கள்ளபிரான் அல்லது வைகுந்தநாதர் திருக்கோயில், ஶ்ரீவைகுண்டம்
Also known as the Vaikunthanathar temple, this is an ancient Divya Desam Vishnu temple on the Thamirabarani River. There are nine important Vishnu temples along the Thamirabarani which are called the Nava Thirupathi Temples, each associated with a Navagraham. Some of the best granite sculptures of the 16th century Nayakkan era are found here at Srivaikuntham. The life size sculptures are exquisitely carved in granite which is a difficult medium to carve as it fragments easily.
The Lord here is known as Kallapiran because he once aided a bunch of robbers who stole from the rich and aided the poor. A Robin Hood kind of story.
Solidly built granite temple, it is indeed worth visiting both for the blessings and to admire the art. The Thiruvengadamudayan hall to the right as you enter through the main entrance way is very beautiful. Look for the simple elegant columns or pillars of the Pandian era and the more elaborately carved ones from the Nayakkan era.
AlwarThirunagari is another one of the beautiful Nava Thirupathi temples very close to here which unfortunately we could not visit due to the lack of time.
This lovely temple lies about an hour or 36 km southwest of Thoothukudi and 30 minutes or 29 km southeast of Thirunelvely.
We visited in Aug 2019. We were based in Thoothukudi or Tutucorin.
Credits: Google Maps
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