Sowmya Narayana Perumal temple

Sowmyanarayana Perumal Temple
Image of the temple gopuram
Sowmyanarayana Perumal Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name	Sowmyanarayana Perumal Temple
Geography
Coordinates	10°03′39″N 78°33′36″E / 10.06083°N 78.56000°E / 10.06083; 78.56000Coordinates: 10°03′39″N 78°33′36″E / 10.06083°N 78.56000°E / 10.06083; 78.56000
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Madurai
Location	Thirukoshtiyur
Culture
Primary deity	Sowmyanarayana Perumal (Vishnu)
Consort	Thirumamgal (Lakshmi)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Sowmyanarayana Perumal Temple in Thirukoshtiyur, a village in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Sowmyanarayana Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Thirumamagal. The temple is known as the place where Ramanuja, the expounder of Vaishnavadatta philosophy preached the holy ashtakshra "Ohm Namo Narayana" to all people irrespective of their caste.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram, the gateway tower and the Ashtanga Vimana, which is taller than the gopuram. The temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance.

Sowmyanarayana Perumal is believed to have appeared as Narasimha avatar to the Devas, the celestial deities. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the float festival during the Tamil month of Masi (February–March), Navrathri during September–October and Vaikunta Ekadasi during Margazhi (December–January) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by Sivaganga Devasthanam.

Hiranyakshipu, the demon king, got arrogant after he got boons from Brahma, which nearly made him invincible. He troubled the Devas (celestial deities) and they prayed to Vishnu for rescue. Vishnu was ready to take the Narasimha avatar to slay the demon king. The Devas pleaded with Vishnu to show the form before he could take it. Vishnu showed them the avatar, but not pleased with the vision, the Devas and sages pleaded him to show it again. Vishnu appeared in three forms of standing, sitting and resting posture at Thirukoshtiur. Since Vishnu showed his form after hardship (called Thirukkai in Tamil) of Devas, the place came to be known as Thirukoshtiur.