Soundararajaperumal Temple, Nagapattinam
| Soundararajaperumal Temple | |
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 Soundararajaperumal Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 10°45′38″N 79°50′24″E / 10.76056°N 79.84000°ECoordinates: 10°45′38″N 79°50′24″E / 10.76056°N 79.84000°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Nagapattinam |
| Location | Nagapattinam |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Soundararajaperumal(Vishnu) |
| Poets | Thirumangai Alwar |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
Soundararajaperumal Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu. It is located in Nagapattinam, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is counted as one among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshiped as Soundararaja Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Soundaravalli.
The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions at different times from Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple has two inscriptions dating from the Chola period. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) within a granite wall. The complex contains all the shrines and water bodies associated with it.
Soundararaja Perumal is believed to have appeared for sage Markandeya, Dhuruva, Saleesan and the Hindu god Bhoomadevi. The temple observes six daily rituals and three yearly festivals. The chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (March–April), is the most prominent festival of the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The tributary of river Cauvery, Odambokki, passes close to the temple and the river is also called Virutha Kaveri. This leads to one of the names of presiding deity, "Kaveri Thuraivan". The present day Nagapattinam is believed to have been a forest, historically named Sundararinyam. During Tretha Yuga a prince, Dhuruva, heard about the importance of the forest and began a penance, wishing to see Vishnu. Pleased by this penance, Vishnu appeared to him. Following his example, Markendaya Maharishi did penance and attained the vision of Vishnu during Kritha Yuga and Malaimagal (Lakshmi), the consort of Vishnu, during Tretha Yuga as did king Saleesa Chola during Kali Yuga. It is believed that two eunuchs, Kandan and Sukandan, attained physical fitness after having a holy dip in Sara Pushkarani, the temple tank. The Hindu god of creation, Brahma, started worshiping Vishnu at this place. Vishnu is believed to have appeared on the auspicious day of Masi Maham on the banks of Sarapushkarani. On account of the glow emanating from Masi Maham, Vishnu at this place was called "Azhagiyan". Since he had a glittering skin, he was called "Soundara Rajan", meaning the most beautiful and his consort was called Soundaravalli. Since the king of Nagars (snakes), Adisesha worshipped Vishnu at this place, the place was called Nagar Pattinam, the place of Nagars.
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