Place of Origin

Periya Pothigai hills in Tamilnadu.

Length

240 km

Confluence

Palk Strait (in Ramanathapuram District)

Religious significance 

The river is closely associated with the Chithirai festival of Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple at Madurai. On Chitra Pournami day Lord Kallazhagar (Vishnu), the elder brother of Goddess Meenakshi enters the Vaigai River. Legend has it that the festival is held to re-enact a puranic episode in which Lord Azhagar comes to the riverbank from his abode at Azagarmalai (30 kms from Madurai) to grant moksha to ‘Mandooka’ Rishi who was a great devotee of Vishnu, but was cursed earlier to turn into a frog. 

(Source:http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/05/03/stories/2007050315830500.htm)

According to another legend, Kallazhagar arrived late for the marriage of his sister Meenakshi with Lord Sundareshwara. Taking note that the marriage has already taken place, he plunges into the river Vaigai and walks through to nearby Vandiyur. Adults and children join together in spraying water at Lord Kallazhagar as he walks towards the river bank of Vaigai in total disappointment.

(Source:http://tamilelibrary.org/teli/fest.html)
 

Ecological significance 

Vaigai river is an important river flowing in Madurai. All the major water supply schemes in Madurai district have been formulated with Vaigai river as a source. Illango Adigal has referred to the river Vaigai as a perennial river which brought all wealth to Madurai and happiness to all human beings in and around her.

(Source:http://www.madurai.tn.nic.in/twad.html& http://www.maduraimarathon.in/index1.php)