Nava Tirupathi
Navathirupathi Temples is a set of nine Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river. All these 9 temples are classified as "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.[1][2]
The temples
The temples are revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammazhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is also classified as a Navatirupathi, the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar located in the banks of Tamiraparani river. The following is the list of the 9 temples.[3] [4]
| Name of the temple | Demigod | Planet | Specialised day | Photo | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Srivaikuntanathan Permual Temple | Hindu Sun-God | Sun | Sunday |  |
Srivaikuntam | 7 am - 12 pm, 5 - 8 pm |
| Vijayaasana Perumal Temple | Chandran | Moon | Monday |  |
Natham | 8 am - 12 pm, 1 - 6 pm |
| Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple | Angaragan | Mars | Tuesday |  |
Thirukolur | 7:30 am - 12 pm, 1 - 8 pm |
| ThiruPulingudi Perumal Temple | Budha | Mercury | Wednesday |  |
Thirupulingudi | 8 am - 12 pm, 1 - 6 pm |
| AlwarThirunagari Temple | Guru | Jupiter | Thursday |  |
Alwar Thirunagari | 6 am - 12 pm, 5 - 8:45 pm |
| Makara Nedunkuzhai Kannan Temple | Sukran | Venus | Friday |  |
Thenthiruperai | 7 am - 12 pm, 5 - 8:30 pm |
| Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Tirukulandhai | Shani | Saturn | Saturday |  |
Thirukulandhai | 7:30 am - 12:30 pm, 4:30 - 7:30 pm |
| Irattai Thiruppathy, Aravindalochanar temple | Rahu |  |
Tholavillimangalam | 8 am - 1 pm, 2 - 6 pm | ||
| Irattai Thiruppathy, Devapiran temple | Ketu |  |
Tholavillimangalam | 8 am - 1 pm, 2 - 6 pm |
Festival
The Garuda Sevai utsavam (the Day 5 festival) in the month of Vaikasi (May-Jun) witnesses 9 Garudasevai plus two palanquins one with Namalvar of Alwarthirunagari and the other with Madurakavi Alwar from Thirukalur. A spectacular event in which festival image idols from the nava tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana to Alwarthirunagari for Mangalasasanum and to give blessing to Nammalvar in the morning.
An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on an Anna Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. In the night 9 Garduda servai by Navathirupathi Perumals and the two alwars also on procession in circumbulations. Totally 11 temple chapparams move around the outer piraharams. The utsavar of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 9 Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.
References
- 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
- Rajarajan, R.K.K. (2011). "Dakṣiṇamūrti on vimānas of Viṣṇu Temples in the Far South". South Asian Studies. 27 (2): 131–144. doi:10.1080/02666030.2011.614413.
- M., Rajagopalan (1993). 15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu. Chennai, India: Govindaswamy Printers. pp. 155–159.
- "Navatirupathi". The Hindu. 25 October 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2015.