108 Dhivya Desam - Thiruththolaivillimangalam (Irattai thiruppathi)

Location :  IrattaithThiruppathi near SreeVaikuntham
Perumaal :  Srinivasan, Aravindhalochanan
Thaayaar :  Karuntadankanni
Theertham : Varuna Theertham
Paasuram :  NammAzhwar
Vimaanam : Kumuda Vimanam
Travel Base : Thirunelveli

Description: Thiruttolaivillimangalam constitutes the third and fourth of the nine Nava Thiruppatis in Thirunelveli district in the belt between Thirunelveli and the coastal shrine of Thiruchendur. Tolaivilimangalam is hailed as a Ketu Stalam.

Only NammAzhwar, who resided at Azhwar Thirunagari, has sung of these nine shrines Thiruvaikuntham, Varagunamangai, Pulinkudi, Tolaivillimangalam, Thirukkulandai, Thirukkolur, Thirupperai and Thirukkurugoor collectively referred to as Azhwar NavaThiruppati. Tolaivillimangalam referred to as Irattai Thirupati, counts as two in the scheme of Nava Thirupatis, but as one of the 108 Dhivya Desams. 

 

NammAzhwar has sung of these Thiruttolaivillimangalam in a total of 11 verses where he refers to Perumaal as Nedumaal, Devapiraan, Tamaraitadankannan and Aravindalochanan.

 

Deities: The first of the two temples, here enshrines Srinivasan (Devapiran) in a standing posture facing East. This temple has two prakarams. The second temple with 2 prakarams enshrines Aravindalochanan in a seated posture facing East and his consort is Karuntadankanni Naachiyaar. These temples underwent renovation in 1998.

 

Legend has it that a man and a woman who had been cursed by Kuberan to assume the forms of a measuring scale (Tulai) and a bow (Villi), were relieved of their curse by a sage Atreya Suprabha here, hence the name Tulaivillimangalam. Legend also has it that Indra, Vayu and Varuna worshipped Perumaal here. The senthaamaraikkannan - Aravindalochanan temple has a different set of legends related to the Ashwini twins worshipping Perumaal here with red lotus flowers.