Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple - 108 Divya Desam

Thiruvellarai Sri Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu and is also one of the 108 Divya Desam temples. As per Hindu legend, when Sibi Chakravarthy, a celebrated king stayed here with his warriors, a white boar crossed their path. He chased it on its beauty and the boar hid inside a hole. A sage named Markandeya was doing penance there and the king narrated the incident to him. Markadeya advised the king to fill the hole with milk. While doing so, lord Vishnu appeared before them. The sage asked the king to bring around 3700 vaishnavites from North India and advised him to erect a temple on the site for Vishnu. As requested, the king brought the people and started building the temple. While doing so, one of the Vaishnavites lost his life in transit and the king was concerned by the accident. Vishnu appeared incognito as Pundarikakshan, a Vaishnavite, and requested to be counted among the 3700 and the job was fulfilled. The lord Shiva in form of Neeli Vaneswarar is believed to have worshiped Pundarikakshan to absolve himself from the sin of holding Brahma’s severed head. Vishnu appeared to both Shiva and Brahma, adhering to their prayers.

The temple is considered the oldest of the Vaishnavite temples of South. It is older than Srirangam which was built during Rama’s period, whereas this temple was built by Sibhi, 4 generations forefather of Rama. Hence the name Aadhi Vellarai. According to the Puranas, 64 `Chatur Yugas’ (almost 15 lakh years in our term) have passed since the lord enshrined here. Situated in a sprawling 14 acre site and resembles an old fort with 36 feet high massive compound walls on all sides. The temple has three inscriptions in its two rock-cut caves, dating back around 800 AD. It also has Pallava sculptural depictions. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and six of its seven bodies of water in that place. The rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower is unfinished. A Temple tank (Swastik Kulam) beside the temple, maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. The Swastik shape of the tank makes it possible that people bathing at one ghat cannot view any other ghat. There are beautiful sculptures in the pillars above the steps. This is a must visit temple for its sheer majesty, architectural marvel and rich history.