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 Nanguneri, differently known as ‘Bhooloka Vaikuntham’, ‘Totadrikshetram’ or ‘Vanamamalai’ is situated in Tirunelveli, around 25
km. away from the district headquarters. Among other temples, the famous shrine of Lord Vishnu in his form as Totadri Naadhan is situated in Nanguneri. Apart from this, it is important to the Vaishnavites, particularly the Thenkalai Vaishnavites, as the Vanamamalai Jeer Mutt is located here, with more than 200 subordinate Mutt or monasteries coming under its auspices.
The presiding deity is known as Totadri Naadhan and His consort as Siree-varamangait-taayaar. The postures of the Lord in His108 abodes (Divya Desam) are known as Nindraan (One Who stands), Irundhaan, (One Who sits) Kidandhaan (One Who lies) and Nadandhaan (One Who walks). The Lord is seated on the throne, with a leg folded and placed on the seat and the other touching the floor, under the canopy of the divine thousand-hooded snake, Aadhi Sesha, flanked by His consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, as he is seated in Vaikuntham and hence the name Bhooloka Vaikuntham.
Nanguneri is one of the most important Divya Desams as it is also the swayamvyakta kshetram. A swayamvyakta kshetram is a place where God is said to have appeared on his own accord. There are eight such swayamvyakta kshetrams - Srirangam, Naimisaranyam, Tirupati, Pushkaram, Saligrammam, Totadri, Narayaneeswaram and
Srimushnam.
The Legend
 It is said when Brahma was born in the Lotus that blossomed from the navel of Lord Vishnu, He - not being able to look down from the divine Lotus on which He is seated - got the false notion that He was the Supreme Lord, being alone. Lord Vishnu, sensing his vanity, created two demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, who challenged Brahma. Brahma then hid Himself in the stem of the Lotus, from which He could not get back to the petals, as the eternal deluge filled the stem. Brahma then realised that Vishnu is the Supreme.
Later, Lord Vishnu appeared before Brahma in his eternal form with his Sankha (Conch), Chakra (Disc), Gada (Mace) and Padma (Lotus) when the latter was meditating on the former and desired to know the subtle difference between Hari Om and Bhoorbhuvahsuvah Om. It was at that time that the other two creations of Lord Vishnu - Madhu and Kaitabha - had an occasion to see Him for the first time and as is wont of the demons, questioned Him of His origin. The Lord’s answer that He is the Supreme of all angered them and they challenged Him for a combat. The combat lasted for more than 5000 years.
The Lord then thought of a strategy to slay them. He offered them a chance to accept a boon from him. The demons could not think of ‘accepting anything from Him’ whom they considered to be their equal, being unable to finish Him off for 5000 long years. They chuckled and offered Him a chance to ask for a boon from them. The Lord utilised the opportunity and asked them for a boon to be known as the ‘slayer of Madhu and
Kaitabha.’
 The demons accepted to this on condition that they be killed where there was no water. Since it was deluge at that time, they thought that there would not be an inch of land not immersed under water. But the Lord had his own way. He took them in His hands, put them against his wide chest and mashed them against it to death.
When He threw the mangled remains of the demons, their unholy blood spilled close to Nanguneri where Bhoo Devi was in penance. The divine Mother who could not bear the stench emanating from the decomposed carcasses of the demons, prayed to the Lord to appear before Her and Lord Vishnu came down to earth in Nanguneri of his own accord and hence the shrine is known as swayamvyakta kshetram.
The temple
 There are two prakarams bejewelled by five great structures, the Pandal Mandapam, Jayanti Mandapam, Srivilli Mandapam, Kulasekhara Mandapam and the Veerappa Mandapam. The vimanam is known as Nandavartana vimanm. A tall, awe-inspiring and imposing Rajagopuram adorns the entrance.
There are also shrines for Varamangai Taayaar, Andal, Lakshmi Narayanar, Lakshmi Varahar and Venugopalar. The Temple theertha is known as Indra Theertha.
The temple is administered by the Vanamamalai Jeer. It is said that in the distant past the temple was controlled by Namboodri Brahmins who in 1447 A.D. requested a Vaishnavite ascetic who had visited there to take over the administration. The ascetic took charge of the management and became the first Jeer of the Mutt.
The main festivals of the temple are celebrated in the Tamil months of Panguni (March-April) and Chitra (April-May).
Hari Krishnan
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