Arulmigu Koodal Azhagar Perumal Temple is located in a busy and congested area in Madurai and is close to Periyar Bus stand. The Temple has a huge five tiered Rajagopuram East facing Rajagopuram. Before this Rajagopuram is a huge Mandapam with several Divine Idols seen at its top. This Mandapam is mainly used to stack all the items and belongings pertaining to the running of the Temple Chariot. On entering the Temple through the Rajagopuram there is a huge Dwajasthamabam or Kodimaram and a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam but the Devotees cannot go beyond it since it is closed. They may have to circumambulate and climb five to six steps for entering the Moolasthanam. To the right of the Dwajasthambam there is a four pillared Mandapam and to the left of the Dwajasthambam there is another four pillared Mandapam which is bigger than the former. Before climbing the stairs to reacht he Temple there is a Stone Surya Ratham which is neatly enclosed in glass. In it, Surya Bhagwwan is seen with four hands on a Hexagonal Peedam. The 12 Raasis are seen revolving around the Surya Bhagwan and they denote the 12 Months of the year. The Chariot of the Surya Bhagwan is driven by Seven Horses which denotes the Seven Days of a Week. The two Divine Serpants found therein denotes the Uthrayanam and Dhakshinayanam. The fag end or the Tail of the two Serpants denotes the Day and Night. Opposite to this is a spiritual book stall and a huge black Elephant's Idol. Facing the Moolasthanam is a West facing Garudalwar Sannadhi. There is a Thulabaara facility for the sake of the Devotees who wish to offer Thulabaaram. While entering the Moolasthanam on the left there is a North facing Anjaneyar Sub Shrine and next to it is a Thulasi Arai. On the right is a Sub Shrine for Vishvaksenar, Ramar, Krishnar and Lakshmi Narayanar which are South facing. Initially there are two black Dwara Baalagas and beyond it are two more Idols of coloured Dwara Baalagas. In the East facing Moolasthanam Sri Koodal Azhagar Perumal is seen seated on the Aadhi Seshan and He is flanked by Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. The Urchavamoorthy Idol of Sri Vyuga Sundararaja Perumal is seen in the Moolasthanam. This is a very unique Temple where Koodal Azhagar is seen in the ground floor Moolasthanam in a seated posture. There is a first floor Moolasthanam in which Koodal Azhagar is seen in a standing posture. The second floor Moolasthanam is seen with the Koodal Azhagar in a reclined posture atop His Adhiseshan which is known as Sayana Kolam. Entry to the Devotees for the ground floor Moolasthanam is free. The HR&CE officials claim that a ticket has to be bought for going upstairs and viewing the remaining two Moolavar Sannadhis. There is none to man the Seva Counter and issue tickets for this. The Devotees remain clueless whereas all the HR&CE Officials are huddled elsewhere with their mobiles with no care for the Devotees. The attitude of the HR&CE Officials towards the Devotees ought to change and they need to be more humble. The HR&CE person in the upstairs does not allow any Devotees without a ticket and there is none to issue a ticket at the counter and this is the plight of the Devotees visiting this Temple. The Sub Shrine of Chakkrathalwar is seen in a multi pillared Mandapam and in each of these pillars a Dasavathara Vigraham is seen. Devotees have to climb 4 or 5 steps to reach this Sub Shrine and there are two Dwara Baalakas on either side of the entrance. In this Sub Shrine Sri Chakkarathalwar and Yoga Narasimhar are seen back to back. There is another North facing Sub Shrine in which the Idols of Poigai Alwar, Boothathalwar, Peialwar, Thirumangaialwar, Periyalwar, Nammalwar, Thirumazhisai Alwar, Kulasekara Alwar, Thondaradipodialwar, Thirupaanalwar, Madurakavialwar, Nathamunigal, Emperumanar, Koorathalwar, Vedanthanthachariar and Ramanujar are seen. The Thaayar Sannadhi is East facing and has to be reached by climbing a few steps. Each of the multiple pillars here has a Ashta Lakshmi Idol on them. The name of the Thaayar is Goddess Mathuravalli. The Temple has an exclusive Navagraha Sannadhi.There are exclusive Sub Shrines for Andal, Manavala Maamunigal and Lakshmi Narasimhar. This Temple was built by Kings of Pandya Dynasty and was later developed by the Rulers of Vijayanagara Empire and Madurai Nayakas. This Temple has been praised by Alwars in Nalaayira Divya Prabandham. This Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The five tiered Rajagopuram of this Temple was built by Perialwar. In the year 1923 Muthu KR.V.Alagappa Chettiar renovated this Temple. The 14 day Brahmothsavam is celebrated in a grand manner and the Temple car is also found on the busy streets of Madurai during this festival period and many Devotees visit this Temple during this Brahmothsavam festival.

Contact Details: Kesava Bhattar 99440 81037, Balaji Bhattar 99440 95626, Srinivasa Bhattar 98421 73621, Rajagopala Bhattar 94420 28447, Kalamegam 97904 31131, Krishnamurthy Flower Shop 96295 35050 and 0452 2338542

Temple Timing: 5.30 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 9 PM

Distance from Tiruchirappallii to Madurai is 131 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Madurai is 185 Kms

Distance from Kumbakonami to Madurai is 222 Kms 

Distance from Mayiladuthurai to Madurai is 258 Kms

Distance from Karaikudi to Madurai is 92 Kms

Distance from Ariyakudi to Madurai is 95 Kms

Distance from Pudukkottai to Madurai is 115 Kms

Distance from Nagapattinam to Madurai is 267 Kms

Distance from Paramakudi to Madurai is 77 Kms

Distance from Srivilliputhur to Madurai is 80 Kms

Distance from Salem to Madurai is 238 Kms

Distance from Namakkal to Madurai is 184 Kms 

Distance from Rasipuram to Madurai is 211 Kms

Distance from Karur to Madurai is 142 Kms

Distance from Kodumudi to Madurai is 165 Kms

Distance from Krishnagiri to Madurai is 348 Kms

Distance from Dharmapuri to Madurai is 297 Kms

Distance from Coimbatore to Madurai is 214 Kms

Distance from Tirunelveli to Madurai is 161 Kms

Distance from Kollam to Madurai is 255 Kms

Distance from Alappuzha to Madurai is 277 Kms

Distance from Kochi to Madurai is 266 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Madurai is 456 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Madurai R.S.

For any Suggestions in the Website: T.Ragavachari 98411 40126