Thiruneermalai (temple complex)

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Thiruneermalai (temple complex)
Neervana Perumal Temple
Image of the temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Chengalpattu district
Deity	Ranganatha/Neervanna Perumal (Vishnu) Ranganayaki/Animamalarmangai Tayar (Lakshmi)
Location
Location	Thiruneermalai
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	12°57′49″N 80°06′53″E / 12.963681°N 80.114686°E / 12.963681; 80.114686
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture

The Thiruneermalai temple complex consists of two temples, the Ranganatha Temple and the Thiruneermalai Neervanna Perumal Temple. Both are Hindu temples in Thiruneermalai, a suburb of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

There are two temples, one at the top of the hill and other in the foothills. In all, the temple occupies an area of 15 acres (6.1 ha), with the lower shrine covering 3 acres (1.2 ha). The presiding deity of the temple in the foothills is Neervana Perumal in standing posture. Ranganatha is the presiding deity uphill and the shrine, vimana above the sanctum is called Ranga Vimana. There are images of Trivikrama and Narasimha around the first precinct. The temple tank is called the Kshira Pushkarini and it is believed to feed the waters of Vaikuntha, and the Ocean of Milk. The Karunya Pushkarini is the second tank, which is believed to have formed from the weeping of Narasimha, who was moved by the divine prayers of Prahlada. There are two other tanks called Svarna Pushkarini and Siddha Pushkarini.^[1]

It is dedicated to the Hindu deity Vishnu, regionally referred to as Neervana Perumal and Ranganatha. The complex is of two parts: one at the base of the hill for the primary deity Neervanan, featured in a standing posture, and also housing shrines of his consort Animamalarmangai Tayar, Kalyana Ramar, and Andal. The shrine for Anjaneya (Hanuman) is to the right, upon the hill shrine. The temple complex up the hill has three shrines for Ranganatha, found in reclining posture, Trivikrama, featured in a walking posture), Narasimha, featured in a sitting posture. There also exists a shrine for Ranganayaki Tayar, facing the east. It is a double prakaram (outer courtyard) temple. The Garuda shrine faces the deity.

The temple has lot of inscriptions from the Chola and later Pandyas, indicating generous contributions to the temple.^[1]