Draft:Thulukka Nachiyar

Thulukka Nachiyar, also known by her epithet Bibi Nachiyar, was a muslim princess who became a Hindu goddess. She is one of the chief goddesses of the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. She is the consort of Ranganatha, the tutelary deity of Srirangam. The princess since becoming a goddess is regarded as a manifestation of Lakshmi, while Ranganatha is considered as a manifestation of Vishnu.

Thullaka Nachiyar was born in Srirangam into a Muslim family, and she converted to Hinduism after falling in love with lord Sri Ranganatha.

History
Temples with a large stone deity on the altar generally have a smaller deity called the utsava-murti ("festival form"), who leaves the temple for processions and festivals.

Features
In the Arjuna mandapa next to the sanctum of Ranganatha, there is a painting of Thulukka Nachiyar. Also the temple annually celebrates the ritual enactment of the wedding of Ranganatha and Thulukka Nachiyar.

Though Thulukka Naachiyaar is worshipped as an idol at Melkote, her face is however, covered with a veil, just like any other respectable Muslim woman. If one observes closely, we can see that her facial features cannot be distinguished distinctly. Thirumaaliruncholai is the other famous temple which acknowledges the legend of Thulukka Naachiyaar. Every year when Azhagar visits Madurai during the Chithirai Thiruvizha, he spends a night at Vandiyur with Thulukka Naachiyaar. Surprisingly, there is no shrine associated with the Naachiyaar at Vandiyur. The birth of this custom can be traced to the early 1300s, when the Muslims of the region welcomed Azhagar into their midst with much fireworks and celebrations every year. Pleased with their hospitality, Azhagar stayed with them for the night and departed for Madurai the next morning.