108 Dhivya Desam - Thiruvaragunamangai

Location :  Varagunamangai (Naththam) near Sree Vaikuntham
Perumaal :  Vijayaasanapperumaal
Thaayaar :  Varagunavalli Thaayaar
Theertham : Agni Theertham
Paasuram :  NammAzhwar
Vimaanam : Vijayakoti Vimanam
Travel Base : Thirunelveli

Description: This is the second of the nine Nava Thiruppatis (Dhivya Desam shrines) in Thirunelveli district in the belt between Thirunelveli and the coastal shrine of Thiruchendur. Varagunamangai, known as Naththam is located 2.5 km East of Sree Vaikuntham.

 

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. 

 

Deities: The Moolavar here is Vijayaasanapperumaal in a seated posture, with the hood of Aadi Seshan spread over his head, as an umbrella in a manner similar to that at Sree Vaikuntham. Thaayaar here is Varagunavalli. This is an East facing temple with a single prakaram.

 

NammAzhwar refers to Perumaal's reclining posture at Thiruppulinkudi, his seated posture at Varagunamangai and his standing posture at Vaikuntham in a lone verse in his Thiruvaaimozhi.