Sri Nachiyar Kovil is also called as Sri Thirunaraiyur Nambi Temple and it is located in a place which is also called as Nachiyar Kovil close to Thirunageswaram and the Temple Town of Kumbakonam.  Sri Srinivasa Perumal is the Presiding Deity here and He is also known here as Sri Thirunaraiyur Nambi, Sri Vasudevan, Sri Paripooranan and is considered as an incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu. Some devotees call this temple as Sri Kal Garudan Temple too. His Consort in this Temple is known as Sri Vanjulavalli and She is Goddess Mahalakshmi. This is one of the 108 Divya Desams known. 

This Temple consists of an East facing five tiered Rajagopuram through which the devotees have to go through. The Temple has 3 successive Gopurams before the Devotees reach the Moolasthanam. There is a huge metalic Dwajasthambham or Kodi Maram, a Neivedhiya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a Garudalwar Sannadhi looking towards the Moolasthanam. The Kal garudan of this Temple is much revered and it is believed that the Kal Garudan changes His own weight according to the place through which He is carried. In other words the weight of the Kal Garudan increases and decreases spontaneously by itself. It is construed that the weight increases when leaving the Temple and decreases when entering the Temple again. In the Garudalwar Sannadhi the Idol of Sri Garudalwar is seen with 9 Serpents coiling around Him and he is considered Divinely. The North facing Idol of Sri Narthana Krishnan and the South facing Idol of Sri Navaneetha Krishnan look impressive.

In the East facing Sanctum Sanctorum the Presiding Deity of Sri Srinivasa Perumal or Sri Thirunaraiyur Nambi is seen in a standing posture representing the Kalyana Kolam. The noteworthy point of Sri Nachiyar Kovil is that there are four Moolavars viz. Sri Vasudevan, Sri Paripooranan, Sri Nambi and Sri Srinivasa Perumal who are seen together in the East facing Sanctum Sanctorum. The other Moolavars are known as Sri Prathiyumnan, Sri Shangarshanan, Sri Purushothaman, Sri Brahmma and Sri Anirudhan. The Urchavamoorthy Idol are those of Sri Srinivasa Perumal and Sri Vanjulavalli Thaayar. The Consort is known as Sri Vanjulavalli Nachiyar. This Temple is unique since Archanai etc are done only to South facing Sri Kal Garudan. There are coloured Dasavathara stucco Idols who are displayed around the Koshtam of the Moolavar Sannadhi. Embossed on the inner walls of the Temple are the Idols of Sri Venugopalan, Sri Varadaraja Perumal, Sri Sowriraja Perumal, Sri Pallikonda Perumal and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal. There is also a small Sub Shrine in which Sri Bala Anjaneyar is seen North facing. 

The Shrine of Sri Vanjulavalli Thaayar is of prime importance in this Temple and She is seen with a Key Chain dangling on Her hip which indirectly implies that she has a lot of importance in this Temple. It is very unique to see Sri Vanjulavall Thaayar seen in a standing posture in Her Shrine. History suggests that Sri Maha Vishnu agrees to give Sri Vanjulavalli Thaayar dominence and hence the name Sri Nachiyar Koil. There are Shrines for Sri Rama, Goddess Seetha, Sri Lakshmana and Sri Anjaneyar, likewise there are Sub Shrines for Sri Venkatachalapathy, Sri Chakrathalwar and Yoga Narasimhar together. There are Sannadhis for Sri Manavala Maamunigal and Sri Vedantha Desigar. This Temple has an exclusive Sorga vaasal which is kept open on Vaikunda Ekadasi days. There is a 100 Pillared Hall and a small Mandapam where small religious functions could be held with ease. This Temple was built in the 3rd Century AD by the Chola King Kochengat Cholan. The Chola Rulers started building this Temple but it was the Vijayanagara Rulers who developed it fully to this extent. It is to be noted here that Saint Nambiyandar Nambi was born in this Temple Town. The Southern side of the Temple has a Nandhavanam where the Sthala Viruksham of Magizha Maram is kept. On 18.01.1999 two Garudan fell dead and attained Moksham on the day of Shravanam on the Sthala Viruksham of the Magizha Maram which is very unique. There is a Sacred Tank or a huge Pushkarani called Manimutha Theertham. 

The Temple also has a Yaaga Saalai. The Temple celebrates Vasantha Urchavam, Thiru Kalyana Urchavam, Mukkodi Theppa Vizha and Panguni Brammothsavam in a large scale and in a grand manner. The Temple follows the Thengalai Sampradayam. There are lots of shops selling Pooja articles such as Fruits, Flowers, Garlands, Coconuts etc. The Temple does not have any car parking area and hence Devotees are forced to park their vehicle in the neighbouring streets around the Temple. 

Contact Details: Gopinatha Bhattachariar 94435 97388, Lakshmi Narasimha Bhattachariar  95007 16900 and E.O. 0435 2467167, Prasadha Stall 78457 92387, Rajkumar Flower Shop 90427 34733  

Temple Timing: 6.30 AM to 12.30 PM and 4.30 PM to 8.30 PM

Distance from Thirunageswaram to Nachiarkoil is 6 Kms

Distance from Swamimalai to Nachiarkoil is 18 Kms

Distance from Tiruchirappalli to Nachiarkoil is 107 Kms

Distance from Vaitheeswaran Kovil to Nachiarkoil is 52 Kms

Distance from Ayyavadi to Nachiarkoil is 5 Kms

Distance from  Kumbakonam to Nachiarkoil is 10 Kms

Distance from Thiruvidaimaruthur to Nachiarkoil is 11 Kms

Distance from Mayavaram to Nachiarkoil is 37 Kms

Distance from Thiruvarur to Nachiarkoil is 33 Kms

Distance from Mannargudi to Nachiarkoil is 36 Kms

Distance from Vaduvur to Nachiarkoil is 37 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Nachiarkoil is 52 Kms

Distance from Srivanjiyam to Nachiarkoil is 18 Kms

Distance from Thirucherai to Nachiarkoil is 5 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Nachiarkoil is 289 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam R.S.

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