Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushothama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur
Vishnu (as Purushothaman) temple · Thirunangur, near Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Thiruvanpurushothamam, also called the Van Purushothaman or Purushothama Perumal temple, is a Vishnu temple in the village of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi, in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams and one of the eleven Thirunangur Divya Desams praised by Thirumangai Alvar. Dinamalar's temple directory counts it as the 30th of the 108.
The presiding deity, Purushothaman, stands facing east with Sridevi and Bhudevi, according to Dinamalar, and his consort Purushothama Nayaki has a separate shrine in the south-west corner of the temple. The shrine is associated with a legend in which Vishnu is said to have fed a hungry child with milk.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushothama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur
According to the legend told by Dinamalar, the sage Vyaghrapada brought his young son Upamanyu to the temple garden while he gathered flowers for worship. Left at the gate, the child cried with hunger, and Vishnu is believed to have heard him from the Ocean of Milk, created a milk ocean at this spot and fed him, with the goddess Purushothama Nayaki also offering milk. The temple tank, on the north side, is accordingly called Thiruppaarkadal (the Milk Ocean). Wikipedia likewise records that the sage Upamanyu is believed to have worshipped the presiding deity here.
Dinamalar notes that Thirumangai Alvar praised the deity here in the form of Rama of Ayodhya, and that the temple has three shrines of Hanuman, one of which, in the Rama shrine, shows him with hands folded and mouth covered. It also records a tradition that Manavala Mamunigal served at this temple for two years.
Like the other Thirunangur shrines, the temple is linked to the legend of Vishnu appearing in eleven forms to calm Shiva's furious dance after the death of Sati at Daksha's sacrifice. Wikipedia adds that the eleven Rudras and Indra are said to have worshipped Vishnu here.
Heritage
History of Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushothama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur
The sources consulted do not record inscriptions or a construction date for this temple. Its inclusion in Thirumangai Alvar's Periya Thirumozhi shows that it was already revered in the Alvar period, and Wikipedia notes its mention in the 18th–19th century work 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. The Wikipedia article on the Nangur group states that the oldest of the eleven temples date to the reign of the Chola king Parantaka I, without specifying which.
Wikipedia records a tradition that the sages Madangar, Domyar, Vyaghrapada and Udangar had hermitages in the area, and that the place-name Nangur derives from Nagapuri, a town said in the Mahabharata to have been ruled by the serpent king Takshaka. Daily Thanthi also gives Nagapuri as Thirunangur's old name.
Architecture and sacred features
Wikipedia describes a small temple with a single sanctum under a three-tiered vimana, enclosed by rectangular walls and surrounded by paddy fields. A Garuda mandapa stands on the axis between the entrance and the sanctum, connected to the shrine by a modern pillared hall. Dinamalar names the vimana as the Sanjeevi Vigraha Vimanam and the sacred trees as the jackfruit and the plantain, and says the Thiruppaarkadal tank is noted for staying free of algae.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
This is a small village temple and may be closed between the morning and evening worship periods. Crowds are very large at the time of the Garuda Sevai in Thai. Dress modestly and follow the directions of temple staff. Confirm current opening times and festival dates with the temple or the Tamil Nadu HR&CE 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 Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushothama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur
Brahmotsavam
A ten-day annual festival listed by Dinamalar.
Pavitra Utsavam
Listed by Dinamalar.
Thirunangur Garuda Sevai (Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana Utsavam)
The festival image of Purushothaman joins those of the other ten Thirunangur shrines on Garuda vahanas, while Thirumangai Alvar's hymns for each shrine are recited.
Location
How to Reach Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushothama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur
Dinamalar gives the temple's distance as about 9 km from Sirkazhi. It advises getting off at the Annan Perumal Koil stop on the Sirkazhi–Nagapattinam road and walking about 2 km east. Sirkazhi is the nearest railway station, and Chennai and Tiruchirappalli are the nearest airports.
Dinamalar lists lodging in Sirkazhi. The other Thirunangur Divya Desams are close by in the same village.
Location: Thirunangur, near Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli or Chennai (per Dinamalar)
Nearest railway station: Sirkazhi, about 9 km (per Dinamalar)
More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Vishnu (as Purushothaman) temples · Temples in Nangur · Temples in Sirkazhi Taluk · Temples in Mayiladuthurai District
Questions
Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushothama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the presiding deity of Thiruvanpurushothamam?
Vishnu as Purushothaman, standing and facing east with Sridevi and Bhudevi. His consort Purushothama Nayaki has a separate shrine.
What legend is associated with the temple?
Tradition says Vishnu heard the child Upamanyu, son of the sage Vyaghrapada, crying with hunger and created a milk ocean here to feed him. The temple tank is called Thiruppaarkadal for this reason.
Is there a Rama shrine at the temple?
Yes. Dinamalar notes that Thirumangai Alvar praised the deity as Rama of Ayodhya, and that a Hanuman image with folded hands stands in the Rama shrine.
When are the festivals?
Dinamalar lists a ten-day Brahmotsavam in Panguni, Pavitra Utsavam on the Aavani full moon and the Garuda Sevai the day after the Thai new moon.
How do I reach Thiruvanpurushothamam?
Get off at the Annan Perumal Koil stop on the Sirkazhi–Nagapattinam road and walk about 2 km east. The temple is about 9 km from Sirkazhi railway station.
Sources and attribution
- Dinamalar — Arulmigu Purushothamar Temple, Thirunangur (Tamil temple directory)
- Daily Thanthi — Arutsevai arulum Thirunangur Garudasevai (Tamil)
- Wikipedia — Thiruvanpurushothamam
- Wikipedia — Nangur Vishnu Temples
- sadagopan.org (ed. Oppiliappan Koil V. Sadagopan) — Thiru Semponsei Koil (Sundarasimham-Ahobilavalli ebook; lists Vann Purudotthamam among the eleven Thirunangur shrines)
Further reading: Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushothama Perumal Temple), Thirunangur on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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