Tiruppulinkudi

One of the 108 Temples & Celestial Abodes of Vishnu revered by the Tamil hymns of the Alwars of the 1st millennium CE

Location: Pulinkudi near Sree Vaikuntham
(
Pandya Naadu)
Vishnu: Kaaisinavendan,
Taayaar: Malarmagal Naachiyaar
Theertham:Varuna Theertham
Paasuram :Nammalwar
Vimaanam:Veda Saara Vimanam
Travel Base:Tirunelveli

nammalwar.jpg (22525 bytes)

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.

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