar facing east. The temple’s katha says Maharshi Valmiki, after he had finished the Ramayana, worshipped Ranganatha on the hill and on coming down was granted darshan of Rama with Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna and Hanuman.

02Twenty pasurams

Thirumangai Alvar gave Thiruneermalai a full decad of the Periya Thirumozhi, and Bhoothath Alvar also sang it; twenty pasurams are counted for the shrine. The tanks are named for what they hold: Kshira Pushkarini, and Karunya Pushkarini, said to have formed from the tears of Narasimha moved by Prahlada’s prayer. Worship follows the Vaikhanasa Agama. Neervanna Perumal’s Brahmotsavam is in Panguni and Ranganatha’s in Chittirai.

The life of this place

  1. Alvar periodThirumangai Alvar and Bhoothath Alvar sing Thiruneermalai.
  2. Chola periodChola and later Pandya inscriptions record gifts to the temple.
Visiting

About 5 km from Pallavaram and Chromepet in south-west Chennai. The hill shrine is a climb of some 200 steps.

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