NAVA THIRUPATHI

 

The Nava Tirupati (Tamil: நவ திருப்பதி, lit. 'Nine Tirupatis')^[1] 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.^[2] 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.

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.