Azhagiya ManavalanThirukkozhi (Uraiyur) – Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal TempleAzhagiya Manavalan

The venerable Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple, nestled in the ancient city of Uraiyur, now a suburb of Tiruchirappalli, stands as a vibrant testament to divine romance and the boundless grace of Lord Vishnu. Revered as one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred abodes glorified by the Alvars, this temple holds a unique position, often affectionately referred to as the second Srirangam. It is a place where Goddess Lakshmi herself chose to be born on earth, and where the Preserver of the universe arrived not as a majestic king, but as the most handsome of grooms. The enduring legend woven into its very foundations reveals a story of an ancient curse transformed into a divine union, providing profound lessons on devotion, destiny, and the Lord’s eagerness to meet a pure heart.

The temple’s origin story begins far away in Vaikuntham, the celestial abode. A widely narrated account traces the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi to a moment involving the great sage Bhrigu Maharishi. In his quest to determine the greatest among the Hindu Trinity, the sage arrived in Vaikuntham. While Lord Vishnu offered him supreme hospitality and respect, the sage became angered by the conduct of the Goddess, who was perceived as having shown him insufficient attention. In a fit of temper, Bhrigu cursed Sri Lakshmi to take birth on the material plane as a human being. Distressed but accepting, the Goddess prepared for her incarnation, while the Lord consoled her, promising to follow and accept her again as his consort on earth. This divine decree set the stage for one of the most endearing narratives in Vaishnava tradition.

On earth, in Uraiyur, ruled a righteous Chola King named Nanda Chola. Though his kingdom prospered, the king was burdened by the sorrow of childlessness. Through intense prayer and penance dedicated to Lord Vishnu, his devotion was finally rewarded. One day, while hunting in a forest near his capital, the King discovered a divine baby girl resting in a thousand-petalled lotus in a pond. Recognizing her celestial features, the king joyfully adopted her, naming her Kamalavalli, meaning ‘one who emerged from the lotus.’ This child was none other than Sri Lakshmi herself, fulfilling the sage’s curse. Kamalavalli grew up in the royal palace, radiating beauty and devotion. Over time, her heart became solely fixed upon the divine form of Lord Ranganatha, the presiding deity of the magnificent Srirangam temple, visible across the River Cauvery.

Her overwhelming love for the Lord became an undeniable force. She would spend her days pining for him, visualizing him, and dreaming of marrying only him. Seeing his daughter’s profound devotion, King Nanda Chola was deeply worried yet moved. It was then that Lord Ranganatha appeared to the king, confirming that Kamalavalli was indeed Goddess Lakshmi and that He had come to fulfill His promise to marry her. On an auspicious day, the Lord arrived from Srirangam, manifesting as a stunningly handsome prince—the most beautiful groom imaginable. Because of this magnificent manifestation, Lord Vishnu is worshipped here by the name Azhagiya Manavalan, which translates directly to ‘The Beautiful Groom.’ The wedding ceremony united the celestial pair, and the king built this temple to immortalize the divine marriage.

This site is also connected to another ancient legend that gives the town its name, Thirukkozhi. In Tamil, Kozhi means fowl or rooster. The story tells of a time when a powerful elephant tried to destroy the city. A small, valiant rooster, empowered by the local deity, fought the massive creature and drove it away, saving the city from disaster. The victory of the small fowl over the enormous elephant established the place as Kozhiyur, or Thirukkozhi, celebrating courage and the protection granted to the faithful. Furthermore, this holy ground is the birthplace of Thiruppaan Alvar, one of the revered twelve poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnava tradition, whose devotional hymns are central to the faith, adding another layer of sanctity to the temple.

The spiritual symbolism here centers on the primacy of the devotee’s love. In many traditional temples, the Lord’s shrine is given foremost importance. However, this Divya Desam is one of the few places where the Goddess, Kamalavalli Nachiyar, is given principal prominence. In the temple’s daily rituals and grand processions, she leads the way, with the Lord following, signifying the immense value placed on her devotion and her status as the daughter of the soil. The most poignant symbolism is seen in the Goddess’s sanctum, which uniquely faces the North—the direction of the Srirangam temple—a gesture of her eternal gaze and attachment to her beloved Lord Ranganatha. The Lord Azhagiya Manavalan stands in his wedding attire, holding the conch and discus, yet his stance is one of joyful acceptance, a visual representation of his vow to his consort.

Worship is meticulously performed following the traditional Vaishnavite Pancharatra Agama rites. The primary celebration is the annual Serthi Sevai festival, which reenacts the divine wedding. During the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April), the festival deity from Srirangam, Namperumal, crosses the Cauvery River and comes to Uraiyur to meet Kamalavalli Nachiyar. This rare union allows devotees to witness the deities together in their wedding posture, showering blessings. Devotees flock to the temple seeking harmony in marriage, relief from marital problems, and blessings for suitable alliances, as the very essence of the temple is the celebration of a pure and successful union.

The ultimate spiritual message of Thirukkozhi (Uraiyur) is that pure devotion transcends all boundaries. The story of Azhagiya Manavalan and Kamalavalli Nachiyar teaches humanity that sincere love (Bhakti) for the divine can change destiny and compel the Supreme Being to meet the devotee on their own terms, even requiring him to assume the form of a ‘Beautiful Groom.’ It is a message of the Lord’s unconditional accessibility and mercy, showing that no obstacle—not even a celestial curse—can stand in the way of a sincere heart. The temple stands as a perpetual reminder that spiritual salvation is attained not through rigorous rules alone, but through the overwhelming power of love and surrender to the divine will.

Written By Anirudha Miryala(Anumaa) Founder of Way To Moksha