Tiruputkuzhi - Vijayaraghava Perumal
Ambalam

Lying between the tributaries - Polar and Vegavathi, and at close quarters of Kanchipuram, this ancient thirtha kshetra perpetrates the monumental act of Sri Rama's performing funeral obsequies to Jatayu, the matchless bird fighter, who caused insurmountable difficulties to nasakantha during the latter's abduction of Mother Sita. Its mythologoical name is Gridharajapura and the archamurti Sri Rama is called Vijayaraghava perumal. The temple endowed lavishly by eminent rulers belonging to the celebrated dynasties of Pandya, Vijayanagara, Chola, besides many feudatory lords. It is a big temple with sturdy compound walls and a broad Mahadwara adorned with a three tiered tower, garbhagriha, mukhamandap and many minishrines - for Maragatavalli Tayaru, Vedanta Desikar, Ramanujar, Manavala mahamuni, Alagiasingar etc.

The mulavirat Sri Rama in the name of Vijaya Raghava Perumal appears in a characteristic posture of sitting to performing funeral rites, flanked by Sri De vi and Bhudevi to his sides. The Jatayu Pushkarini materialised with the arrow tip of Sri Rama and filled with Ganges water by Varuna has curative effects and fulfils the desires of the bathers, like sterile woman giving birth to children, after doing the vratha in the prescribed manner etc. Ile sthalapurana embodies fantastic accounts of emancipation got by the visitors, who stayed there one night atleast. Quite possible; for nothing stands in the way of devotion bringing heaven down as protrayed in the devotional literature. The Tayaiu here is very powerful and compassionate in giving santanaprapti to barren couple. She is popularly known as Kalpavriksha -the celestial tree giving boons plenty to the deserving. Agamic puja is offered and annual festival celebrated with great gusto.

It lies about 8 km off Kancheepuram in Tamilnadu, commanding bus facilities.

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