The Soundararaja Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to Vishnu. It is situated in Nagapattinam, a town in the Tamil Nadu state of South India. The temple, built in the Dravidian style, is mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, an early mediaeval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th to the 9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams devoted to Lord Vishnu. Soundararaja Perumal represents Vishnu, while Soundaravalli represents his consort Lakshmi.

The temple is thought to have been built by the Mediaeval Cholas in the late 8th century CE, with additional contributions from Thanjavur Nayaks at various dates. Two inscriptions from the Chola period may be seen in the temple. Within a granite wall, the temple contains a five-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower). The complex houses all of the shrines and pools of water linked with it. Soundararaja Perumal is believed to have appeared for Sage Markandeya, Dhruva, Saleesan, and the goddess Bhudevi.

Story/Legend of the Soundararaja Perumal Temple

Odambokki, a tributary of the river Kaveri, runs adjacent to the temple, and the river is also known as Virutha Kaveri. “Kaveri Thuraivan” is one of the names of the ruling god. The present-day Nagapattinam is thought to have been a forest called Sundararinyam in the past. During the Treta Yuga, a prince named Dhruva learned about the significance of the forest and undertook penance to see Vishnu.

Vishnu appeared to him, pleased by his penance. Following in his footsteps, Markendaya Maharishi performed penance and acquired Vishnu’s vision during Satya Yuga, and Lakshmi, Vishnu’s spouse, during Treta Yuga, as did King Saleesa Chola during Kali Yuga.

Kandan and Sukandan, two eunuchs, are said to have gained physical fitness after taking a holy plunge in Sara Pushkarani, the temple tank. At this location, the Hindu god of creation, Brahma, began to worship Vishnu. Vishnu is said to have appeared on the banks of Sarapushkarani on the auspicious day of Masi Maham.

Vishnu was known as “Aagiyan” in this location because of the brightness emanating from Masi Maham. Because of his gleaming skin, he was dubbed “Soundara Rajan,” which means “the most beautiful,” and his consort was dubbed Soundaravalli. Because Adisesha, the ruler of Nagas (snakes), worshipped Vishnu at this location, it was named Nagar Pattinam, the place of Nagas. This temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams.

What is Divya Desams– A Divya Desam or Vaishnava Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu and Lakshmi temples recorded by the Alvars, the poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnava faith. 105 of the 108 temples are in India, one is in Nepal, and the final two are thought to be in space, in Tirupparkatal and Vaikuntham. They are distributed over the Indian states of Tamil Nadu (84), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (2), Gujarat (1), Uttar Pradesh (4), and Uttarakhand (3). Muktinath, Saligramam is Nepal’s sole Divya Desam. The 12 Alvars respect the Divya Desams in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil hymns.

History of Soundararaja Perumal Temple

During the eighth and tenth centuries, the temple received gifts from Pallavas, Nagars, and Cholas. Thanjavur Nayaks and, later, Thanjavur Marathas are thought to have made important contributions to the temple in later years. Nagapattinam was a busy port during the Nayak administration, and it was more of a Dutch territory.

The Nayak ruler is said to have built the seven-tiered temple tower in response to a request from the Dutch for a lighthouse. During the 1650s, Jagul Nayakar, the lieutenant of a Nayak ruler, was a devout follower of Soundararaja Perumal. He is credited with constructing the temple tower, halls, and the compound wall that surrounds the temple. The image of him and his wife Lakshmi Ammal is installed in one of the halls built by them.

Kundo Pandithar, a Nayak kingdom officer in 1737, is thought to have built the Ashtana mandapam, as well as the Pachai Varnar, Pavala Vannar, Veetriruntha Perumal, Kidantha Kola Perumal, and Vishvaksenar shrines. Dratcha Balagurumuthi Chettiyar built the Bhakthiula Hall in the early twentieth century, Chinnaya Chettiyar rebuilt the Vasantha Hall, Nachiyappa Pillai rebuilt the Mataipalli, Ramasami Pillai renovated the image of the presiding shrine, and the citizens of the town contributed to various other renovations. On the contributions paid to the temple’s upkeep, there exist inscriptions from various ruling regimes.

Architecture of Soundararaja Perumal Temple

Nagapattinam, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is home to the temple. The Soundararaja Perumal Temple’s main entrance faces East, and there is a four-pillared open hall at the temple’s entry. The temple is surrounded by rectangular walls and includes a rajagopuram (temple tower) that is 90 feet (27 metres) tall. On the western side, there is a tiny temple tower. Large streets encircle the temple walls, through which the temple chariot passes during festivals. The southern street houses the temple chariot station and Sarapushkarani, the temple tank.

The Soundararaja Perumal Temple contains a remarkable picture of Narasimha with eight hands, one thanking Prahlada, another demonstrating the abhaya mudra, and the others involved in the slaughter of the asura, Hiranyakashipu. In front of the Soundarvalli shrine, there is a four-pillared hall with a magnificent architectural style. The architects who designed the hall are depicted in the hall. The Nayaka hall is shaped like a chariot, with wheels on the outside. The entrance hall to the temple features two eight-foot sculptures of the guardian deities Sumba and Nigumba.

Facts about Soundararaja Perumal Temple

• Soundararaja Perumal Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, located in Nagapattinam, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• The Soundararaja Perumal Temple is mentioned in the Utharkanda Gyana Yoga portion of the Brahmanda Purana.
• Thirumangai Alvar’s Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a 7th-9th century Vaishnava canon, mentions the shrine. Thirumangai Alvar visits it as one of the most prominent temples.
• The Soundararaja Perumal Temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples mentioned in the book.
•  Many Acharyas have also written songs on the various forms of Soundaraja in this Temple.
• Thivyakavi Pillai Peruman praised the presiding deity in Notriyettu Tirupathi Kovai and Paravai Ramanujar in Notriyettu Tirupathi Tirupuga.
• Muthukrishna Dasar, an early twentieth-century poet, praised Soundararaja Perumal and Soundaravalli in his works in Pancharatna Pathigam.
• Vishnu is believed to have appeared on the day of Masi Magham on the banks of the temple’s tank – Sara Pushkarini – looking resplendent with His skin glowing like gold.
• Two eunuchs, Kandan and Sukandan, became full-grown men after taking a bath in the Sara Pushkarani.
• At the request of the Dutch settlers here, a Nayak king of the time is said to have built the rajagopuram for this temple to also serve as a lighthouse.

Famous Festivals In Soundararaja Perumal Temple

• Brahmmotsavam is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• Diwali – Diwali is one of the most admired and auspicious festivals in the town.
• Chitra Poornima is also a significant occasion for celebration in the temple.
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi – Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• During the Thiruvasi festival, the temple chariot is drawn around the streets of the temple.

How to reach Soundararaja Perumal Temple

Soundararaja Perumal Temple is located in Nagapattinam, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

By Air: Trichy City has an international airport that is about 150 kilometres from the temple. People can travel by road from there to the temple.

By Railway: Nagapattinam railway station is around 12 km away and is well connected by train services.

By Roadways: The temple is located near Sikkal town, on the highway between Tiruvarur and Nagappattinam, and can be reached by bus or other modes of transportation.

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