Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Tuticorin Airport, about 25 km away, is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Alwar Thirunagari, 3 km away, and Nazareth, 6 km away, are the nearest railway stations.

• By road

  Thirukkolur is 4 km from Alwarthirunagari, on the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route.

Why devotees come here

Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple stands at Thirukkolur in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. It is the eighth of the nine Nava Tirupathi temples dedicated to Vishnu. It is also called Kuberasthalam, and it stands on the banks of the Thamiraparani river.

The temple is named after Mars, known in Tamil as Sevvai. The regional legend says Kubera, the keeper of wealth, was cursed by Shiva for a lustful glance at Parvati. He regained his wealth after penance at Thirukkolur.

The temple is built in the Dravidian style, and its main deity is shown reclining, facing east. The original structure is believed to have been refurbished by Rani Mangammal between 1689 and 1704 CE. The temple has two prakarams, or closed precincts.

The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, and the Nalayira Divya Prabandham praises it. Vishnu is worshipped here as Vaithamanidhi Perumal, with his consort Lakshmi known as Kolurvalli. The temple stands on the banks of the Thamiraparani river.

Festivals

• August or SeptemberAvani festival

  An annual ten-day festival that ends with the chariot festival.

• December or JanuaryVaikuntha Ekadashi

  The first day of Ra Pathu, considered auspicious for worshipping Vishnu.

Tips for your visit

• Alwarthirunagari is the birthplace of the Alvar saint Nammalvar, and it is a short trip from here.
• Thoothukudi is about 35 km away and Tirunelveli is about 30 km away.

Questions people ask