Thiruvellakkulam

Thiruvellakkulam (also called Annan Perumal Temple or Annankoil) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Annan Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Alamermangai.

It is one among the eleven Divya Desams of the Thirunangur Tirupatis, and is closely associated with Thirumangai Alvar. The temple is open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m and has four daily rituals at various times of the day. The Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana Utsavam celebrated annually during the Tamil month of Thai is the major festival of the temple during which the festival images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupatis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur.

Legend

The legend of all the eleven temples of Thirunangur are closely associated with each other. As per legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort Uma due to the yajna (sacrifice) of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground, there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place. On seeing Vishnu, Shiva’s anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Tirunangur. The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Tirunangur are located.

The temple

The temple has a three tiered rajagopuram and all its shrines are enclosed in a rectangular granite wall. The temple tank is located opposite to the gateway tower. The temple complex has a single prakaram (closed precincts of a temple) and separate shrines for Perumal, Manavala Mamunigal, Nachiyar, and Nammalvar. Kumudavalli Nachiar, the wife of Thirumangai Alvar was found here and she has a separate shrine. It is located close to Thirunangur, a small village, 8 km east of Sirkali en route to Thiruvenkadu. The temple is also referred as Ten Tirupati (Southern Tirupati) and has same structure as Tirupati temple.The latest Samprokshanam of the temple was performed during October 2016.