Faith Column | February 17, 2026

Thiruvellarai is a kshetra special in many respects, elaborated K.B. Devarajan in a discourse. Thirumangai Azhvar, while praising Pundareekaksha, the presiding deity of Thiruvellarai, describes the many avataras of Lord Narayana. The kshetra has many sacred tanks. It has two entrances. The Dakshinayana entrance is open during the period known as Dakshinayana. During Uttarayana, the Uttarayana entrance is opened. This is another special feature of this temple. The greatness of a village lies not only in the shrine that we find in the village, but also in the scholars and devotees who live there, or who lived there at some time in the past. Thiruvellarai is important to Sri Vaishnavas in this respect too. Nathamunigal learnt the verses of the Azhvars from Nammazhvar himself. He taught the verses with music to his nephews Melai Agathu Azhvan and Keezhai Agathu Azhvan. However, he had to train disciples to carry forward the entire Sri Vaishnava tradition. And he found a suitable sishya in Uyyakondar, who was born in Thiruvellarai. Uyyakondar’s disciple was Manakkal Nambi. Manakkal Nambi’s disciple was Alavandar, who authored Chatussloki, Stotra Ratna, Geethartha Sangraha and Agamapraamanya.

Another Acharya, who was named Vishnu Chitta by his parents, was also born in Thiruvellarai. He wrote a commentary for sage Parasara’s Vishnu Purana. This commentary is called Vishnu Chitheeyam. Ramanujacharya had a great fondness for Vishnu Chitta, and called him Engal Azhvan, which is the name by which he is referred to by Sri Vaishnavas. Thus, Thiruvellarai is the kshetra where we worship Pundareekaksha, whose name means Lotus-eyed One. It is not only sacred because of this temple, but is also sacred because it was the birthplace of revered and scholarly Sri Vaishnava Acharyas.