Purushotama Perumal Temple is devoted to the Hindu God Vishnu and is located in Ambasamudram in Tamilnadu’s Thirunelveli District. Purushotama is the name of the presiding deity. Alarmelu Mangai is the name given to Perumal and Mother. Punnai Tree is Sthala Vriksham, and Pongi Karai Theertham is Theertham. The temple’s notoriety stems from Lord Perumal’s traditional use of two discuses and two conches against one each.

Sanjeevi Mooligai (a plant) saved Lord Vishnu.As a result, the vamaanam is known as Sanjeevi Vigraha Vimaanam. Purushothaman’s meaning among devotees is the person who is good in Bhaktar, Muktar, Nitheyar, and Purushar, the person who has eternal, the soul of the human always dwells with the god.

Story/Legend of the Purushotama Perumal Temple

The legends of Thirunangur’s eleven temples are inextricably linked. According to tradition, the Hindu god Shiva began dancing in rage at this location following the death of his consort Uma as a result of Daksha’s yajna (sacrifice). Eleven additional incarnations of Shiva appeared whenever his lock of hair hit the ground.

The celestial deities were concerned that if the dance continued, entire creations might be decimated. They appealed to Vishnu for assistance, who appeared at this location. Shiva’s rage subsided when he saw Vishnu, and he asked Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like him. Vishnu came in eleven various avatars at Tirunangur at his request.

The eleven spots where Vishnu appeared are thought to be the locations of the eleven temples in Tirunangur. According to another version, Shiva asked Vishnu to appear in eleven different forms like him in order to manage the eleven Shiva forms he created. The eleven Rudras, known as the Ekadas Rudras, and the deva ruler, Indra, are said to have worshipped Vishnu at this temple. 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 Purushotama Perumal Temple

The Purushotama Perumal Temple predates the Chozha period, with later contributions from the Cholas and Vijayanagaras. This temple contains inscriptions from the Chola and Vijayanagara periods.

The temple, built in the Dravidian style, is mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, an early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th to the 9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is revered as Purushottama Nayagi, and his consort Lakshmi.

The architecture of Purushotama Perumal Temple

Purushothama Perumal temple has only one sanctum and a modest shrine with Vimanam. It is located in Thirunangur, a small village 10 kilometres from Sirkali and Thiruvenkadu, and is surrounded by paddy fields. The temple has a three-tiered vimana (shrine over the sanctum) and rectangular walls encircling the shrines.

Inside the sanctum, the presiding god Purushottaman and his spouse Purushottanayagi are represented in a standing stance. The festival deities’ images are also stored in the same shrine. The Garuda Mandapa is a tiny shrine placed axially from the entryway and the altar to the primary temple. There is only one shrine in the temple, with a modest hall leading to the sanctum. From the shrine to the Garuda Mandapa, there is a modern pillared hall.

Facts about Purushotama Perumal Temple

• Purushotama Perumal Temple is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu and is located in Thirunangur, a village on the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamilnadu.
• This place is known as Thiru Vann Purushothamam because the Perumal of this place provided the Thirupaarkadal and stands as Rama, the best among men, together with his wife Purushothama Naayaki – Periya piratti.
• The Purushotama Perumal Temple is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.
• Purshottama Perumal temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Sri Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Alvar.
• The ruling deity is said to have been worshipped by Sage Upamanyu.
• Saint Thirumanagai Alvar is said to visit the site every year for the festival to consecrate the eleven deities.
• According to local tradition, the fresh winds that swirl the paddy fields before the festival day indicate a healthy harvest for the season.
• Another tradition has it that the sages Madangar, Domyar, Vyaghrapada, and Udangar established their hermitages here.
• Takshaka, the strong serpent king who murdered King Parikshit, governed Nagapuri, which eventually became Nangur, according to the Mahabharata.
• In this Purushotama Perumal Temple, Sri Purushotaman is so beautiful that it can easily attract everyone’s heart towards him.
• As Lord Narayana gave generously the Thirupaarkadal to Upamanyu Maharishi, the teertham is known as Thirupaarkadal Theertham.

Famous Festivals In Purushotama Perumal Temple

• Brahmmotsavam is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• 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.
• The Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana Utsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January–February).
  

How to reach Purushotama Perumal Temple

The Purushotama Perumal Temple is on the Sirkali-Nagapattinam route. The devotee has to get down at Annan Koil’s stop.

By Air: The nearest Airport is Tiruchirapalli Airport, located 145 km (90 miles) away from the town.

By Railway: There is a daily express train that connects all important cities to Chennai via Mayiladuthurai and Ernakulam via Coimbatore.  Nearest Railway Station is Sirkazhi.

By Roadways: The bus route from Sirkazhi to Poompuhar stops at Mangaimadam, and the Thirunangur is 3 kilometres away, with plenty of automobiles available.

Also Read – Perarulaalan Perumal Temple