Alagar Kovil
Alagar Kovil ( Tamil : அழகர் கோவில Aḻakar Kōvil [ ˈaɻəɡər ˌkoːʋil ] "Alagar temple"; also: Azhagar Kovil, Alagar Koyil, Alagarkoil ) is a Hindu temple in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu . It is located 21 kilometers northeast of Madurai in a rural area of the Madurai district . The temple is dedicated to the god Vishnu in his form as Alagar ("the beautiful"). Under the name Tirumaliruncholai, Alagar Kovil is one of 108 Divya Desams (holy places of Tamil Vishnuism ).
The temple of Alagar Kovil is in a picturesque location at the foot of a densely wooded hill area called Alagarmalai. The temple complex, built in the South Indian Dravida style , extends over approx. 250 × 100 meters. The temple entrance is crowned by a towering gopuram (gate tower).
According to local mythology, Vishnu in his form as Alagar is the brother of Minakshi , the main goddess of the city of Madurai. During the annual Chittirai festival, at which the marriage of Minakshi and Shiva is celebrated in Madurai , believers in a solemn procession carry an image of Alagar from Alagar Kovil to the Minakshi temple in Madurai so that the god can attend the wedding celebrations there.
On the Alagarmalai hill about three kilometers from Alagar Kovil is a sanctuary of the god Murugan (Skanda) with the name Palamudircholai . It is one of six pilgrimage sites ( Arupadaividu ) consecrated to Murugan, although its membership of the Arupadaividu group is not undisputed. A little further uphill is a temple of the local goddess Rakkayi Amman at the site of a spring.
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Coordinates: 10 ° 4 ′ 29 ″ N , 78 ° 12 ′ 47 ″ E