Thoyadri Kshetra - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra (Thiruneermalai) (Thoyadri) - Pilgrimages and Temples

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Ranganatha Perumal and Sri Ranganayaki Thayar in Thiruneermalai Divya Desam. I also meditate on Sri Neervanna Perumal and Sri Animamalarmangai Thayar in Thiruneermalai Divya Desam.

• Greatness: Thiruneermalai is a Divya Desam as well as a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra. It is the 61st Divya Desam and is located in Thondai Nadu. The divine Hill of Thiruneermalai has four Images of Perumal. Sri Ranganatha Perumal, Sri Ulagalanda Perumal (Trivikrama) and Sri Santa Narasimha on the top of the Hill, and Sri Neervanna Perumal (Sri Rama) on the foot of the Hill. The name Thiruneermalai is derived from Thiru (Divine), Neer (Water) and Malai (Hill). So it means a divine Hill full of water. Ancient Thiruneermalai was a place of great natural beauty full of groves, flowers and roaming animals as mentioned in the hymns of the Alvars. Thiruneermalai is also known as Thoyadri. The name Thoyadri is derived from Thoya (Water) and Adri (Hill). So it means a Hill full of water. In Thiruneermalai the Lord is seen in four postures - Standing (Ninran) as Sri Neervanna Perumal, Sitting (Irundan) as Sri Santa Narasimha, Lying down (Kidanthan) as Sri Ranganatha Perumal and Walking (Nadanthan) as Sri Ulagalanda (Trivikrama) Perumal. Thirumangai Alvar sings in his pasuram that, the Lord is seen in the standing posture in Thirunaraiyur (as Sri Thiru Naraiyur Nambi); the Lord is seen in the sitting posture in Thiruvali (as Lord Narasimha); the Lord is seen in the lying down (reclining) posture in Sri Thirukkudanthai (as Sarangapani); and the Lord is seen in the walking posture in Sri Thirukkovalur (as Trivikrama); but the Lord can be seen in all the four postures at Thiruneermalai.
- Neervanna Perumal is in Standing posture facing East.
- Pratyaksham: Thondaiman, Bhrigu, Markandeyar
- Mangalasasanam: Thirumangai Alvar, Bhoothath Alvar (20 Pasurams)
- Vimanam: Thoyagiri Vimanam
- Pushkarini: Manikarnika Teertham, Ksheera Pushkarini, Karunya Pushkarini, Siddha Pushkarini, Swarna Pushkarini

• Puranic Events:

1. Lord Vishnu & sage Valmiki: Sage Valmiki prayed to the Lord here and got the darshan of Sri Rama.
- Events: Once sage Valmiki came to Thiruneermalai and had the darshan of Sri Ranganathan at the top of the hill. The sage then came down to the foot of the hill to the temple tank and prayed to Sri Rama. Sri Ranganathan appeared before the sage as Sri Rama himself. Devi Lakshmi took the form of Devi Sita and Adisesha took the form of Sri Lakshmana. The Chakra (Discus) and Sankha (Conch) took the forms of Bharata and Satrughna. Sri Garuda took the form of Sri Hanuman and Sri Vishwaksena took the form of Sri Sugreeva. On the request of the sage, Sri Rama abided there permanently as Neervannan.

• Deities:
- Ranganatha Perumal: The Image of Sri Ranganatha Perumal on the top of the Hill in Manikka Sayanam posture facing South.
- Ulagalanda Perumal (Trivikrama): The Image of Sri Ulagalanda Perumal (Trivikrama) on the top of the Hill in Walking posture.
- Santa Narasimha: The Image of Sri Santa Narasimha on the top of the Hill in Sitting posture.
- Ranganayaki Thayar:: The Image of Sri Ranganayaki Thayar on the top of the Hill.
- Neervanna Perumal: The Image of Sri Neervanna Perumal on the bottom of the Hill in Standing posture.

• Sacred Geography:
- Thiruneermalai Hill or Thoyadri Hill.
- Ksheera Pushkarini: Pushkarini of the temple. It is said that four streams of water are present in the temple tank. The first is the water of the Milky Ocean (Ksheera Pushkarini). The second is the waters of the tears of compassion of Lord Narasimha for Prahlada (Karunya Pushkarini). The third is the water of river Ganga from the matted hairs of Lord Shiva (Siddha Pushkarini). The fourth is the water collected in golden vessels from river Virajai by the Nityasuris for the holy bath of the Lord (Swarna Pushkarini).

• Location: Thiruneermalai is located in Chennai in the Chennai district of Tamil Nadu. This is in Thondai Nadu. The temple can be visited from Chennai. It is around 5 km from Pallavaram.

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