Parimala Ranganatha Perumal temple

Parimala Ranganathar Perumal Temples or Tiruindaloor is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Thiruvilandur of Mayiladuthurai, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the 12 poet saints, or the Alvars.This temple is along Kaveri and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams.

The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity with contributions at different times from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire and Madurai Nayaks. The temple is enshrined within a granite wall and the complex contains all the shrines of the temple. The rajagopuram (the main gateway) has five tiers.

Parimala Ranganathar is believed to have appeared for Chandra, the moon god. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and twelve yearly festivals on its calendar. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Chartibable Institutions Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the prominent tourist destinations in the district.

Legend

According to Hindu legend, the place is where moon god, Chandra is believed to have been relieved of his curse. Indu means moon and the place Tiruindaloor derives its name from the legend. Chandra worshiped Vishnu who appeared to please the devotee.

According to another legend, the Alvar saint Thirumangai Alvar visited the temple and the doors were locked at the time. He was singing praise of Parimala Ranganathar, but the door still was not open. After continuous singing, he became frustrated at one point and so asked Parimala Ranganathar to keep the temple for himself, when the doors were opened.