Description: This is the eighth of the nine Nava Thiruppatis in Thirunelveli
district in the belt between Thirunelveli and the coastal shrine of Thiruchendur.
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 Thirupperai in a decad
of 11 verses.
Deities: The Moolavar here
is Makara Nedunkuzhaikkadan (Nigaril Mukilvannan) in a seated posture facing East, while Thaayaars here are Kuzhaikkaaduvalli
Naachiyaar and Thirupperai Naachiyaar. Also seen in the sanctum are images of Bhrigu muni and Markandeya.
Legend has it that Bhudevi took
the form of Thaayaar (Sreebherai) and bathed in the Tamrabarani river on a full moon day in the Tamil month of Pankuni, where
she discovered two fish shaped ear rings, which she offered to Perumaal and hence the name Makara Nedunkuzhaikkaadan. Varuna,
is believed to have worshipped Perumaal with an abhishekam on the full moon day in the month of Pankuni, to absolve himself
of the sin of having insulted his Guru. This shrine is also regarded as a Sukrastalam. The theertham here is called the Sukra
Pushkarini.