Thiru TholaiVillimangalam
Thiru TholaiVillimangalam / Irattai Tirupathi
Sri Aravindalochanar Perumal Temple
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| Temple entrance file picture |
Thiru Tholaivillimangalam or Irattai Tirupathi (as popularly known here) Sri Aravindalocahanan Permual Temple are two temples but considered as one of the 108 Divya Desams and a Nava Tirupathi located near Alwar Thirunagari across the river Thamiraparani, Tamil Nadu, South India. This is also called as Navagraha Tirupathis because each of the Navagrahas is said to have worshipped at the temples here. In that aspect this is dedicated to Rahu and Ketu.
The first temple with Srinivasan or Devapiran as the moolavar is on thee banks of Thamiraparani river. The other temple with Aravindalochana perumal is on the banks of the canal.
As per legends, once a deva called Vidhyadharan was frolicking with his wife, when Kuberan crossed them. Vidhyadharan ignored Kuberan and Kuberan in his anger cursed Vidhyadharan to become a balance scale (Thulam) and his wife as Bow (Vill). Vidhyadharan and his wife pleaded with Kuberan. A pacified Kuberan then asked them to go to a place called Kedara Nilayam in the North bank of Thamiraparani and start a penance towards Maha Vishnu. He said that when their time comes they will be releived of their curse.
One day a travelling rishi Subprabhar came to this place and felt some sort divine aura there.He decided to conduct a yagna there and asked his disciples to clear the place. He was surprised to see a balance scale and bow buried there, and when he tried to pick them up the cursed Vidhyadharan and his wife appeared. Releived of their curse they thanked Subprabhar and went back to Devalokam. As Maha Vishnu appeared and releived their curse through the Sage, Lord Narayana became to be known as Devapiran. As both Thula and Vill got releived of their curse this place is called as Thulavilli mangalam or Tholaivilli mangalam.
The temple has no Rajagopuram. This temple is small but beautiful.We can see exiquisite stone sculptures and carvings in the pillars of this temple.
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| Devapiran - Aravindalochanar file picture |
The Moolavar here is Devapiran in a nindra kolam(standing posture) and Aravindalochanan in Veetrindah kolam(sitting posture). The Utsavar is Srinivasan.Prathyaksham for Indran,Vayu,Varunan.
Thayaar Sridevi and Bhudevi.No seperate sannidhi.
Mangalaasasanam The temple is revered by the verses of Nammalwar.
Festivals During the Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) there are nine Garudasevai, a big event in which the utsava murthi is brought on Garuda vahana. This festivals draws thousands of visitors from nearby areas.
Temple location The temple is situated in the small village of Kilpidagai Kasba 6 kms from Alwar thirunagari.
Temple Timings The temple is open from 7:30 AM till 12:00 noon and from 5:00 pm till 8:00 pm. As there is no dedicated priest here ( at the time of writing this) , the priest has to come from nearby place. Enquire in the nearby agraharam and make sure the priest is there.
How to reach?
It is well connected by state highways roads, and this temple is 6 kms from Alwar Thirunagari in the Srivaikundam-Eral road. Take your car or hire a cab to visit all the nine Tirupathis, going by the local bus is time consuming. If you are only three or less travellers, local auto rickshaws are the cheapest and best mode of transport.Negotiate and fix a rate for the day trip.
Those in Chennai can avail the services of Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation which is arranging the trip twice a month on the first and third Friday of the month. They can return by Wednesday morning.
Where to Stay? There are no hotels here. Tiruchendur or Tirunelveli which are under 30 kms from here would be an ideal place for stay
Where to eat There are only a couple of restauarants and a few tea shops are here.Use your judgement to find a hygienic place to eat in the available eateries.
Other interesting places around Thiru Tholaivillimangalam The other eight Nava Tirupathis are within a day's visit from here if you drive your car or hire a cab. Tiruchendur temple is a must visit temple from here.
Arulmigu Athinatha Alwar Temple,
Alwar thirunagari,
Thiruchendur Taluk,
Thoothukudi district.,
Pincode : 628 612 ,
Phone no: 04639 - 273607
Executive Officer: 94439 86996,
Clerk: 95667 55063
E-Mail : athinatharalwartemple@gmail.com
Useful data
State: Tamil Nadu
District:Thoothukudi
Famous for: Pilgrimage, other Nava Tirupathis
Languages: Tamil,English
Best Season: Throughout the year. Summer( from May to July) could be very sultry when the mercury shoots to 40 degree celsius.
Weather: Summer 33-42°C, Winter 16-28°C
Altitude: Sea level
