Nava Tirupathi is a set of 9 temples of Lord Vishnu located between Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur in the southern Indian state of Tamilnadu. Nava Tirupathi is part of the 108 Divya Desam temples revered by the Alvars, the 12 Tamil poet-saints who lived 2500 years ago.

Located around the banks of the River Thamirabarani, the 9 temples of Nava Tirupathi are Thiruvaikundam, Thiruvaragunamangai, Thirupulinkudi, North & South temples of Thirutholaivillimangalam, Thirukkulanthai, Thiruperai, Thirukolur, and Thirugurukoor.

The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) witnesses 9 Garudasevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the nava tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana. An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on an Anna Vahanam (palaquin) and his paasurams(verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. The utsavar of Nammalvaris taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 9 Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.

The nine vaishnava shrines hailed as ‘Navatirupati’, are related to the ‘Navagrahas’ or the nine planets or celestial bodies, and the deities in these temples are worshipped as the ‘navagrahas’ themselves. 

 In this temple, Lord Vishnu is in the standing posture under the umbrella, Adisesha. 

Two legends are associated with this temple. Once an asura by the name of Somakan appropriated the Vedas from Lord Brahma, and Lord Vishnu retrieved it from the demon. Since the Lord came directly from His abode Vaikuntam and agreed to remain here, this place came to be known as Srivaikuntam. 

Kaaladhushakan, a robber, robbed people only after worshipping Vaikuntanathan and surrendered half of what he had plundered to the Lord. He was a Robin Hood of those days, looting the rich and helping the poor. 

Once his men, while ransacking the palace, were caught by the King’s soldiers. They had to identify their leader; when Kaladhushakan came to know about it, he prayed to the Lord of Srivaikuntam to save him. 

The Lord appeared before the King as Kaaladhushakan and counseled him to protect dharma.

Having had this beatific vision, the King requested the Lord to remain in this place as ‘Kallappiraan’.

As per another legend, the vigraham of Vaikuntanathar, over the period of several ages, had no patrons and was left submerged under the earth. A cow from a herd of the king, which used to graze at the place, worshiped the Lord by showering its milk. 

The king was displeased to see that a particular cow alone was not yielding milk and thought it might have been the trick of the herdsman. He deployed his men to monitor the cow, who reported the events to the king. 

The king realized that the cow would lead him to divinity and he dug up the region around the place. He reinstated the vigraham of Vaikuntanathar and expanded the temple. 

The Sun’s rays fall at the feet of the Lord twice a year on the 6th of the Tamil months Chithirai (April-May) and Aipasi (October-November).

Sri Vaikundam Sri Vaikundanatha Perumal Temple (Sun)  

Sri Vaikundanatha Perumal Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Vaikuntapathi Swami, is located on Tiruchendur road in Srivaikuntam about 37 km from Thirunelveli. The idol of the main deity (Moolavar), also known by the names Kalla Piraan and Paal Pandiyan is kept alone in Nindra Thirukkolam facing east.

This idol with the Gadha (a weapon) in one hand along with the Sangu and Chakkaram in the other hand is in a standing position and the Serpent God, Adisesh unfurls his hood over Vishnu Lord Vaikutanathar temple is constructed on five acres of land with giant walls measuring 580 feet by 396 feet. A nine-tier, 110 feet high Rajagopuram adorns the temple. The sanctum is surrounded by three corridors. In the sanctum, Lord Vaikuntanathar is in standing posture under the canopy of Adi Sesha. His consorts Vaikunta Nayaki and Choranatha Nayaki have separate shrines facing each other on the outer prakaram. Passing through the shrine of Choranatha Nayaki, one reaches the Paramapada Vaasal (Heaven's Gate). This is opened only once a year for special darshan on VaikuntaEkadashi day in the month of Maargazhi (December-January). The processional deity Kallarpiran with His consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi is worshipped at the Artha Mantapam.

Within the temple precincts, there are many sub-shrines dedicated to Lord Yoga Narasimha, Krishna, Hanuman, Manavala Maamuni, and Vishnu in Dashavataram postures. The Thiruvekadamudayan Mandapam is an excellent piece of architecture. Lord Rama standing with Sugreeva putting His hand on Sugreeva's shoulder, Aghora Veerabhadrar and Hanuman in different postures are some of the sculptures par excellence.

Srivaikuntam Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal Temple - Surya (Sun)
ThiruVaragunaMangai Vijayaasana Perumal Temple - Chandra (Moon)
Thirupuliyangudi Bhoomipalagar Perumal Temple - Budha (Mercury)
Rettai Tirupathi North Temple (Sri Aravindalochanar Temple, Tholaivilimangalam) Rahu
Rettai Tirupathi - South Temple (Sri Devapiran Temple, Tholaivilimangalam) - Ketu
Perungulam Swamy Mayakoothar Temple, Thirukkulanthai - Shani (Saturn)
ThenThirupperai Thiru Makara Nedunkulai Kaather Perumal Temple - Shukra (Venus)
Thirukolur Sri Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple - Mangala (Mars)

Alwarthirunagari Perumal Temple, Thirukkurugoor - Guru (Jupiter)The Nava Tirupathi is considered a ‘Navagraha' (the nine planets) Temples. Devotees worship in these temples to relieve the adverse effects of the planets in their life. The Nava Tirupathi temples are headed by ‘Lord Perumal' (‘Lord Vishnu') hence there is no separate Navagraha shrine present in these temples. The Nava Tirupathi temples are classified as "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Lord Vishnu which are admired by the 12 Azhwars.

Architecture

Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. 

The 9-tier rajagopuram is 110 ft tall. The temple occupies an area of 5 acres and is surrounded by a granite wall 580 ft long and 396 ft broad. 

The sanctum houses the vigraham of Lord Srivaikunanatha in a standing posture with a club in His hand. Adisesha, the serpent of Vaikuntanath, is seen holding a parasol over His head. The vigraham is made of Saligrama stone and ablution is usually done with milk. 

The hall preceding the sanctum, the Artha Mandapam, houses the festival vigraham of Kallapiran made of panchaloha with the images of Sridevi and Bhudevi on either of His sides. It is believed that the sculptor caressed the cheeks of the vigraham of the Lord with his hand as he got enchanted by the vigraham and it can be seen on the vigraham!

This is the only temple where Adisesha, the serpent, guards Vishnu in a standing posture, unlike the other places where it covers the Lord while being in a sitting or reclining posture.

There are numerous images of yalis, elephants, and Devas in the hall, some of which are even 5 feet wide. The major vigrahams seen in the temple are that of Bhikshadana, Venugopala, Madanagopala, Govardhanagiri, Nammazhwar, Manmatha, and Rathi. 

Depiction of Hanuman in various poses can be seen in the temple. There are life-size images of Agora Veerabhadra and warriors. Rama is seen hugging the monkey king Sugreeva with His right hand and holding His bow in the left, and on His left stands Sita, while in another pillar, He is seen hugging Hanuman with His right hand and Angada is seen standing in obeisance. 

The corridor inside the temple has paintings having the details about the 108 shrines of Vishnu. There are also paintings detailing the coronation of Lord Rama.

Brahmanda Purana one of the eighteen sacred texts of Hinduism and written by Veda Vyasa contains a chapter called Navathirupathi Mahatmeeyam.

The temple address is Lord Vaikuntanathan temple, Srivaikuntam, Thoothukkudi District, Tamil Nadu 628601. 

The Nava Tirupathi temples are approachable by road from Tirunelveli. As these temples have different timings for darshan, it is better to hire a car from Tirunelveli and visit them. Depending on the time of the year and the crowd, it is possible to visit all the nine temples in a day or two.

Festivals

The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi (May-Jun) Witnesses 9 Garudasevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathi's shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana(sacred vehicle). An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on an Anna Vahanam (palanquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. Utsavar (festival deity) of Nammalvar was taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams (poems) dedicated to each of the nine Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.

Social Activities

• Annadhan
• Marriage
• Ear Boring
• Head Shave
• Danaas
• Education Facilities
• Social Drives

References:

• jyotirlingatemples.com
• templesofindia.org
• ugra1515.blogspot.com