Navathirupathi Temples is a set of nine Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur

Tiruchendur

Thiruchendur is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This town has a different name called Thirucheer Alaiwai.-Demographics:...

-Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...

 route, Tamilnadu, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 in the banks of Thamiraparani

Thamiraparani

Thaamirabharani is a 2007 Indian Tamil film written and directed by Hari. The film stars Vishal, newcomer Bhanu, Prabhu, Vijayakumar, Nadhiya and Nassar in lead roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja...

 river. All these 9 temples are classified as "Divya Desams

Divya Desams

Divya Desams refer to 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars . 105 of these are located in India, 1 in Nepal, while 2 are located outside of the Earthly realms. 'Divya' in Tamil language indicates premium and 'Desam' indicates place or temple.The two major deities...

", the 108 temples of Vishnu

Vishnu

Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....

 reverred by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.

The temples

The following is the list of the 9 temples.

• Sri Mayakoothar Temple - Thirukkulandhai, Perunkulam
  Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Tirukulandhai
  Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Sri Mayakoothan Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi., nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river...
  
  
• Makara Nedunkuzhai Kannan Temple, Then Thirupperai
  Makara Nedunkuzhai Kannan Temple
  Makara Nedunkuzhai Kannan Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river...
  
  
• Rettai Tirupathi - South Temple, Tholaivillimangalam
  Irattai Thiruppathy
  Irattai Tirupati Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river...
  
  
• Rettai Tirupathi North Temple, Tholaivillimangalam
  Irattai Thiruppathy
  Irattai Tirupati Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river...
  
  
• Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple - Thirukolur
  Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple
  Sri Vaithamanidhi Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi., nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river. All these 9 temples are classified as "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu reverred by the...
  
  
• Adhinaatha Perumal Temple - Thirukkurugur(Azhwar Thirunagari)
  AlwarThirunagari Temple
  AlwarThirunagari Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river...
  
  
• Kaaisinavendhan Temple - Thiruppulinkudi
  ThiruPulingudi Perumal Temple
  ThiruPulingudi Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river...
  
  
• Vijayaasana Perumal Temple - Thiru Varagunamangai(Natham)
  ThiruVaragunamangai Perumal Temple
  ThiruVaragunamangai Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi., nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river...
  
  
• Sri Vaikuntanatha(Kallapiran) Temple - Sri Vaikuntam
  Srivaikuntanathan Permual Temple
  Srivaikuntanathan Permual Temple or Srivaikuntam temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi., nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river...
  
  

Festival

The Garuda

Garuda

The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...

 Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) witnesses 9 Garuda

Garuda

The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...

sevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the nava tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda

Garuda

The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...

 vahana

Vahana

Vāhana denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular deva is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vāhana is often called the deity's mount. Upon the partnership between the deva and his vāhana is woven much iconography and mythology...

. An idol of Nammalvar

Nammalvar

Nammalvar also Nammazhwar,Nammaazhvaar, Nammazhvar, Nammaalvaar, Nammalwar;Tamil: நம்மாழ்வார்) was one of the twelve Alvars, well known for his many hymns on devotion to Vishnu. Legend gives him the date 3102 B.C....

 is also brought here on a Anna Vahanam(palaquin) and his paasurams(verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. The utsavar of Nammalvar

Nammalvar

Nammalvar also Nammazhwar,Nammaazhvaar, Nammazhvar, Nammaalvaar, Nammalwar;Tamil: நம்மாழ்வார்) was one of the twelve Alvars, well known for his many hymns on devotion to Vishnu. Legend gives him the date 3102 B.C....

is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 9 Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.