Alagar Kovil

Alagar Kovilor "Allhagar Kovil" is a village inMadurai districtin the South Indian state ofTamil Nadu. The history and living of the village is centered aroundKallazhagar Temple. Constructed in theDravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in theNalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medievalTamilcanon of theAlvarsaints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108Divya Desamsdedicated toVishnu, who is worshiped asKallalagarand his consortLakshmias Tirumamagal.
Kallalagar Templecovers an area of about 2 acres (0.81 hectares) and has a five-tieredgopuram(gateway tower). The temple is enclosed in a rectangular enclosure with huge granite walls. The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity, Sundarabahu Perumal in standing posture. The images of Sridevi andBhudeviare also housed in the sanctum. There are two life size images ofNarasimha, theavatarof Vishnu. One of them is shown holding the demon Hiranya and other slaying him.
The temple houses some rare Vijayanagara sculptures similar to the ones present inSoundararajaperumal Temple, Thadikombu,Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple,Srivilliputhur Divya DesamandJalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore. The temple also has one of the unique deitiesChakaratalvar(Alvar) where the god withchakramhaving 16 hands and 16 weapons is without Narasimha above him.
Chithirai festival of this temple celebrated for ten days is one of the declared festivals of Tamil Nadu government. This festival day is declared as a local holiday. In Chithirai (April–May), Kallalagar starts from Alagar Kovil in the form of Kallarand reaches Madurai onPournami(Full Moon day). Here he steps into river Vaigai in his Horse Vaganam. Lakhs of devotees flock to river Vaigai to see this event. "Ethir Sevai" festival is celebrated on the day before Alagar steps into river Vaigai. Ethir Sevai is a part of the Chithirai Tiruvila of the Kallalagar temple at Alagar Kovil and begins on the fourth day. On this day, Alagar orVishnuchanges his appearance asKallarand travels viaKallar Naduand enters Madurai and the city's residents welcome him.It is a tradition for the people of Madurai to welcome Alagar.
As Alagar returns from Vandiyur Dhasavatharam, festival is celebrated throughout the night at Ramarayar Mandapam in the Northern part of river Vaigai. After this event, Alagar is taken to Mysore Veera Mandapam on decorated Anantharayar Palanquin. The next morning Alagar in the form ofKallarreturns to Alagar kovil in ‘Poo Pallakku' (Palanquin decorated with flowers)
In the month of April and May, each year the great Chitra festival is celebrated on Pournami (full moon day). The festival dramatically re-enacts the visitation of Kallalagar to Madurai from Alagar Koyil. Lakhs of devotees flock to river Vaigai to personally witness the event of Alagar stepping down into the river and to get his blessings.
During the months of July and August the festival of Adi Brahmotsavam is being celebrated for 10 days. This festival occurs within the precincts of the shrine. Devotees from different parts of Tamilnadu throng to participate in this festival. The temple car ‘Amaiththa Narayanan’ is taken in procession during Pournami (Full-Moon day) of Adi (Brahmotsavam).