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Vanamamalai Perumal Temple, Nanguneri
Vishnu (Thothadrinathan) · Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
॥ ॐ नमो नारायणाय ॥
At Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district, the Vanamamalai Perumal Temple honours Vishnu as Thothadrinathan, the lord of the flowering hill. A Divya Desam set around a great temple tank, it is known for a sacred reservoir of ghee said never to spoil, and for its deep links to the saint Nammalvar and the Sri Vaishnava teachers of the south.
The lord of the flowering hill
Vanamamalai means “the garland-hill of the forest,” and the lord Thothadrinathan presides over a shrine wrapped in groves and gardens. The presiding image stands serene, with the goddess Varamangai at his side, and the temple is counted a Nava Tirupati-adjacent Divya Desam of the fertile Tamiraparani country.
The tank of unspoiling ghee
The temple is famous for its Nei Thotti, a reservoir within the precincts where offerings of ghee are stored and, by tradition, never turn rancid however long they are kept. Devotees receive this aged ghee as a healing prasadam, and the wonder of its keeping is woven into the temple’s renown.
A seat of Sri Vaishnava learning
Nanguneri grew into an important centre of the Sri Vaishnava tradition, tied to the lineage of teachers who followed Ramanuja, and the temple’s mutt has long guided the faith in the south. Built and endowed across the Pandya and later periods, it keeps a full Vaishnava festival calendar, with Vaikunta Ekadashi and the Adhyayana Utsavam among the chief observances.
How to reach the temple
- By road: Nanguneri is about 35 km from Tirunelveli on the road toward Nagercoil.
- By train: Nanguneri and Tirunelveli are the nearer railheads.
- By air: Thoothukudi and Thiruvananthapuram are the nearest airports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the deity at Nanguneri?
Vishnu is worshipped as Thothadrinathan, the lord of the flowering hill (Vanamamalai), with the goddess Varamangai at his side — in a Divya Desam in Tirunelveli district.
What is the tank of ghee?
The temple’s Nei Thotti is a reservoir where offerings of ghee are stored and, by tradition, never spoil however long they are kept; the aged ghee is given as a healing prasadam.
Why is Nanguneri important to Sri Vaishnavas?
It became a major centre of the Sri Vaishnava tradition after Ramanuja, with a mutt that has long guided the faith in the southern country.
Is it a Divya Desam?
Yes — the Vanamamalai Perumal Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams of the Alvar hymns.
What are the main festivals?
Vaikunta Ekadashi and the Adhyayana Utsavam, when the Alvar hymns are recited, are among the chief festivals.
How do I reach Nanguneri?
It is about 35 km from Tirunelveli toward Nagercoil; Nanguneri and Tirunelveli are the nearer railheads.
॥ जय श्रीमन्नारायण ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Vishnu as Thothadrinathan (Vanamamalai) |
| Goddess | Varamangai Thayar |
| Significance | Divya Desam; Sri Vaishnava mutt centre |
| Special | Nei Thotti — reservoir of ghee that never spoils |
| River | Tamiraparani country |
| Main Festival | Vaikunta Ekadashi, Adhyayana Utsavam |