Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal temple is a Lord Vishnu temple at Srivaikuntam, Thoothukudi district, Tamilnadu, India. Lord Vishnu in this temple is known as Vaikuntanathar. This temple is among the 108 Divyadesams, dedicated to God Vishnu.

Sculpture inside Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal temple

Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal temple, alias Srivaikuntam temple or Kallapiran temple, is an example of the Tamil style of architecture. Srivaikuntam temple finds its gracious reference in the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. It was composed by the 12 ‘Vaishnava’ poet-saints called ‘Alvars’ and compiled between the 9th – 10th centuries, in the current form by Nathamuni.

                         

Srivaikuntam temple is also known as a leading Navatirupathi temple; the nine temples revered by Nammazhwar (one of the twelve Alwar poet-saints of Tamil Nadu), located on the banks of river Tamiraparani. Kallapiran temple is one of the Navagraha temples in Vaishnavism, a major Hindu denomination in India.

There is a granite wall around the temple, covering the temple shrines and two water bodies out of a total of three water bodies around the temple. There is a 110-foot or 34-meter tall temple tower (rajagopuram) here. Many life-size sculptures made in the 16th century can be seen in the Thiruvengadamudayan hall. The temple compound has an area of around 5 acres.

The main deity in the Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal temple is called Pal Pandian; Pal means milk in the south Indian languages. The legend is that the deity had no patrons over long periods and got submerged. During the Pandyan era, a cow among the herd cows of the Pandian king did ablution daily at the place where the deity was immersed.   The king learned that a particular cow alone was not yielding milk. He thought that it might be the trick of the herdsman and deployed his men to monitor the cow and the herdsman. They reported what was happening there (that the cow is doing ablution there). He dug up the area and found the deity Vaikuntanathar. He then expanded the temple.

                  

Kaladushana, the chief thief during the reign of the Pandian king, was evading arrest by the King despite the King’s army’s best efforts. Kaladushana was praying to Vaikuntanathar to save him from the King.  Vaikuntanathar appeared as Kaldushana and surrendered before the king. He also appeared in the King’s dream and narrated that enemies would take over his country’s wealth, and the thief was trying to protect the wealth. King then released Kaladushana and his troops. Hence, the temple is also known as the Kallapiran temple. (Theif is called Kallan in southern Tamilnadu and Kerala states)

The main festival of the Srivaikuntam temple is the annual Brahmotsavam. It is held during the Tamil month of Chittirai (i.e., April – May).  Nammazhwar birth celebrations are another major festival of this temple, celebrated along with all eight other temples of Navatirupathi.

How Do I Go to Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple alias Srivaikuntam Temple or Kallapiran Temple?

Srivaikuntam Temple temple is at a distance of around 22 kilometers from Tirunelveli Town.

Thoothukudi town is around 26 kilometers from Srivaikuntam temple.

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