God
The main deity of this temple is Sri Koodal Azhagar, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu facing East direction.
Goddess
Goddess Madhuravalli who is the consort of Koodal Azhagar facing towards the South direction.
Interesting Facts
- Sri Koodal Azhagar Temple is one of the 108 Divyadesams and lies on the 65th spot.
Best Season To Visit
The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to March.
Weather
Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Average - May (37 °C during the day and 21 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (30 °C during day and 18 °C during night)Monsoon season - August to September
Dress Code
- For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
- For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
- These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
- Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.
Do's & Dont's
- Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.
- Smo​king is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.
transport connections
| Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
 Madurai Periyar Bus Stand |
700 MTRS | 1800-419-4287 |
 Madurai Railway Junction |
1.2 KM | 139 |
 Madurai International Airport |
11 KM | 0452-269-0717 |
Architecture
Koodal is another name for Madurai and Azhaghar means the beautiful one, in Tamil. The temple is facing East direction and built in Dravidian style of architecture has a giant gateway tower, a five-tiered Raja gopuram that rises to a height of 125 Feet. The temple and all its shrines are surrounded by granite walls. The coronation of Lord Rama is depicted here with woodcarvings. Intricately woven and masterfully sculpted, every wall in the temple has a story to tell. Inscriptions in the temple describe the huge amount of gifts and donations this shrine used to receive for various constructions during various rules. There is a mandapam named as Ardha mandapa. The koneru named as Hema pushkarini, Chakra theertham.
Religious Significance
According to a legend, Vishnuchitha who is considered to the foremost among the twelve Alwars, mystical saints, who used to praise Lord Vishnu presence in temple in their poems. Vishnuchitha was known for quoting from vedic texts and his arguments on the sovereignty of Lord Narayana. Once he was invited to Madurai at the Pandya king court where he established the greatness of lord throughout his convincing arguments, after which a miracle happened which even made the king celebrate his divine victory. During the victory procession which was led by the king himself and many vedic saints, Sri Koodal Alagar appeared and blessed Vishnuchitha, who then sung Thirupallandu in the lord’s praise and offered Mangala sasanam. Even today, Thirupallandu is chanted in the temples.
There are mentions of Koodal Alagar in Brahmanda Purana in its seven chapters. It is also said that the great King Prithu, Malaydioaja had worshipped Sri Koodal Alagar. As a result of which, lord blessed them with opulence along with attainment of moksha. The history of this temple can be traced back to Sangam period. One can find mention of Koodal Azhagar Koil in Paripadal and Silappadikaram. Many poets from Sangam period have praised the presiding deity of this temple with the name of Thuvarikoman and Koodal Alagar.
History
This temple was initially built in 8th century A.D. during Pandya reign, while the pillars and shrine were developed later during Vijayanagar dynasty and the rule of Madurai Nayak kings. For instance, during Madurai Nayaks rue in 16th century A.D. Dwaja sthambam was built. Some parts of the temple were renovated even during 1920 and now it is under the maintenance of Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.
Temple Timings
| Day | Timings | |
|---|---|---|
| All Days | 04:30 AM - 12:30 PM | 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM |
Darshanam Details
| Darshanam | Price | Estimated Time | Entrance From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viswa Roopa Darshanam | 300.00 |
Sevas
Pooja
Tours
Airports
| Airport Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Shamshabad | 40 KM |
| Lorem Ipsum | 12 KM |
Railway Stations
| Railway Station Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Secunderabad | 10 KM |
| Nampally | 12 KM |
| Begumpet | 6 KM |
| Lingampally | 20 KM |
Bus Stations
| Bus Station Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| MGBS | 35 KM |
| CBS | 28 KM |
| kukatpally | 20 KM |
| Lingampally | 30 KM |
| Uppal | 35 KM |
Private Transports
| Transport Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Private Transport | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
Local Transports
| Transport Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Local Transport | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
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