A TEMPLE WITH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE GODDESS

   

The Divya kshetram TIRUNARAIYUR also known as NAACHIYAAR KOYIL is located in Tirunaraiyur en -route to Tiruvarur from Kumbakonam. Since importance is given to Nachiyaar (Goddess) in this temple, it is called Nachiyaar Koyil.

The presiding deity here is Tirunaraiyur Nambi also known as Vasudevar depicted in the Kalyana Kolam with Vanchulavalli Thayar in the sanctum. The sacred water is Manimuktha Pushkarini and the Sanctum Santorum Srinivasa Hema Vimanam.

Legend has it that Lakshmi was born as Vanchulavalli at the foot of a Vanchula tree to Medhavi Munivar. Vishnu is believed to have manifested himself in the Pancha Vyuha forms and married Vanchulavalli. In the sanctum one finds the sculptures of the deities - Sankarshana in the east, Pradyumna in the south, Anirudha in the west, Purushothaman in the north and vasudeva in the center. There is no seperate shrine for Goddess.

There is  a special shrine dedicated to Kal Garudan.  Garudan (kite) the king of birds is seen with none serpents and is believed to have the powers to remove the Navagraha Dosham. The specialty of the Kal Garudan (made of boulder of rock) is that the mount is said to increase  exponentially in size as it is carried out of the sanctum  with the Utsava moorthi (idol of the Lord) seated on, and decrease the same way while being brough back inside the temple. It is found only 4 people are needed to carry it initially and as it is carried out of the temple, 64 people are required to carry it thereon. During the festival Nachiyar leads the procession on Hamsa Vahanam.