हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Vaikuntanathar (Kallapiran) Temple, Srivaikuntam

First of the Nava Tirupati, the nine Vishnu temples of the Thamirabarani that Nammalvar sang. The festival image is Kallapiran, the Lord of the thief, because he once stood by a robber who prayed to him.

Built: Pandya-era shrine on the Thamirabarani, enlarged by the Nayakas with 16th-century sculpture hallsWhere: Tamil Nadu (Thoothukudi district)Deity: Vaikuntanathar, standing; festival image Kallapiran; Thayars Vaikuntavalli and Bhunayaki8.63° N, 77.91° E
  1. Alvar period
  2. 16th century
Photo: Ssriram mt · CC BY-SA 4.0

01The Vedas restored

The temple’s katha says the asura Somuka stole the Vedas from Brahma, and Brahma did tapas on the Thamirabarani until Vishnu took them back and gave them to him, then stayed here as Lord of Vaikuntha. Later the image lay buried until a king’s cow was seen pouring her milk on the spot; the king dug, found the Lord and built the temple, and so he is also called Pal Pandian. Kaladushana, a robber chief, gave half his loot to the temple and prayed when caught; Bhagwan came before the king in his form and spoke for him.

02A tower over the river

Nammalvar sang Srivaikuntam in two pasurams. The rajagopuram rises about 110 feet, and the Thiruvengadamudayan mandapam holds life-size sculpture of the 16th century, with Vijayanagara-style Virabhadra pillars. The Navagraha reckoning of the Nava Tirupati makes this the temple of Surya. The Chittirai Brahmotsavam is the temple’s own feast, but the great day of the region is the Garuda Sevai in Vaikasi, when the festival images of all nine temples gather at Alwarthirunagari for Nammalvar.

The life of this place

  1. Alvar periodNammalvar sings Srivaikuntam in the Thiruvaimozhi.
  2. 16th centuryThe Thiruvengadamudayan mandapam and its life-size sculpture are added.
Visiting

Srivaikuntam is about 30 km east of Tirunelveli on the Tiruchendur road; the other Nava Tirupati temples lie within 10 km.

Nearby

Nava Tirupati, the nine Vishnu temples of the ThamirabaraniStanding
The Age of Great Kingdoms

Nava Tirupati, the nine Vishnu temples of the Thamirabarani

Nine Divya Desams along the banks of the Thamirabarani between Srivaikuntam and Alwarthirunagari, all sung by Nammalvar, and each worshipped as the seat of one of the nine grahas.

Vijayasana Perumal Temple, Thiruvaragunamangai (Natham)Standing
The Age of Great Kingdoms

Vijayasana Perumal Temple, Thiruvaragunamangai (Natham)

Second of the Nava Tirupati, two kilometres from Srivaikuntam, where Vishnu sits as the victor. The Navagraha reckoning makes it the temple of Chandra.

Kaichina Vendhan Temple, ThiruppuliangudiStanding
The Age of Great Kingdoms

Kaichina Vendhan Temple, Thiruppuliangudi

Third of the Nava Tirupati, where Vishnu reclines with a lotus stalk rising from his navel to Brahma. He is Bhoomipalar, protector of the earth, for here he coaxed Bhudevi back from the netherworld. The Navagraha reckoning makes it the temple of Budha.

AdichanallurExcavated
Janapadas and the Rise of Magadha

Adichanallur

A vast field of burial urns on the Tamirabarani river, with iron tools, bronze ornaments and gold diadems. It was the first site in the south to be dug, in the 1870s, and is still yielding finds.