Thirupuliyangudi Perumal Temple

Getting there

• By train

  Tirunelveli Junction station is the rail access point for Tirunelveli city.

• By air

  Vagaikulam Airport in Thoothukudi district is about 20 km from Tirunelveli city. Madurai International Airport is about 170 km away.

• By road

  Veinthankulam New Bus Stand is the road access point for Tirunelveli city.

Why devotees come here

Thirupuliyangudi Perumal Temple stands on the banks of the Thamiraparani river, near Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Vishnu, worshipped here as Bhumipalar, and is one of the 108 Divya Desams. It is also one of the nine Nava Tirupati temples revered by Nammalvar.

Thirupuliyangudi Perumal Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the shrines of Vishnu, and one of the nine Nava Tirupati temples that Nammalvar revered on the banks of the Thamiraparani. Legend says that after Bhudevi departed, all life on earth began to decay. Vishnu rescued the living and saved the world, so he is called Bhumipalar, the guardian of the earth.

The temple is built in the Dravidian style. A granite wall encloses all its shrines, and it has two prakarams, or closed precincts. Inside, an imposing image of Vishnu has a lotus stalk rising from its navel, and the image of Brahma comes out of that lotus. The temple is also associated with Budha, the planet Mercury. In the Tamil month of Vaikasi, the Garuda Sevai festival carries idols from nine Nava Tirupati shrines on Garuda, the sacred vehicle.

Festivals

• Margali, December to JanuaryVaikuntha Ekadashi

  A ten-day annual festival held during the Tamil month of Margali.

• Vaikasi, May to JuneGaruda Sevai

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

Tips for your visit

• The temple is 22 km from Tirunelveli city, on the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route.
• On the image of Vishnu, a lotus rises from the navel, and Brahma comes out of it.

Questions people ask