Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest air services are at Thoothukudi, about 24.6 km away.

• By train

  There is a railway station at Tiruvaikuntam, the town where the temple is.

• By road

  Buses run through Srivaikuntam from Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchendur and Thoothukudi. The temple is 22 km from Tirunelveli.

Why devotees come here

Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple stands in Srivaikuntam town, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the Thamirabarani river. Vishnu is worshipped here as Vaikunthanathar, and the temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams.

Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu. It is also one of the Nava Tirupathi. These are nine temples on the banks of the Thamirabarani that the saint Nammalvar revered. The temple is linked with Surya, the sun, and the Brahmanda Purana has a chapter called Navathirupathi Mahatmeeyam.

Legend says the demon Somukasura stole the four Vedas from Brahma. Vishnu took the form of a divine fish, killed the demon and restored the Vedas. Another story says the image lay submerged for ages until a king's cow bathed the spot, and the king dug it up. The deity is called Pal Pandian, because the cow revealed him and pal is the Tamil word for milk. Legend says he appeared for thieves, so he is also called Kallapiran.

The temple occupies five acres inside a granite wall. Its gateway tower is 110 ft tall. The main image is made of shaligrama stone and is usually bathed with milk. Six inscriptions have been deciphered by the Archaeological Department. The Pandya king Vira Pandyan IV gave land for special poojas on his birthday in the Tamil month of Vaikasi. In 1801 the temple served as a fort for the British against Veerapandiya Kattabomman.

Festivals

• Vaikasi (May-June)Garuda Sevai

  Festival idols from the nine Navatirupathi shrines are carried on Garuda, the sacred vehicle.

• Chittirai (April-May)Brahmotsavam

  A ten-day annual festival, one of the most prominent held at the temple.

Tips for your visit

• Thiruvengadamudayan hall, to the right of the gopuram, has rare life-size sculptures from the 16th century.
• In the sanctum, Vishnu stands with a club in his hand.

Questions people ask