Nachiyar Koil, or the Thirunarayur Nambi Temple, is a Vishnu temple in Thirunarayur on the outskirts of Kumbakonam. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, and one of the few where the goddess, Nachiyar, takes precedence over Vishnu, worshipped here as Srinivasa Perumal.
Tradition
According to tradition, Lakshmi was found here as a girl, Vanjulavalli, the daughter of the sage Medhavi, and Vishnu married her in the presence of Brahma and the gods. The temple is also where Vishnu is believed to have initiated the poet-saint Thirumangai Alvar.
The stone Garuda
The temple's stone image of Garuda (Kal Garuda) is carried out in procession twice a year, in the Tamil months of Margazhi (December–January) and Panguni (March–April). According to tradition, it grows heavier as the procession moves from the sanctum to the main gate, needing 4, then 8, 16, 32, 64 and finally 128 bearers.
History and crafts
The temple is attributed to the early Chola king Kochengat Chola, with later additions by the medieval Cholas and Vijayanagara kings. It has a five-tier gateway tower and a granite wall enclosing its shrines. The village is also known for the Nachiarkoil brass lamp, made by local artisans. The Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) is the temple's main festival.
Sources
Last reviewed October 6, 2026