page_title: Azhagiyasingar temple, Thiruvali
section_title: Legend
hierarchical_section_title: Azhagiyasingar temple, Thiruvali / Legend
caption_attribution_description: English: Narasimha killing Hiranyakashipu on his lap, as Prahlada watches at the left. Français&#160;: Narasimha tuant le démon Hiranyakashipu sur son genou, sous le regard de Prahlada sur la gauche. हिन्दी: नरसिंह उसकी गोद पर हिरण्‍यकशिपु हत्या, बाएँ पर प्रहलाद के रूप में देखता है
context_page_description: Azhagiyasingar Temple in Thiruvali, a village in Mayiladuthurai district 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 Azhagiyasingar and his consort Lakshmi as Poornavalli.
  A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple is originally believed to have been built by the Cholas, with later additions by the Vijayanagar and Thanjavur Nayak kings during the 16th century.
  Azhagiyasingar is believed to have appeared to Thirumangai Azhwar at this place. The legend of the temple is closely associated with Thirunagari temple. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Thirumangai Azhwar Utsavam during Thai being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
context_section_description: As per Hindu legend, a son of Brahma named Karthama Prajapathi did penance worshipping Vishnu to attain Moksha. Vishnu was not pleased and Lakshmi, his consort, wanted to give Moksha to him immediately. During Kali Yuga, Karthama was born as prince named Sangabalan. During his young age, he wanted to marry Kumudavalli, who was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. She stipulated that she would marry him only if he feeds thousand devotees of Vishnu. Sangabalan started feeding the devotees and at one point, when he was short of money, resorted to burglary. Vishnu came with Lakshmi incognito and Sangabalan tried to rob them as well. Vishnu uttered the Ashtatra Mantra in his ears and he turned into Thirumangai Azhwar. It is believed that Thirumangai Azhwar worshipped five Narasimhars including this one. The temple is also called Lakshmi Narasimha Kshetram and Vayalali Manavalan temple. Another variant states that the Vishnu directed his wife Lakshmi to be born as the daughter of sage Purna so that he can grace both her and Thirumangai Azhwar together.
  As per another legend, Vishnu took the avatar of Narasimha to slay the demon king Hiryankasipu. Hiranyakasipu was troubling the Devas as he got a boon from Brahma that no human can kill him. His son Prahlada was an ardent devotee of Vishnu, against the likes of his father. Hiranyakasipu tried to slay Prahlada by various means, but was saved by the divine grace of Vishnu. Vishnu took the avatar of Narasimha and appeared from a pillar. Narasimha was a human with lion face and slayed Hiranyakasipu on an evening time in a doorway, which was neither land nor air. His anger was not quenched even after slaying the demon king and Lakshmi came and sat on his lap, after which he calmed down. It is believed that since Narasimha did an aalinganam (meaning hug), the place came to be known as Thiruvali. The uniqueness of this temple is that Lakshmi is seen sitting in right side of Narasimmar which is very rare to have darshan as in most temples Lakshmi is seen in left side of swamy Narasimmar. Ahishekam in swathy star day gives very good blessings of the divine couple.
caption: Image of Narasimha slaying Hiranyakasipu, Prahlada is also seen praying
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