{{Short description|Ennead of temples in Tamil Nadu}} {{Hinduism small}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
The '''Nava Tirupati''' ({{Langx|ta|நவ திருப்பதி|lit=Nine Tirupatis}})<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cush |first1=Denise |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kzPgCgAAQBAJ&dq=nava+tirupati&pg=PA704 |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |last2=Robinson |first2=Catherine |last3=York |first3=Michael |date=2012-08-21 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-18979-2 |pages=704 |language=en}}</ref> refers to a group of nine Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu, located on the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India, on the banks of the Thamirabarani river.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cush |first1=Denise |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kzPgCgAAQBAJ&dq=nava+tirupati&pg=PA704 |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |last2=Robinson |first2=Catherine |last3=York |first3=Michael |date=2012-08-21 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-18979-2 |pages=704 |language=en}}</ref> Each of these temples is classified as a Divya Desam, counted as one among the 108 temples of Vishnu, revered by the 12 poet-saints of the Tamil Vaishnava tradition, the Alvars.<ref>''108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu''. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R.K.K.|date=2011|title=Dakṣiṇamūrti on vimānas of Viṣṇu Temples in the Far South|journal=South Asian Studies |volume=27|issue=2|pages=131–144|doi=10.1080/02666030.2011.614413|s2cid=194022781 }}</ref>
==Temples== The temples are revered in ''Naalayira Divya Prabandham'', the 7th–9th century CE Vaishnava canon, attributed by Nammalvar. The following is the list of the 9 temples.<ref name="M">{{cite book|title=15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu|last=M.|first=Rajagopalan|pages=155–159|publisher=Govindaswamy Printers|location=Chennai, India|year=1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Navatirupathi|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/10/25/stories/2002102501050700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030630055238/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/10/25/stories/2002102501050700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2003|date=25 October 2002|work=The Hindu|accessdate=25 October 2015}}</ref>
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{| class="wikitable sortable" |- style="background:#FFC569" ! scope="col" | '''Name of the temple''' ! scope="col" | '''Deity''' ! scope="col" | '''Planet''' ! scope="col" | '''Sacred day''' ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | '''Photo''' ! scope="col" | '''Location''' ! scope="col" | '''Time''' |- align="center" |- | Srivaikuntanathan Permual Temple | Surya | Sun | Sunday | 130x130px|center | Srivaikuntam | 7 am - 12 pm, 5 - 8 pm |- | Vijayaasana Perumal Temple | Chandra | Moon | Monday | 130px|center | Natham | 8 am - 12 pm, 1 - 6 pm |- | Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple | Angaragan | Mars | Tuesday | 130px|center |Thirukolur | 7:30 am - 12 pm, 4.30 - 8 pm |- | ThiruPulingudi Perumal Temple | Budha | Mercury | Wednesday | 130px|center | Thirupulingudi | 8 am - 12 pm, 1 - 6 pm |- | AlwarThirunagari Temple | Guru | Jupiter | Thursday | 130px|center | Alvar Thirunagari | 6 am - 12 pm, 5 - 8:45 pm |- | Makara Nedunkuzhai Kannan Temple | Sukran | Venus | Friday | 130px|center | Thenthiruperai | 7 am - 12 pm, 5 - 8:30 pm |- | Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Tirukulandhai | Shani | Saturn | Saturday | 130px|center | Thirukulandhai | 7:30 am - 12:30 pm, 4:30 - 7:30 pm |- | Irattai Thiruppathy, Aravindalochanar temple | Ketu |Lunar node | | 130px|center | Tholavillimangalam | 8 am - 1 pm, 2 - 6 pm |- | Irattai Thiruppathy, Devapiran temple | Rahu |Lunar node | | 130px|center | Tholavillimangalam | 8 am - 1 pm, 2 - 6 pm |}
==Festival== The ''Garuda Sevai Utsavam'' (a festival where a form of Vishnu, seated upon his mount Garuda, is revered) in the month of Vaikasi (May - June) witnesses 9 ''Garuda Sevai,'' as well as two palanquins, one with Nammalvar of Alwarthirunagari, and the other with Madurakavi Alvar from Thirukalur. An event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupati shrines in the area are brought on ''Garuda Vahana'' (Garuda as a mount) to Alvarthirunagari for ''Mangalasasanam'' (singing of sacred hymns) and to for paying obeisance to Nammalvar in the morning.
An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on a palanquin, and his ''pasurams'' (verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. In the night 9 ''Garuda Sevai'' by the ''Nava Tirupati Perumals'' and the two Alvars also on procession in circumambulations. A total of 11 temple ''chapparams'' (canopied-cars) move around the outer courtyards. The utsavar (idol venerated during procession) of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The pasurams dedicated to each of the 9 Divya Desams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and draws thousands of visitors.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Nava Tirupathi}} {{Famous Vishnu temples}}
Category:Hindu temples in Thoothukudi district Category:Vishnu temples