Thiruindalur

Thiruindalur is traditionally enumerated as number 20 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

Thiru Indalur is a suburb near Mayiladuthurai (Maverrent) in Tanjavur District. Indalur in ancient ‘amil denoted Dhoopakal (in English, it means a stand used for burning incense). This place is known in Sanskrit as Suganthavana or a perfumed forest. Thus, both the Tamil and the Sanskrit names refer to the fact that this place is a Sugantharanya kshetram. The presiding deity is Parimala Ranganathar. He is also known as Suganathavana Nathar and Vedamodan. The Goddess is known as Parimala Ranganayaki also as Suganthavana Nayaki. The name of the theertham is Indu pushkarini and Kaveri pushkarini. The vimanam is known as Vedamoda. The river Kaveri flows within one furlong to the south of this temple.

The moolavar is seen in lying down posture. It is believed to be a Veera Sayana posture. The God is seen with four hands. The God here is said to be seen lying down in the same posture in which He is seen in Thirupparkadal. The moolavar is made of a single beautiful pure green Emerald (maragatham) measuring 12.5’ by 5.5’. The Sun God (Surya) is seen worshipping the moolavar with His hands folded and standing near the face of the moolavar (Mukaravintham - the face oy. The Moon God (Chandran) is seen standing with folded hands near the feet of the Lord (Padhara yeni) - the feet lotus Brahma, as usual is seen seated on the lotus emerging from the navel. Inside the garbagriha, on one side is seen Kaveri Thayar and on the other side is seen the Ganga Thayar. Thus, both these holy rivers are seen worshipping the Lord here.

The story goes that Kaveri river is more important and holy in this place than even Ganga.

Amongst the divya desams, the following five arangams on the banks of the Kaveri are famous: They are:

Thiruvaranga Pattinam (Sriranga Pattinam) (Thala Kaveri).

Appa Arangam (Koiladi) near Kallanai i.e. stone am.

Kumbakonam (Madhya Arangam) Indalur (Parimala rangam)

Some refer to the Ranganathar at Kollidam as one of the five famous arangams instead of the one at Kumakonam.

The Perumal here came to be known as Sugantha Vana Natha Swamy as well as Parimala Ranganatha Swamy as he is presiding over the Sugantharanya kshetram.