01Nambaduvan’s song
The Kaisika Mahatmya of the Varaha Purana tells of Nambaduvan, a singer of low birth who came every night to sing to Nambi from outside the temple. One Ekadashi night a brahmarakshasa seized him on the way and would eat him. Nambaduvan asked only to be allowed to finish his song and promised to return, and he did. Moved by his truth, the demon begged for the merit of his singing in the raga Kaisika, and was freed. On Kaisika Ekadashi in Karthigai the story is still played through the night in the temple as the Kaisika Natakam, a tradition revived in recent decades.
02Nambi, Nammalvar and Ramanuja
Sri Vaishnava tradition holds that Nammalvar’s mother prayed to Nambi here for a child, and that Nambi himself once took the place of a disciple to learn from Ramanuja, so he is called Vaishnava Nambi. Periyalvar, Thirumangai Alvar and Nammalvar sang the temple. Its pillars and gopurams carry some of the finest sculpture of the Nayaka period in the south. A second Nambi, Thirumalai Nambi, stands on the hill above in the forest.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodNammalvar, Periyalvar and Thirumangai Alvar sing Thirukurungudi.
- Nayaka periodSculptured mandapas and gopurams are added.
About 45 km south of Tirunelveli near Nanguneri. Kaisika Ekadashi falls in Karthigai (November–December).
