The main deity of the temple is Neer Vanna Perumal and facing towards East direction. Who is an incarantion of Lord Vishnu and Nindra Thirukolam is in Standing posture. The lord is seen with Abhaya Hastham and holding Sankha and Chakra. The lord is adorned with a long Saligrama Maalai or garland. On Neer Vanna Perumal right is the statue of Sage Valmiki in praying posture and is believed to be a Swayambu moorthy. The main deity of Ulagalantha Perumal temple is known as Nadantha Thirukolam and faces in East. The main deity of Ranganathar temple is known as Kidantha Thirukolam and faces in South with Sleeping posture. The main deity of Narasimhar temple is known as Shanta Narasimhan faces in East with Sitting posture. The main deity of Thiruneermalai temple is known as Trivikrama faces in East.
Mother is called as Ranganayaki, consort of Ranganathar. She is housed in a separate sanctum facing east.
Interesting Facts
Best Season To Visit
The best season to visit the temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.
Weather
Highest - April to June (42 °C during day and 30°C during night)Average - May (33.7 °C during the day and 28 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (26 °C during day and 21 °C during night)Monsoon season - June to September
Dress Code
Do's & Dont's
transport connections
Name | Distance | Contact Number |
---|---|---|
West Tambaram Bus Depot
|
5.7 KM | 18004194287 |
Pallavaram Railway Station
|
5.1 KM | 1800111321 |
Chennai International Airport |
7.5 KM | 044-22560551 |
Architecture
This Thiruneermalai Kshetram is also called as "Thoyagiri Kshetram" and also as "Thothadri". Thoya means "Water" and Adhiri means "Mountain" (malai). Since the mountain is surrounded by water, this Sthalam is named as "Thiru Neer Malai" in Tamil. Brahmanda Purana refers this place Thodatri, meaning a mountain surrounded by water. Neer Vanna Perumal Temple has a three tiered Rajagopuram. Th GrabhaGudi for Ranga Vimaanam known as Ranganathar, Santha Vimaanam known as Narasimhar and Thoyagiri Vimaanam known as Ulagalantha Perumal. The temple has lot of inscriptions from the Chola and later Pandyas, indicating generic contributions to the temple. Neer Vanna Perumal Temple has a single prakaram. Siddha, Swarna, Karunya theerthams, Ksheera Pushkarini. The holy tank, Manikamika Thatakam, here is one in form but is said to comprise of four Theerthams. The temple tank covers three acres with a Neerazhi Mandapam at the centre. The Mahamagam tank in Kumbakonam is believed to be a confluence of 19 Theerthams. Similarly, here, Manikamika Thatakam is believed to be a mixture of four Theerthams namely, Swarna Pushkarani, Karunya Pushkarani, Ksheera Pushkarani and Siddha Pushkarani.
Religious Significance
Ranganatha appearing as Lord Rama due to Sage Valmiki penance: As per Hindu legend, sage Valmiki, after composing the epic Ramayana, worshipped Ranganatha at the top of the hill. When he came downhills, Valmiki is said to have missed the presence of Lord Raama at foot hills and is said to have undertaken penance thinking of Lord Raama. Due to his penance, Ranganatha appeared as Lord Rama, Lakshmi appeared as Sita, Adi Sesha appeared as Lakshmana, Vishnu's shankha as Bharatha, Sudarshana chakra as Shatrugna, Garuda in the form of Hanuman and Vishwakarma as Sugreeva.
Thirumangai Azhwar 6 month wait : Thiru Mangai Azhvaar came here to sing praise of the Lord but heavy rains flooded the place and he could not reach this temple. Having come this far, he decided to wait till the rains stopped. It proved to be a long wait of 6 months before Thiru Mangai could meet his Lord. The hill on which he stayed during these 6 months still exists and is called Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Puram. This is the only Divya Desam where Thiru Mangai waited this long to meet the Lord. One has seen in the stories relating to a few of the other Divya Desams where Thiru Mangai has left/threatened to leave without waiting for the Lord. Pleased with his devotee, Perumal granted four darshans to Azhwar – Neer Vanna Perumal standing, Narasimha sitting, Ranganatha reclining and Ulagalandha Perumal in walking postures. The devotee can enjoy these darshans in the temple. Lord Neervanna Perumal is at the foot of the hills while Ranganatha, Narasimha and Ulagalandha Perumal are at the hill temple.
Utsavar goes up the hill only thrice a year : The Utsavar deity of Ranganatha is seen at the Neer Vannan temple at the foot of the hill. Only thrice a year - on the first and last day of Brahmotsavam festival and on the Panguni Uthiram day - is he taken up the hill to be alongside the Moolavar Lord Ranganatha.
Only Dhivya Desam where Lord Narasimha in Cool Posture : Only Divya Desams where Lord Narasimha is seen in a cool posture – called ‘Shanta Narasimhar’. Though Lord Narasimha is known for his furious appearance, He is smiling and cool here. After killing Hiranya to save his devout son Prahladha from his tortures, He was still furious. Boy Prahladha was very much afraid of Lord’s fury. To make his devotee happy, Lord Narasimha shed his fury and appeared before Prahladha as a smiling boy himself. He thus became Bala Narasimha. There is a shrine for him in the hill temple. Behind Bala Narasimha is Ugra (furious) Narasimha with two hands. We can worship Narasimha in two forms Bala and Ugra.
Boga Ranganatha darshan to sages Markandeya & Brugu : After the darshan of Lord in Srirangam in reclining posture, sages Markandeya and Brugu were returning to their places. The darshan at Srirangam was afresh in their minds. They prayed to Lord to grant them darshan again at this place. Lord granted the darshan as Boga Ranganatha in reclining posture in this place and continues to bless from the hill top His devotees. Abishek is not offered to Him except a Thaila Kappu – applying cosmetic oil on the idol- once in a year in Karthikai monthNovember-December.
History
Saints Tirumangai Azhwar and Boodhathazwar had praised the Lord in their celebrated Mangalasasanam hymns. The temple is built in the 8th century by the Pallava kings It is believed that Lord Narasimha gave darshan to Arjuna after he performed the Ashwamedha Yaagam here at this place.
Temple Timings
Day | Timings | |
---|---|---|
All Days | 05:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM |
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 |
Nearest Temples
Vaaleeswarar Temple is fifth of Saptha Sthana Shiva temples of Mylapore
The Nawabs of Arcot have contributed to the upliftment of the temple
Special feature is, on all Pradosham days a cow goes around the sanctum
This temple is situated on the banks of river Cooum
Temple was constructed by Tawker clan of Madras Guajarati community
Lord Ganesha is in standing posture
This temple is said to be one of the oldest in Chennai
In this temple, devotees can find the 8 ft. Ashtabuja Durga idol
Glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the medieval Tamil canon of Azhwar saints
The Vimana over the sanctum sanctorum is Gajaprastam
Nearest Attractions
Chembarambakkam Dam is a treat to one’s eyes
The park has many impressive memorials to modern India’s leaders
It is a place really worth spending your valuable time
One will witness several people on morning walks at this beach
Fort St. George Museum houses oldest exhibits of English rule over India
Remain as one of the last remnants of Chennai’s Dutch heritage
User Reviews
Map