SriVaishnavam - The Philosophy !
108 Dhivya Desam - ThiruDevanaar Thogai

Location: Thirudevanaar Thogai - Keezhchaalai near Sirkazhi
Perumaal: Deivanayakan,
Thaayaar: Kadalmagal Naachiyaar
Theertham
:Sopana Pushkarini
Paasuram :Thirumangai
Vimaanam:Sopana Vimanam
Travel Base:Chidambaram
Other: One of the 11 Thirunaangur Dhivya Desams closely associated with ThirumangaiAzhwar

Description: This Dhivyadesam is located 6.5km south west of Sirkazhi, at a distance of a km from Thiruvaali.    (Thiruvaali is located between Sirkazhi and Thiruvenkaadu). It is also referred to as the Madhavaperumaal temple.

 

Deities: The Moolavar here is Deivanayakan in a standing posture flanked by Sridevi and Bhoodevi  facing East while the Utsavar is Madhava Perumaal. Thaayaar here is Kadalmagal Naachiyaar (also known as Deivanayaki taayaar or Madhavanayaki), and the Utsava Thaayaar is Madhava Nayaki.  This is a west facing temple with a single prakaram. The temple tank Sopana Pushkarini is located across from the temple. 

 

Legends: The name Devanaartogai arises from the legend that a congregation of Devas assembled to worship Perumaal at this shrine. Legend also has it that Vasishta muni worshipped Perumaal at this shrine.

 

The Thirunaangur Dhivya Desams: This is one of the 11 Thirunaangur Dhivya Desams in the vicinity of Sirkazhi, glorified by the hymns of - and closely associated with  ThirumangaiAzhwar, whose birthplace  Thirunagari,  is located nearby. 11 Dhivya Desams in the vicinity of Sirkazhi, Thiruvaali and Thirunagari (the birthplace of ThirumangaiAzhwar) are associated closely with ThirumangaiAzhwar.

 

Legend has it that Shiva performed the Ekadasa Rudra Aswamedha Yagam, to rid himself of the blemish of Bhramahatti; Perumaal is believed to have appeared in his presence with Sree Devi, Bhu Devi and Nila Devi at the end of the sacrifice, and upon Shiva's request, taken up 11 abodes here in the Thirunangur area, which correspond to the 11 Thirunaangur Dhivya Desams held in worship by Rudra.

 

Only ThirumangaiAzhwar has sung of these 11 Dhivya Desams. The  Thirunaangur Dhivya Desam shrines are Kavalampaadi, Thiruvanpurushottamam, Arimeya Vinnagaram,  Chemponseikoyil, Manimaadakkoyil (Narayanan), Vaikuntha Vinnagaram,  Thirudevanaar Togai, Thiruttetriambalam, Manikkootam, Thiruvellakkulam, and  Parthanpalli.

 

Festivals: The ThirumangaiAzhwar Mangalasasana utsavam in the month of Thai (after the new moon night) witnesses Garudasevai - a spectacular event in which festival images of Perumaal from the 11 (Thirunaangur) Dhivya Desam shrines in the area are brought on  Garuda mounts to Thirunangur. An image of Thirumangai Azhwar is brought here on a Hamsa Vahanam (from Thirunagari) and the his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 11 Dhivya Desams are recited. The image of ThirumangaiAzhwar circumambulates each of these deities, and at the conclusion of the festival, the images are returned to their temples. Prior to this, the image of ThirumangaiAzhwar and his consort are taken in a palanquin to each of the 11 Thirunangur Dhivya Desams, (trampling)  through the paddy fields in the area, and the paasurams dedicated to each of the 11 Dhivya Desams are chanted in the respective shrines. The Ekadasi Garuda Sevai is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.