Tirunavaay - Narayana Ambalam

This ancient Vaishnava kshetra enshrines two most adorable archamurtis called Narayanan and Navaay Mukundan and they are adored with equal devotional fervor. This archamurti Narayanan blessed his darsan to Gajendra and Lakshmi too, according to sthalapurana. The icons of the Lords are exquisitely sculptured and they arrest the attention of the devotees at the first sight itself. The Goddess is called Malarmangai Natchiar. The Lord is facing south and is giving darsan in standing posture. The temple is a typical example of Kerala architectural style having circular Srikoil etc. and the garbha griha is adorned with Veda Vimana. The temple tank  is called Sengamala saras and supplies water to the temple worship and also for bathing to the visiting devotees. As the kshetra is called Tirunavay, it is mistaken for Navay kshetra, where Sankara Narayanan is adored in a big temple; but it is not included in the 108 Divya Desams. Tiruvakkunji, the birth place of the great Kulasekhar Alwar is very near to this and many Vaishnavat-, take trips after worshipping the Lord. Nammalwar and Tirumangai Alwar availed the darsan of this Lord and, eulogised the glory of the Lord in their ecstatic raptures and their Mangalasasanams are sung with great devotional fervor. Agamic pooja is offered and celebration of annual functions lure huge crowds whose lusty participation is worthy of seeing. 

It lies a kilometer and half off Tirunavay railway station in Kerala, accessible in a few minutes walk.

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