Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #2: Adhi Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thirupullani

ஆதிஜெகநாதப்பெருமாள் திருக்கோயில், திருப்புல்லாணி

This ancient Vishnu temple is located about 122 km or 2 hours southeast of Madurai. It is quite close to Uthirakosamangai.

It is a Divya Desam temple venerated in the Naalayira Divya Prabantham and closely associated with the Ramayanam. Sri Raman spent 3 nights here contemplating the invasion of Lanka resting his head on a pillow of Dharbai grass. Hence the name of this place. The legends speak of a coastal temple but it now lies at least 5 km from the shore, suggesting that the sea receded around here.

It is the end result of a thousand years of temple building with a Pandian core. The Cholas, Vijayanagar, Nayakkar and the Sethupathis contributed in their own way. It is a beautiful temple.

We visited in August 2019. We were based in Rameswaram.