Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Tirukulandhai
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Sri Mayakoothar Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupatis, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu located Perungulam along Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the southern bank of Thamiraparani river. It is located 5 km from Alvar Thirunagari. All these 9 temples are classified as Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet-saints of Sri Vaishnavism called the Alvars.
The temple is referred to as Shani sthalam, a location for the planet deity, Shani (Saturn). Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Mayakoothar and his consort Lakshmi as Kulandhaivalli Tayar.
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower, is three-tiered in structure. The temple follows the Tenkalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day annual Vaikuntha Ekadashi during the Tamil month of Margali (December – January) and the Nammalvar birth celebrations with Garudasevai with all nine temple of Nava Tirupati, being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Legend
This temple history describes Vishnu’s power to perform miracles to serve his devotees. Once one asura abducted Vishnu devotee named Vedasaran’s wife Kumudhavalli. The asura performed magic tricks but was vanquished by Vishnu who danced on his head as Koothar. And he restored Kumudhavalli to her husband.As per another legend, a childless couple named Devasaran and Kumudavalli were residing at a forest named Thadakavanam near Tholavallimangalam. On account of their devotion to Vishnu, they got a girl named Kamaladevi. Kamala was also a very ardent devotee and started doing penance. In spite of many convincing her against it, she was firm and wanted to attain Vishnu as her husband. Since a small girl performed penance at this place, the place came to be known as Palikavanam. From then, the place came to be known as Thirukulanthai.