Sowriraja Perumal Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The temple is in Thirukkannapuram village, on the outskirts of Nagapattinam, in Thirumarugal Block.

Why devotees come here

Sowriraja Perumal Temple stands in Thirukkannapuram, on the outskirts of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu. Vishnu is worshipped here as Neelamegha Perumal, and the temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams.

Thirukkannapuram is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu. It is the foremost of the five Panchakanna Kshetrams, and it is also called Bhuloka Vaikuntham. The temple is next only to Srirangam in the number of hymns in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham for its deity.

Legend says Vishnu appeared with a sowri, a wig, to save a devotee, and that is how the name Sowriraja Perumal came about. In another account from the Padma Purana, Vishnu comes as a 16-year-old boy and defeats the flying king Vasu. Both are told as legend.

The temple is believed to have been built by the Cholas, and the Thanjavur Nayaks later added to it. A granite wall encloses the complex, which covers 1.5 acres, along with all its shrines and three of its seven water bodies. The seven-tier rajagopuram rises about 100 ft (30 m), and the presiding deity, Neela Meghar, is housed in the sanctum behind the gateways and the Mahamandapa.

Festivals

• Vaikasi month, April to MayBrahmotsavam

  The major festival of the temple, held over twelve days.

• Masi month, February to MarchMasi Mahotsavam

  A ten-day festival at the temple, held during the Tamil month of Masi.

Tips for your visit

• The temple tank is situated right opposite the temple.
• The Nagapattinam district tourism page lists the temple among the district's places of interest.
• If you want to see a festival, plan your visit for Vaikasi (April to May) or Masi (February to March).

Questions people ask