A Devotee's Home as Sacred Space
Thirumāligai (Tamil: tiru = sacred/auspicious + māligai = mansion/house) is the respectful term used when referring to another Śrī Vaiṣṇava's home. Rather than the ordinary word for house, the tradition uses thirumāligai — 'the sacred mansion' — expressing that a home in which Bhagavān is worshipped and where His devotees reside is a sanctified space.
Contrast with Kuḍisai
A Śrī Vaiṣṇava refers to their own home as kuḍisai ('humble dwelling') — expressing their own smallness. But another devotee's home is thirumāligai — expressing respect for that devotee. This asymmetric vocabulary mirrors the adiyēn-devareer pattern: humility about oneself, honor for others.
Sacred Household
A thirumāligai in the fullest sense is a home where: the Bhagavān image is worshipped daily (nityārādhanam), tulasī is cultivated, prabandham is recited, visiting devotees are received with tatiyārādhanam, and the daily life of the family is oriented toward Bhagavān. Such a home becomes as sacred as a temple.