Neelamegha Perumal temple
The Neelamegha Perumal Temple or Sowriraja Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple in Thirukannapuram, a village in the outskirts of Nagapattinam in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Neelamegha Perumal (also called as Neela Meghar) and his consort Lakshmi as Thirukannapura Nayagi. As per Hindu legend, the presiding deity is believed to have appeared with a wig (called sowri locally) to save a devotee, leading to the name Sowriraja Perumal (also called as Sowrirajan or Sowrirajar).
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and three of its seven bodies of water. The temple has a seven-tiered rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower and a huge temple tank in front of it. The temple is believed to have been built by the Cholas, with later additions from the Thanjavur Nayaks.
Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (April–May), is the most prominent. The temple follows the Tenkalai mode of worship and is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Legend
As per Hindu legend, Rangabhatta an ardent devotee and priest of the temple offered a garland to the presiding deity daily offered by a courtesan. The courtesan used to wear the garland before offering to the priest. One day, the ruling king found a hair in the garland asked the priest about it. The priest said that the hair was that of the deity himself. The king thought that priest was lying and wanted to punish him. While he checked the deity, Vishnu himself appeared with a sowri (wig). Since Vishnu appeared with Sowri, he is called Sowriraja Perumal in the temple.
As per Padma Purana, a king called Vasu (also known as Uparisravas), had the ability to fly. He was killing the demons who were troubling the masses. While flying over this place, he mistook some sages as demons and attacked them. Vishnu came in as a 16 year old boy and defeated Vasu. It took a bit of time for Vasu to realise it was Vishnu who came in disguise. He prayed to Vishnu to marry his daughter Padmini. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu agreed to marry Padmini.