01Eleven forms at Nangur
The temple katha of Thirunangur is one for all eleven shrines. After Sati gave up her body at Daksha’s yajna, Shiva danced here in fury and grief, and each time his matted locks struck the ground another Rudra rose, until there were eleven. The devas prayed to Vishnu, and when he came Shiva’s anger cooled; Shiva asked him to take eleven forms as he had, and Vishnu did, one for each of the eleven temples. At Thirukkavalampadi the form is Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama. Krishna and Satyabhama chose the place for a garden as lovely as the one in Indra’s palace, the katha says, and Thirumangai Alvar’s verses tell of the Lord’s deeds as Krishna.
02Garuda Sevai in Thai
Thirumangai Alvar sings of Thirukkavalampadi in a decad of ten pasurams. The temple is small, with a three-tiered gopuram, the Garuda shrine outside it, and two shrines, the Lord’s and the Thayar’s. On the new moon of Thai the Alvar’s festival image is brought from Thiruvali-Thirunagari to Thirunangur, and the next day the Perumals of all eleven temples come out together on Garuda vahanas, the Ekadasa Garuda Sevai, while the Alvar on a hamsa vahana hears his own verses for each. It draws thousands. The village says the wind that sweeps the paddy before the festival tells of a good harvest.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodThirumangai Alvar sings a decad on Thirukkavalampadi.
In Thirunangur, about 10 km south-east of Sirkazhi on the Thiruvenkadu road. Hours are short (about 8–10 a.m. and 5–7 p.m.); the Thai Amavasai Garuda Sevai is the time to see all eleven Perumals.
