Aadhi Jagannatha Perumal Temple - Thirupullani | Vishnu Temple

Located at a distance of around 60 km from Rameshwaram, the Aadhi Jagannatha Perumal Temple at Thirupullani, is one of the 108 Divya Desam temples, revered by vaishnavite saints. The Presiding deity here is lord Vishnu in the name of Adhi Jagannatha Perumal. There is a pipal tree behind the sanctum, wherein we can find hundreds of serpents stones. This temple not only attracts visitors with strong mythology but also for its architectural brilliance. Built during the reign of Cholas, various contributions were made to this temple by the successive Pandyan and Sethupathy kings. The mythology says that Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is said to have performed penance towards Lord Samudra Raja (Ocean God) to solicit a way to reach Sri Lanka to bring back his wife Sita. It is also told that Dasaratha (father of lord Rama) had made many sacrifices to acquire the holy payasam (Sweet Pudding) to enhance the fertility of his 3 wives. This is the reason behind for the devotees, who are childless, worship at this temple by offering sweet pudding to the lord. They install an image of a snake God in the temple as a part of this worship and this process is called ‘Nagaprathishta’. Historians believe that some portions of the temple tower might also have been built by Jaffna kings, who had trade relations with the rulers of the region. The temple can be added in the list on the way to Rameswaram. The temple is now maintained by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of Tamil Nadu Government.