Tiruvilliputtur - Vatapatrasayi Temple

Pure devotion can win anything, say, even the hand of God and enables bhaktas merging in that Highest HIM. This is exemplified here by this temple town. Of the eighteen highly venerated Vaishnavasthalas, Srivilliputtur takes pride of place for, it is the birth place of two illustrious Alwars - the most worshipful Perialwar and his adorable daughter Andal, who lived- and adored the Lord with unprecedented devotion. Perialwar immortalised the beauty and glory of this kshetra in several songs, that bring out its colourful environs, dotted with flower gardens, orchards and crystal clear water ponds. It is this place where learned Veda pandits dwelt, and to be born here, one has to do great penance, says the Alwar, and ends that manava or deva, if he does not worship here will be deemed inert. Sage Manduka attained Daiva Sakshatkara. It is here the famous Tiruppavai prayer hymns was authored by Andal along with other songs that have adorned the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. And these very songs are sung in Tamil Nadu temples during Margali month even today. They embody an earnest prayer to the Lord to bless the singers with worthy, virtuous life-partners to lead an exemplary life. Andal sang these devotion-charged hymns with her mates, who regularly offered worship in the temple early in the mornings. She worshipped Lord Ranganatha with unparalleled piety, conceiving him as her husband and ultimately merged into his murti at Srirangam. It is believed that she is an incarnation of Mahalakshmi, found as a lovely baby in the holy garden of Perialwar, who brought her up as his daughter. She is ayoniya. The temple built in the Vesara architectural style possesses all the essential parts and they axe imposing in stature and vast in dimensions. The archamurti in recumbent posture draped in gorgeous dress and decorated with glittering jewels affords soul-lifting experience on entering and standing opposite him. There are very many hoary traditions introduced and continued for over centuries due to visitation by illustrious Pravaktas, Acharyas, Alwars etc. Samsana Vimana adorns the garbha griha and the thirtha is called Tirumukkalam.

It lies 70 km off Madurai of Tamil Nadu and accessible by bus.

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