Matsya Moorthy (Rangaraja Perumal) Temple

Matsya Moorthy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Thuvarimaan near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The temple is located on the banks of Vaigai River.This place is considered as South Dwaraka and is believed to be the Avathara Sthalam of Matsya Moorthy.

The temple is in accordance with the Pancharathra Agama, having Lord Shiva in the Centre, Aiyanar in South and the presiding Perumal Rangarajar in the Southwest. Presiding Deity is called as Rangarajar in a standing posture with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi. As the Srirangam Temple is in between two rivers (Cauvery and Coloroon), Thuvariman temple also is in between Vaigai and a river called Kritamala as if they adore the neck of the Lord as a garland seeking his blessings. The place was earlier called as Thuvariamman and in course of time came to be known as Thuvariman.

Legend
Matsya Avatar took place in the vicinity of Madurai on the banks of river Kritamala. Lord appeared as a fish to great devoted king Satyavrata. The first Avatar of Lord Vishnu is in the form of a Fish, when he rescued the Vedas, the scriptures of the Hindus from the depths of the ocean.

One day of Brahma is called Kalpa. At the end of the day felt sleepy and yawned. The Vedas slipped out of his mouth, a Demon Somakudu stole them and hid them in the Ocean. The Vedas are required for creation by Brahma after Dissolution of the earth and it was approaching. Responding to the Prayers of Brahma, Lord Vishnu took the form of a small fish and reached the beach where Satyavrata Manu was performing his morning Sandhyavandana, morning Ritual to the Sun god Surya.

Manu was a Dravidian King, yet another proof that the Santana Dharma originated in the South. The fish sought refuge from Manu. He kept it in a small vessel filled with water. He accommodated it first in a vessel, then in a huge pot, pond, lake, river and sea. As the fish grew bigger and bigger, the king realized it was Lord Vishnu and Lord Vishnu explained to him about the theft of the Vedas and assigned Manu the task of collecting Herbs, seeds of plants and animals with the help of the Divine serpent Vasuki and the Saptha Rishis (Seven Sages).
As Manu went about this job, Vishnu Killed Somakuda, restored the Vedas and handed them back to Brahma. Generally, this Avatar is to save the world from Deluge. As the deluge began, the Fish tied to a Boat with the Serpent Vasuki, with all the seeds, sages, Manu and animals, dragged it to safety.

In days of yore, rain failed in the northern regions of India forcing people to migrate to the south. The famine was so acute that people had no hopes of survival then. A group came to the place, presently known as Thuvariman. They took up agriculture for their livelihood. They prayed to God that a famine of the intensity they experienced in the north should never revisit them and their lives should be ever peaceful and happy. Perumal Lord Vishnu appeared in the dream of one of the devotees and assured that not only during their life time but their next generations too would not have to see famines and they would ever be happier. People, recording their gratitude to the Perumal, constructed a small temple and were worshipping him.

This was believed to be Matsya Avatar, one of the ten avatars of Vishnu. From then on, fish have adorned the flag of Pandya kings.