Sri Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thiruppullani
Sri Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple located in Thiruppullani is one of the 108 Divyadesams dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is maintained and administered by the Ramanathapuram Samasthan Devasthanam and the accounts are audited by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The chief deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu worshipped as Adi Jagannatha in a reclining posture and his consort Lakshmi as Padmasini.
Legend and History of the Temple
According to the Indian epic Ramayana, Lord Rama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) while lying in Dharba grass, is believed to have prayed to the God of Ocean (Samudraraja), to help in seeking a way to reach Lanka. Thus the place got the name Dharbasayanam.
Yet another legend of the temple connected with the epic Ramayana states that King Dasaratha had apparently come here with his queens to worship the deity. This is where he was given Payasam (sweet pudding) and was asked to give it to his wives to beget a progeny.
The initiation of the temple structure is believed to have taken place during the Chola period. Later contributions to the development of the temple were made by the Pandya Kings and also by their friends and rulers of Ramanathapuram, the Jaffna Kings. The temple has also received contributions from the Vijayanagar period.
Architecture of Sri Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple
Sri Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple captivates the visitors by its architectural beauty and historical significance. The temple located in the village of Thiruppullani has been constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture. The temple has a five-tiered Rajagopuram facing east. The
temple houses the shrines of Adi Jagannatha, Bhudevi and Sri Devi in sitting posture. Padmasini, the consort of Adi Jagannatha is worshipped as a separate shrine. One can also find in the temple, the shrine of Dharbasayana Ramar in reclining posture and a metal image of Lord Krishna belonging to the 13th century Pandya period.
Reference to Literature
The temple is revered in the Tamil epic Kamba Ramayanam and in 20 verses of Thirumangai Azhwar in his Periya Thirumozhi in Nalayira Divya Prabandham
Temple Timings – Sri Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple
The temple remains open from 7:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
The temple rituals performed during the day are:
| Pooja Name | Timings |
|---|---|
| Usha kalam | 7:00 AM |
| Kalasanthi | 8:00 AM |
| Uchikalam | 12:00 Noon |
| Sayaratchai | 6:00 PM |
| Irandan Kalam | 7:00 PM |
| Arthajamam | 10:00 PM |
The temple also performs weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals.
Thiruppullani Sri Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple Festivals
The major festivals celebrated in the temple are the Panguni Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April) and Rama Navami Utsavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April-May). Other major festivals include Vaikunta Ekadasi, Krishna Jayanti, Pongal and Diwali.
How to reach Sri Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple
The temple is located at a distance of 66 kilometres from Rameshwaram and 15 kilometres from Ramanathapuram. Nearest railway station to the temple is located at Ramanathapuram. Madurai Airport is the nearest terminal, around 125 kilometres from the temple.