Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Chola King Kochenganan is a staunch Lord Shiva devotee and occupies a place among the Nayanmars. He has built about 70 Shiva temples in his life. He had a desire to see Lord Perumal in his abode Vaikuntam. He prayed to Perumal. Lord Perumal granted darshan to the king with two hands and ordered him to build a temple for him. Brahma was cursed by the great Sages for neglecting his duty and he bathed in the Sankarshana Prathyumna theertham here at Nachiyar Kovil and worshiped the Lord to get relieved. Indra bathed in the Anirudhan theertham here at Nachiyar Kovil and worshiped the Lord to get relieved of a Curse. The Saptha Rishis are believed to have sat on the Sambha theertham here at Nachiyar Kovil and meditated on the Lord. Sage Medhavi is said to have a baby girl under the Vanjula tree here, named her Niladevi and wedded her to the Lord here at Nachiyar Kovil. Lord Vishnu is believed to have initiated Pancha Samskara (religious initiation) to Thirumangai Azhwar here. Lord Vishnu believed that men have to listen to women in the Kaliyuga and thus the Goddess is given importance here in everything. Sage Medhavi was a staunch Perumal Vishnu devotee. He wanted to have Lord as his son-in-law. He performed penance sitting under the Vanjula tree to have Mother Mahalakshmi as his daughter. Mother appeared before the Sage as a little pretty girl before him on the Utharam star day in Panguni (March-April). The Sage named her Vanjuladevi and brought her up in his hermitage. Lord Maha Vishnu came to Earth in five forms as Sangarshanan, Pradyumnan, Anirudhan, Purushothaman and Vaasudevan to find Mahalakshmi and marry her. Each searched for mother in different directions. Garuda Bhagwan who accompanied the Lord, spotted mother in the Sage’s ashram and informed the Lord. Perumal expressed his desire to the Sage to marry his daughter. The Sage accepted Lord’s wish on one condition that his daughter would have all powers in all matters. Perumal agreed to the condition and had the hands of Mother. Lord told Garuda that he should have his place here blessing the devotees as he had to be under the influence of wife. Thus Garuda Bhagwan became prominent in the temple. Named after Mother Nachiar in Vaishnavite terms, the place came to be known as Nachiarkoil.

Prominence to Nachiyar at the Thiru Naraiyur Temple - Lord was of the view that in Kali Yugam men would have to listen to women (husband to listen to wife’s words). Hence, much before that, he decided that he would first serve as an example and listen to the Goddess here. On all occasions, the first rights are reserved for the Nachiyar. Even the food is first served to the Nachiyar and only then to the Naraiyur Nambi. Being a temple where Goddess has prominence, one can see the Lord slightly by the side and the Goddess is the one who has the prominent position inside the sanctum. Even from the entrance of the temple, one gets a glimpse of Vanjulavalli Nachiyar. Naachiyaar Koil in Thiru Naraiyur is one of the few Divya Desams where Goddess has prominence over the Lord. Some of the other Divya Desams where Goddess is dominant are Srivilliputhur, Uraiyur and Tiruvellarai. While Srivilliputhur is called Nachiyar Thiru Maligai, Thiru Naraiyur is called Nachiyar Koil. There is no separate Sannidhi for Goddess and she is always seen together with the Lord. This is the only Divya Desam where Lord is seen with a conch and charka in front of his face.