Annan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Kovil)
Vishnu as Annan Perumal (Srinivasa), with consort Alarmelmangai temple · Annan Kovil (Thiruvellakkulam), near Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
The Annan Perumal Temple at Thiruvellakkulam, a village better known as Annan Kovil near Thirunangur and Sirkazhi in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu, is a Vishnu temple where the Lord is worshipped as Annan Perumal, a form of Srinivasa, with his consort Alarmelmangai Thayar.
It is one of the 108 Divya Desams and one of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupatis, a cluster of Vishnu temples around Thirunangur sung by Thirumangai Alvar. The temple is closely linked with the Alvar's life: tradition holds that his wife Kumudavalli was found here, and she has a separate shrine.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Annan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Kovil)
The name Annan Kovil means 'temple of the elder brother'. The Hindu (2016) reports that the name comes from one of Thirumangai Alvar's hymns, in which he addresses the presiding deity as 'Anna'. Dinamalar adds the tradition that the Lord here is regarded as the elder brother of the Lord of Tirupati, and Wikipedia notes that the temple is also called 'Then Tirupati' (southern Tirupati). The festival image is Srinivasa and the goddess is Alarmelmangai, mirroring Tirupati.
The temple tank is central to the story of Thirumangai Alvar. According to the legend given by Dinamalar, a celestial maiden named Kumudavalli came to the tank to gather lotus flowers and was unable to return to the heavens; Neelan, a chieftain, married her after accepting her conditions, the last being that he feed devotees. The Lord then gave him darshan and initiated him, and he became the Alvar Thirumangai. Wikipedia records that Kumudavalli Nachiyar has her own shrine at the temple.
The eleven Thirunangur temples share a common legend. In the version given by Wikipedia, Shiva danced in fury here after the death of his consort at Daksha's sacrifice, and eleven forms of Shiva appeared; when Vishnu came to calm him, Shiva asked him to appear in eleven forms as well, and the eleven temples are believed to mark those places. Wikipedia also says that King Svetha of the Ikshvaku line worshipped here, and Dinamalar tells of a prince, Swethan, foretold to die young, who on Sage Vasishta's advice recited the Narasimha mantra at the tank and was spared. Dinamalar also records that the Acharya Manavala Mamunigal had darshan of the Lord here.
Heritage
History of Annan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Kovil)
Thirumangai Alvar's hymns, part of the early medieval Nalayira Divya Prabandham, are the earliest literary reference to the temple; Wikipedia adds that it is mentioned in the 108 Tirupati Antati of the 18th–19th centuries. No inscription-based building date was found in the sources consulted.
The temple was reconsecrated in a samprokshanam in June 2016, according to The Hindu, after a renovation estimated at Rs 1.5 crore begun with the balalayam rite in March 2015. Earlier samprokshanams took place in 1999 and 1983. The work restored the temple tank, raised the compound wall, added a neerazhi mandapam (pavilion) in the middle of the tank, built a vahana mandapam, a temple-car shed and a yagasala, and paved the prakaram with stone slabs.
Architecture and sacred features
Wikipedia describes a Dravidian-style temple with a three-tiered rajagopuram and a rectangular granite wall enclosing a single prakaram. The tank lies opposite the gateway tower. Inside are separate shrines for the Perumal, the Thayar, Manavala Mamunigal, Nammalvar and Kumudavalli Nachiyar, and there is a separate Hanuman shrine (Vijaya Anjaneyar) in front of the rajagopuram. Dinamalar describes the Lord standing and facing east, and names the sanctum tower the Tatvat Yodhaka vimana.
The Hindu calls the tank Sethapushkarani (Dinamalar: Vellakula Theertham); The Hindu notes that Thiruvellakulam is the temple's name in the scriptures. The 2016 renovation strengthened the tank's embankment and repaired its steps.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
This is a village temple in active worship. Dress modestly, follow the priests' instructions and ask before photographing inside the shrines. Large numbers of devotees gather in the Thirunangur area for the Garuda Sevai in the month of Thai. Confirm current darshan timings and festival dates with the temple or the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Annan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Kovil)
Thirunangur Garuda Sevai (Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana Utsavam)
The festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Divya Desams, including Annan Perumal, are brought on Garuda mounts to Thirunangur, and Thirumangai Alvar's verses for each temple are recited; Maalaimalar places the gathering on the day after the Thai new moon.
Purattasi Brahmotsavam
Dinamalar describes a Brahmotsavam celebrated in the manner of Tirupati.
Vasantha Utsavam
A spring festival held over the first five days of Vaikasi, according to Dinamalar.
Thirukalyanam
The divine wedding festival, listed by Dinamalar.
Location
How to Reach Annan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Kovil)
Dinamalar places Annan Kovil about 6 km from Sirkazhi, with buses on the Sirkazhi–Nagapattinam route passing through the village; Wikipedia gives about 8 km east of Sirkazhi on the way to Thiruvenkadu. Sirkazhi is the nearest railway station, and Tiruchirappalli and Chennai are the nearest airports, according to Dinamalar.
The other Thirunangur Divya Desams lie within a few kilometres, so many visitors combine them in one trip.
Location: Annan Kovil (Thiruvellakkulam), near Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli or Chennai (per Dinamalar)
Nearest railway station: Sirkazhi (per Dinamalar)
More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Vishnu as Annan Perumal (Srinivasa), with consort Alarmelmangai temples · Temples in Sirkazhi Taluk · Temples in Mayiladuthurai District
Questions
Annan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Kovil): Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the temple called Annan Kovil?
Thirumangai Alvar addressed the deity as 'Anna' (elder brother) in a hymn, according to The Hindu. Tradition regards the Lord here as the elder brother of the Lord of Tirupati.
Is Annan Perumal Temple a Divya Desam?
Yes. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams and one of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupatis sung by Thirumangai Alvar.
What is the link between this temple and Thirumangai Alvar?
According to tradition, the Alvar's wife Kumudavalli was found at the temple tank here, and the Lord gave him darshan here. Kumudavalli Nachiyar has a separate shrine.
Why is it called the southern Tirupati?
Like Tirupati, the festival deity is Srinivasa and the goddess is Alarmelmangai, and tradition regards Annan Perumal as the elder brother of the Tirupati Lord. Wikipedia notes the name 'Then Tirupati'.
When was the temple last reconsecrated?
The Hindu reported a samprokshanam in June 2016, after a renovation that restored the tank and added new mandapams. Earlier ones were held in 1999 and 1983.
How far is Annan Kovil from Sirkazhi?
About 6 to 8 km, according to Dinamalar and Wikipedia. Sirkazhi is the nearest railway station.
Sources and attribution
- Wikipedia — Thiruvellakkulam
- Dinamalar — Sri Srinivasa Perumal (Annan Perumal) Temple, Tiruvellakulam
- The Hindu — Annan Koil temple samprokshanam performed (9 June 2016; archived)
- Maalaimalar — 11 Garuda Sevai at Thirunangur (5 February 2019)
Further reading: Annan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Kovil) on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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