Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple

The Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple at Thiruputkuzhi, in Thondai Nadu near Kanchipuram, enshrines the Lord as Vijayaraghava Perumal, the victorious scion of the Raghu line, that is, Sri Rama, and is counted among the 108 Divya Desams sung by the Alwars. The place is intimately associated with the sacred legend of Jatayu, the noble vulture-king of the Ramayana who gave his life striving to rescue Sita from the demon Ravana. According to the sthala purana, it was here that Rama, journeying in search of His consort, came upon the mortally wounded Jatayu and, honouring the bird’s supreme sacrifice, performed his final rites with His own hands. The very name Thiruputkuzhi is understood in tradition to recall this sacred episode of the bird, and the Lord is worshipped here in a posture associated with the grace He bestowed upon Jatayu, granting him liberation. The shrine thus stands as a place where the Lord’s compassion toward even a bird is forever commemorated. Thiruputkuzhi was sanctified by hymn through Thirumangai Alwar, the last of the twelve Alwars, whose pasurams in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham celebrate this kshetra and secure its place among the canonical Divya Desams. By the grace of the Alwar’s verses and the abiding memory of Jatayu’s devotion, pilgrims of the Srivaishnava tradition come to Thiruputkuzhi to take darshan of Vijayaraghava Perumal and to contemplate the Lord’s boundless mercy toward His devotees.

Festivals

At Thiruputkuzhi, the Vijayaraghava Perumal temple traditionally observes the Srivaishnava festival cycle with its own special associations to Sri Rama and the bird Jatayu, who is venerated here. The annual Brahmotsavam, with processions of the Lord on various vahanas, is the foremost celebration. Rama Navami, marking the advent of Sri Rama, is observed with particular devotion at this Rama-centred shrine. Vaikunta Ekadasi in Margazhi and the accompanying Adhyayana Utsavam, during which the Nalayira Divya Prabandham is chanted, are kept faithfully. Pavithrotsavam, performed for the sanctification of the year’s worship, along with Pongal, Tamil New Year, Sri Jayanthi and the commemorative days of the Azhwars and Acharyas, completes the devotional calendar of the temple.

Location & Access

The Vijayaraghava Perumal temple is situated at Thiruputkuzhi, a village in the Thondai Nadu region a short distance to the west of Kanchipuram in northern Tamil Nadu, lying along the route towards Vellore. Kanchipuram and the wider area are well served by road and rail, with Chennai as the nearest major city and transport hub. The temple generally observes morning and evening darshan hours like most Vishnu temples, with a midday closure. Verify current darshan timings and travel details with the temple or official sources before visiting.