01The earrings in the river
The temple’s katha says Lakshmi, feeling herself left alone while Bhagwan stayed on earth with Bhudevi, asked Durvasa to give her Bhudevi’s beauty. When Bhudevi failed to greet him, Durvasa cursed her so that her form passed to Lakshmi. To be free she did tapas on the Thamirabarani, and one new-moon day, bathing, she found a pair of earrings shaped like fish, makara kundala. She offered them to the Lord, who wore them and restored her. Shri-perai, the body of Shri, gave the village its name.
02Eleven pasurams
Nammalvar sang Thenthiruperai in a decad of the Thiruvaimozhi, eleven pasurams, as a girl who has gone to the Lord of Perai and will not come back. The temple stands within granite walls behind a three-tiered gopuram, with the seated Lord and both consorts in the sanctum. The same village has one of the Nava Kailasam, the nine Shiva temples of the Thamirabarani, so Hari and Hara are both honoured here.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodNammalvar sings Thirupperai in the Thiruvaimozhi.
About 5 km south-east of Alwarthirunagari on the Tiruchendur road.
