Thirunagai

Thirunagai is traditionally enumerated as number 15 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

Nagapattinam railway line, this place is about 1 to 2 kms.from Keezh Velur railway station.

The moolavar is known as Loganatha Perumal. Thirumangai Alvar has described this Lord as “Shyama Mameni Yen Thalaivan”. This means that my Lord and master has a complexion which is blue in colour. The moolavar is seen in a standing posture facing east. Along with the Moolavar Sridevi and Bhoodevi are also seen. On one side, we have the idols of the rishis Gowthamar and Uparisaravasu. On another side, the idols of Brighu and Brahma are seen. The Moolavar idol is very beautiful. The face reflects the quality of God as an ocean of mercy. It is said that in the early days, the idol of Madarar rishi also was in the sanctum sanctorum. But today it is not to be seen there. :

The utsavar is known as Damodara Narayananan. Elders address the utsava perumal as “Santhoteetham” (peaceful reposefull) as also Subha-srayam (good augury). The right hand has got the abhaya pose while the left hand is kept on His waist. The Lord is seen facing the east. Sridevi and Bhoodevi are on either side of the utsavar.

The Goddess (moolavar) is known as Loganayaki. The utsava Goddess is known as Aravindha nayaki. The vimanam is known as Utpalavadaka vimanam.

Garuda puranam details the story of this place. Garuda puranam refers to this place as “pancha

badra” It is also known as “pancha Narayana sthalam” as Narayana is seen in five different forms in and around this place. At Abharanadari, we see the Perumal as Anantha Narayanan, at Peria Alattur, He is seen as Varadha Narayanan, at Thevoor, He is seen as Deva Narayanan, at Keevalur He is seen as Yadhava Narayanan while at Thirukkannagudi, He is seen as Damodara Narayanan.

This place is a Krishna kshetram. There are five sacred places pancha"Krishna kshetrams’. They are Thirukkannamangai, Thirukovilur, Thirukkannapuram, Thirukapisthlam and Thirukkannangudi. The place is also known as Krishnaranyam. The tank here is known Nithya pushkarani as also “Sravana pushkarani”. The sthala vruksham i.e. the tree sacred to this divya desam is Makizha maram,(tree with vakula flower or little flower).