Lord Krishna as Amaruviappan at Therazhundur Temple on Mahasamprokshanam

Amaruviappan at Therazhundur Temple Considered as one of the 108 “Divya Desams”, the sacred Vaishnavite temples visited and sung in praise by Alwars, Sri Amaruviappan Temple, Therazhundur is located at a distance of about 12 KM from Mayiladuthurai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Amaruviappan and Sri Sengamalavalli is his consort.

The history of the temple dates back to the Chola period and considered to be built during the reign of King Karikal Cholan. Thirumangai Azhwar, the last of the twelve illustrious Alwars, has sung in praise of the Lord in 45 pasurams. The uniqueness of this ancient temple is that the Lord Amaruviappan bestows his grace along with Bhaktha Prahalada, Periya Thiruvadi Garudan, Sage Markandeyar and Kaveri Thayaar (river Kaveri) in the sanctum sanctorum. The imposing posture Lord Amaruviappan of standing majestically over ten feet facing east with broad shoulders and four hands is a sight of delight. While Bhaktha Prahalada stands piously on the right side of the Lord and Periya Thiruvadi Garudan stands on the left side. Kaveri Thayyar kneels down in front of the Lord with folding hands on the left and sage Markandeyar is seated on the right in front of the Lord.

Goddess Sengamalavalli Thayaar is housed in a separate sanctum sanctorum. The beauty of the Goddess Sengamalavalli Thayaar is beyond words. Besides the temple has separate sannadhis for, Sri Vasudeva in which Sage Agasthiyar is seated in front of the Lord doing penance, Sri Narasimha, Sri Rama, Sri Vishvaksenar, Sri Anchaneya, Sri Desikar, Alwars, Sri Andal and Poet laureate Kambar who wrote the famous epic ‘Kamba Ramayanam” in Tamil. Therazhundur is also the birth place of Kambar.