Alwar Tirunagari Temple is the ninth of the nine Nava Tiruppatis located in Tiruchendur. This shrine is closely associated with Nammalwar.
Deities of Alwar Tirunagari Temple , Tiruchendur: The image here is Aadi Naathan or Aadi Piraan. Taayaars here are Aadi Natha Valli and Kurukoor Valli. There is a shrine dedicated to Nammalwar and the tamarind tree in which he resided is the stala vriksham.
Legend of Alwar Tirunagari Temple , Tiruchendur: Indra was absolved of his curse here. It is believed that Lakshmana incarnated as the tamarind tree. Vishnu was under a vow of celibacy, when Lakshmi wished to marry him, so Vishnu accepted her in the form of a garland of flowers.
Temple: This temple covers an area of 5 acres, has three prakarams and a five-tiered rajagopuram. The Tirumanjana mandapam, the tirumamani mandapam and the Kannadi mandapam are grand. There are shrines dedicated to Rama, Venugopala, Narasimhar, Varaha here. This temple boasts of a nadaswaram made of stone. This temple is regarded as the Budhastalam (mercury) and being the ninth Divyadesam in the Tirunelveli area, it is regarded as Parama padam itself.
Festivals of Alwar Tirunagari Temple , Tiruchendur: The asterism of each Alwar is celebrated here. Garuda Sevai in the tamil month of Vaikasi (Vishaka asterism - the birthday of Nammalwar) witnesses the grand Garuda Sevai, where festival images from all of the nine Nava Tirupatis congregate here.
