Nanguneri Vanamamalai Perumal Temple, also known as Thiruvaramangai Vanamamalai , is located on the road from Tirunelveli to Nanguneri .
This place has various names such as Vanamamalai, Nanguneri, Thothathri, Thiruvaramangai Nagar. This place is mentioned in the Brahmanda Puranam, Skanda Puranam, Narasimha Puranam etc. is one of the eight Sywayambu Kshetras of Vishnu where presiding deity is believed to have manifested on its own.
It is called Uromashetram because the sage Uroma performed penance and saw the Thirumala, it is called Srivaramangai (Sirivaramangala Nagar) because the daughter of Thirumala came to this place as Srivaramangai and grew up and married the Lord, it is called Srivaramangai (Sirivaramangala Nagar), it is called Naganai Cheri because Adishedan performed penance here and was blessed with being a dam for Thirumala, it is called Vanamamalai because the Thirumala here is surrounded by a forest full of trees and mountains, it is called Nanguneri because the Thirumakulam here was cut into four lakes, so four + lake = Nanguneri, Since it is located in the central part where the sharp ends of those four lakes meet, it is said that Nan + Koor + Neri over time.
Legend has it when Asurs Madhu and Kaitapan were killed, their blood spread over the earth and started stinking. Bhooma Devi lost her purity, and she started meditating about Perumal who was pleased with her prayers, and he gave his darshan to her in Vaikuntha Vimanam at this place. She was purified by Lord’s darshan.
As per Hindu legend, Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, is believed to have been born at this place as Srivaramangai (meaning lady) and hence the place came to be known as Varangunamangai. As per another legend, Adishesha, the serpent performed penance at this place to seek the grace of Vishnu to lay on him. Vishnu was pleased by his devotion and rested on the serpent. Garuda, the eagle-mount of Vishnu, also performed penance and was granted a wish to be guarding Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu.
It is said that Bhrugu rishi performed great penance in this dhivya dhesam and prayed that SrI Mahalakshmi appears as his daughter and Sriman Narayana marries him there. Being pleased with his penance, Vishnu and Lakshmi blesses him and descends to this dhivya dhesam. Lakshmi appearing as the daughter of Bhrugu rishi, marries Vishnu and they both remain in this dhivya dhesam.
The temple houses the shrines of Vanamamalai Perumal and Thiruvaramangai Thayar. There is a temple inscription here. The temple has a total of seven towers, including a seven-tiered Rajagopuram. The temple is classified as a primary temple and is under the control of the Hindu Endowments Department . It is managed by a non-traditional trustee body.
How to reach
By Air
The nearest airport is Tuticorin, about 65 kilometers from the temple, while the major airport in Madurai is about 180 km away.
By Rail
Nanguneri itself has a railway station, not very far from the temple.
By Road
Nanguneri is about 30 km from Tirunelveli town, and can be reached easily from there and other places by bus and private vehicles.
