Tiruneermalai
Temple Information
- Moolavar
- Neervannan Perumāl/Raṅganāthar/Rāmar/Narasimha
- Thayaar
- Animamalarmangai Thāyār
- Vimanam
- Toyagiri Vimānam
- Theertham
- Manikarnika Tīrtham
- How to reach
- This kshethram is situated on the outskirts of Chennai near Pallavaram.
Shrine Location
Sthala Puranam
The legend tells the story of Tirumangai Āzhwār visiting this kshethram. When he visited this kshethram, the hill was surrounded by water, hence giving the kshethram the name Tiruneermalai. This kshethram features shrines for Ranganatha Perumāl, Ulagalantha Perumāl, and Shantha Nṛisimha Perumāl atop a small hillock. At the base of the hillock, one can find the temple of Neervana Perumāl and a shrine for Rāma, Lakshmaṇa, Bharatha, Shatrughna, along with Devī Sītā.
It is said that Maharshi Vālmīki visited this kshethram and paid his homage to the Lords atop the hill, but was not satisfied by his darshan of the Lords. Thus, he requested the Lords to show themselves as Lord Rāma. Therefore, the Lords collectively took the form of Rāma. Shrīdevī and Bhūdevi became Devī Sītā. Ādishesha, Shankham, and Chakra appeared as Lakshmaṇa, Bharatha, and Shatrugna, and Garuḍa as Hanumān.
Special Note
As one enters the premises of the Neervana Perumāl temple, they can see that the Dhvaja-Sthambham is displaced and not in line with the entrance, and the same is true with the position of the garbha griha of Neervana Perumāl. This is because when Lord Rāma appeared, he assumed the primary deity of the kshethram, displacing the position of Neervana Perumāl. The Dhvaja-Sthambham is in line with Shri Rāmar.
Azhwar Pasuram
Tirumangai Āzhwār: 19 Pāsurams
Bhūtath Āzhwār: 1 pāsuram
Total: 20 Pāsurams