Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The temple lies on the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, on the southern bank of the Thamiraparani river.

Why devotees come here

Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar Temple stands at Thenthiruperai on the southern bank of the Thamiraparani river in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, Vishnu temples revered by the Alvars. The temple is also called Sukra sthalam, a shrine of the planet Sukra.

Legend says a sage asked Bhudevi to pray to Vishnu on the banks of the Thamiraparani river to lift a curse. When Vishnu accepted her earring, Bhudevi regained her original form. The river is the setting of this story, and the temple sits on its southern bank.

The temple is called Sukra sthalam, a shrine of the planet Sukra. It is one of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples on the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route. All nine are Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples that the 12 Alvars, the poet saints, revered.

A granite wall surrounds the temple and encloses all its shrines. The shrines sit in a rectangle, pierced by a three-tiered gopuram, the entrance tower. The style is Dravidian. The presiding deity stands with Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side, and the temple follows the Thenkalai tradition of worship.

Festivals

• Vaikasi month (May-June)Garuda Sevai

  Nine Garudasevai are held, with festival idols from the Nava Tirupati shrines brought together.

Tips for your visit

• Alwar Thirunagari is about 5 km from this temple.
• All nine Nava Tirupati temples lie on the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, and each one is a Divya Desam of Vishnu.

Questions people ask