At a distance of 29 km from Tirunelveli and 39 km from Thoothukudi, Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal Temple is an historic temple located at Srivaikuntam in Thoothukudi district of Tamilnadu. Situated on the banks of the river Thamirabarani, this is likely one of the 108 divya desams of Lord Vishnu and the primary of the Navatirupathis.
Additionally known as Srivaikuntam Temple and Kallapiran Temple, Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal Temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu within the type of Vaikuntanathar. It’s believed that this temple was used as a fort within the struggle between the legendary freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman and the British within the 1800s. The temple is classed as a Navatirupathi, the 9 temples revered by Nammazhwar positioned on the banks of Thamirabarani River. That is the primary within the collection of those 9 Tirupathi Temples.
There are various legends related to this temple. In line with one legend, Somuka, a demon stole the 4 Vedas from Lord Brahma. Brahma was helpless and he did extreme penance on the banks of Thamirabarani River looking for favour from Lord Vishnu. Happy with the penance of Brahma, Vishnu agreed to assist Brahma. Vishnu killed the demon and restored the Vedas to Brahma. Lord Vishnu set his abode as Srivaikuntam and resided there as Vaikuntanathar. One other story goes that the Lord, disguised because the thief, introduced himself earlier than the King to avoid wasting the thief Kaaladhushakan, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, the Lord right here is often known as ‘Kallapiran’.
The structure of the temple is solely wonderful and there are three prakarams within the temple. The temple gopuram is 110 toes in top and 500 toes in width. The sanctum homes the picture of Sri Vaikuntanathar in standing posture with a mace in his hand. Adisesha, the serpent god, unfurls his hood over Vishnu. That is the one divya desam the place Adisesha has his hood above the standing Lord. There are shrines to Krishna, Lakshmi Narasimha, Hanuman, and Tiruvenkatamudaiyar. The Tiruvenkatamudaiyar Mandapam is wealthy with sculptures of Yallis, Elephants and Warriors.
The temple is likely one of the Navagraha temples in Vaishnavism, related to Surya, the Solar god. The distinctive function of this temple is that the Solar’s rays falls immediately on Lord Vaikuntanathar on two days (on the sixth day of Chitrai (April-Might) and Aipasi (October-November)) yearly.
The Garuda Sevai pageant is a spectacular occasion held within the month of Vaikasi (Might-Jun) at this temple. Throughout the pageant, the pageant idols from Navatirupathi temples are introduced right here on Garuda vahana.
Timings: 7.30 AM – 12 PM & 5 PM – eight PM