| Description This is the
third of the nine Nava Tiruppatis in Tirunelveli district in the belt between Tirunelveli and the coastal shrine of Tiruchendur. Only
Nammalwar, who resided at Alwar Tirunagari,
has sung of these nine shrines Tiruvaikuntham, Varagunamangai, Pulinkudi,
Tolaivillimangalam, Tirukkulandai,
Tirukkolur, Tirupperai
and Tirukkurugoor collectively referred to as
Alwar Navatiruppati. Tolaivillimangalam referred
to as Irattai Tirupati, counts as two in the scheme of Nava Tirupatis, but as one of the
108 Divya Desams.
Nammalwar has sung of Tiruppulinkudi in a total of 12 verses, of which one refers also
to Varagunamangai and two refer also to (Tiru ) Vaikuntham. He refers to Vishnu's
reclining posture at Tiruppulinkudi
(Pulinkudi Kidandu), his seated posture at Varagunamangai
(Varagunamangai irundu) and his standing posture at Vaikuntham
(Vaikunthathull Ninru) in this verse.
Legend has it that Indra worshipped Vishnu here to rid himself of the Bhramahatti
Dosham. Legend also has it that Bhudevi envious of Sridevi fled and hid herself in the
netherworld and that Vishnu and Sridevi pacified her; Vishnu Sridevi and Bhudevi are seen
enshrined in the sanctum, Vishnu in a reclining posture, relieving himself of the exertion
of having followed Bhudevi into the netherworld. Legends associated with this temple are
referenced in the Bhrahmaandapuraanam and the Tamraparani stala puraanam.
Deities: The Moolavar here is Kaaisinavendan - an imposing image of
Vishnu; a lotus stalk from the navel of the image, terminates in a flower bearing an image
of Bhrama, on the wall of the sanctum. The deity's feet are viewed through a window in the
circumambulatory passage.This east facing temple has two prakarams. |
