01Vaikuntha seen
The temple katha says the sanctum here is held equal to Vaikuntha itself. The sage Uthanka and King Uparichara Vasu, both of whom appear in other Nangur kathas, prayed to see the Lord as he is in his eternal abode, and he sat for them here as Vaikunthanathan. Thirumangai Alvar calls him Thamaraikannudaiya Piran, the Lord with lotus eyes. The Perumal, his consort and the festival images share one sanctum, the only shrine in the temple. The Garuda mandapam stands close to the entrance on the axis.
02Two Vaikunthas
Thirumangai Alvar sings of Vaikunda Vinnagaram in a decad of ten pasurams. The name is shared with the great Pallava temple of Kanchipuram, Paramesvara Vinnagaram, also sung by him and known today as the Vaikuntha Perumal temple. The Nangur temple is modest by comparison: a single prakaram whose walls are a modern addition, the tank to the north, and the fields beyond. At Thai Amavasai Vaikunthanathan goes out on Garuda with the other Thirunangur Perumals.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodThirumangai Alvar sings a decad on Vaikunda Vinnagaram.
In Thirunangur, about 10 km from Sirkazhi, a short walk from Manimada Koil.
