Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple

The Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple at Thiruppullani, in the Pandya Nadu country near the coast of Ramanathapuram, enshrines the Lord as Adi Jagannatha, here revered in a special reclining form as Darbhasayana Rama (Dharbasayana Ramar), the Lord who lay upon a bed of darbha (kusa) grass, alongside a form as Pattabhi Ramar and with his consort Padmasini Thayar. It is counted among the 108 Divya Desams sung in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. According to the sthala purana, this is the sacred shore associated with the Ramayana, where Sri Rama, seeking passage across the ocean to Lanka, lay in penance upon a seat of darbha grass facing the sea to petition Varuna, the lord of the waters, to grant a way across; this act of “Dharbasayanam” gives the temple and village their alternative names. The temple’s founding is traditionally placed in the Medieval Chola period, with construction possibly beginning as early as the late 8th century CE, and further building and endowment recorded under later Cholas, Pandyas, the Madurai Nayaks, and the Sethupathi rulers of Ramnad; surviving inscriptions date to 1305, 1518 and 1528. Built in Cholan Dravidian style with a five-tiered, 115-foot rajagopuram facing east, the temple’s Chakra Theertham serves as its tank, and among its notable artefacts is a rare 13th-century metal image, from the Pandya-Vijayanagara period, depicting Krishna dancing upon a serpent. The temple’s glory was sung by Thirumangai Alwar in twenty verses of his Periya Tirumoli, enshrining this abode among the sacred shrines of the Pandya region. The reclining and standing forms of the Lord here, together with the strong Ramayana association, give Thiruppullani a distinctive place among the southern Divya Desams, drawing devotees who come to worship the Lord who, though the sovereign of all worlds, humbled himself upon a bed of grass for the sake of dharma.

Festivals

At this coastal shrine of Adi Jagannatha Perumal at Thiruppullani, the Panguni Brahmotsavam (for Adi Jagannathar) and the Rama Navami Utsavam during the Tamil month of Chittirai are the major annual celebrations, reflecting the temple’s strong Ramayana associations. Vaikunta Ekadasi in the Tamil month of Margazhi is observed with the chanting of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, and Krishna Jayanthi, Pongal and Deepavali are also kept. Pavithrotsavam, performed for the ritual purification of the year’s worship, and the Float festival (Theppotsavam) on the temple tank are also traditionally kept.

Location & Access

The temple stands at Thiruppullani, a coastal village in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, about 10 km from Ramanathapuram town and 64 km from Rameswaram, on the route toward Rameswaram. Ramanathapuram serves as the nearest town with road and rail links, while Madurai is the larger city and transport hub for the area. The temple follows six daily rituals: Ushathkalam (7 AM), Kalasanthi (8 AM), Uchikalam (12 PM), Sayarakshai (6 PM), Irandamkalam (7 PM) and Ardha Jamam (10 PM). It is maintained and administered by the Ramanathapuram Samasthan Devasthanam, with accounts audited by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Verify current darshan timings and travel details with the temple or official sources before visiting.