Description
Thiruvaikuntha Vinnagaram Vaikuntanathan Perumal in Thirunangur in a place called Nagai in the state of TamilNadu is one of the divyadesams mentioned in the Divya Prabandha, the holy work of the ancient Azhwar saints of Tamil Nadu who lived during the 6th to the 9th centuries. Lord Vishnu is known here as Vaikunthanathan Perumal and his consort Mother Lakshmi is called Vaikundavalli.
History
The Vaikunthanathan Perumal temple has ancient panels that contain inscriptions that tell us about Pallavamallan, his learning and his accession to the throne. Lord Vishnu is present here in different postures. One posture is with Vishnu in a seated form in the ground floor. The second form is Vishnu in a lying position in the first floor. It is visible to the devotees only during ekadashi. The third form is Lord Vishnu in standing position. However, this is not accessible to the devotees. The architectural structure is very complex with its cloisters and elaborate pillars. The temple is very holy to the vaishnavs and is one among the fourteen divyadesams present in Kancheepuram. The great Vaishnav saint-poet Thirumangai Alvar, has mentioned about this temple in his sacred hymns as well.
Importance/Significance
It is believed by people that the Dravidian style temple was built by King Nandivarman II of the Pallava regime in 690 CE. The Cholas and the Vijayanagar kings later added to the architecture of the temple. Lord Vaikuntha is said to have given appearance to the King Viroacha once. The Government of Tamil Nadu takes care of the maintenance of the temple.
Facts/Mythology
Hindu mythology says that once there the place where the temple stands was known as Vidarbha Desa and the king who ruled that place was called Viroacha. He was childless due to sins that he had committed during his previous birth. He went to Kailasanathar Temple and prayed to Lord Shiva for sons. Lord Shiva blessed him that the gatekeepers or the Dwarapals of the Vishnu temple would be reborn as his sons. Thus one day the dwarapalas were born to King Viroacha as his sons Pallava and Villava. They were devoted to Lord Vishnu and once they performed an Ahwamedha Yajna for the benefit of the people in the kingdom. Lord Vishnu was pleased with the devotion of the two princes and appeared in front of them as Vaikunthanathan. Thus the temple that now stands on the same place which was Vidarbha Desa has the residing deity as Vaikunthanathan.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
Six daily rituals are observed every day. The temple also has special rituals performed every week, every month and every fortnight. Among the few festivals celebrated specially in the temple two are very famous. They are Vaikasi Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi, the Tamil month which coincides with May-June. Vaikuntha Ekadasi is celebrated in December-January which is the Tamil month of Marghazhi.
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