Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple

Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple at Uraiyur (also known as Thirukozhee) is a remarkable Divya Desam where the Goddess Kamalavalli Nachiyar takes primary precedence — a rare distinction among Vishnu temples. Located in the ancient Chola capital of Uraiyur, now part of Tiruchirappalli, this temple is praised by Thirumangai Azhwar in the Divya Prabandham. The temple is unique in Sri Vaishnavism because the Nachiyar shrine receives foremost worship, reflecting the profound importance of Sri (Lakshmi) as the divine intercessor in the Vaishnava tradition. This echoes the Sri Vaishnava philosophy of Purushakara — that the Divine Mother recommends the soul to the Lord. Uraiyur was the earliest capital of the Chola dynasty, and this temple stands as a testament to the deep roots of Vaishnavism in the Chola heartland.