Srivilliputhur Andal Temple /Vadapathra Sayana Perumal Temple/ வட பத்ர சயன பெருமாள் சன்னதி /Srivilliputtur Arulmigu Andal Sametha Rangamannar Temple /ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர் அருள்மிகு ஆண்டாள் சமேத ரங்கமன்னார் கோயில், Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Vadapathra Sayana Perumal Temple at Srivilliputhur was a part of “Tirunelveli Heritage Walk”, organised by the Culture Circuits, from 11^th to 13^th July 2025.

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This is the birthplace of Periyalwar and Andal. This is one of the Divya Desam temples of Pandya Nadu, one of the 108 Divya Desam. Mangalasasanam was done by Periyalwar (133) and Andal (549).

பல்லாண்டென்று பவித்திரனைப் பரமேட்டியைச் சார்ங்கம் என்னும்

வில் ஆண்டான் தன்னை வில்லிபுத்தூர் விட்டுசித்தன் விரும்பிய சொல்

நல் ஆண்டு என்று நவின்று உரைப்பார் நமோ நாராயணாய என்று

பல் ஆண்டும் பரமாத்மனைச் சூழ்ந்திருந்து ஏத்துவர் பல்லாண்டே

…….. பெரியாழ்வார் அருளிச்செய்த திருப்பல்லாண்டு

மின்னனைய நுண்ணிடையார் விரிகுழல்மேல் நுழைந்தவண்டு

இன்னிசைக் கும்வில்லிபுத்தூர் இனிதமர்ந்தாய் உன்னைக்கண்டார் என்னநோன்பு நோற்றாள்கொலோ இவனைப்பெற்ற வயிறுடையாள் என்னும்வார்த்தை யெய்துவித்த இருடீகேசா முலையுணாயே (133)

…….. பெரியாழ்வார் திருமொழி, இரண்டாம் பத்து

மென்னடை யன்னம் பரந்துவிளையாடும் 

        வில்லிபுத் தூருறை வான்றன் 

பொன்னடி காண்பதோ ராசயி னாலென் 

        பொருகயற் கண்ணிணை துஞ்சா 

இன்னடி சிலோடு பாலமு தூட்டி 

        எடுத்தவென் கோலக் கிளியை 

உன்னொடு தோழமை கொள்வன் 

        குயிலே உலகளந் தான்வரக் கூவாய் (549)

……… ஆண்டாள் (மன்னு பெரும்புகழ்குயிற் பத்து).

VADAPATHRA SAYANA PERUMAL TEMPLE.

Moolavar  : Sri Vadabathrasayee

Consort    : Sri Kothai Nachiyar

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 12-tier Rajagopuram (192 feet tall), on the northeast corner of the temple complex.

Koorathalwar Sannidhi is on the left side after the Rajagopuram. After the second level entrance, sannidhis of Periyalwar, Ramanujar, and Nammalvar. In that Periyalwar sannidhi is with balipeedam and dwajasthambam.

Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudan are in front of the main temple. At the ground level, Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar is in the sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum.

The upper level is dedicated to Sri Vadapathra Sayana Perumal. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In the Sanctum sanctorum, Vadapatharasayi is in a reclining posture, and his consorts, Sridevi, Bhudevi, sage Markandeya, Villi, and Puttan are at his feet. Sage Bhrigu stands near his head, and another sage is near his feet. The Peepal tree, whose leaf is known as Vatapatram, on which Vishnu is said to rest in the form of a baby during Krishna Avatar, is at his head, behind Bhrigu. Images of Panchamurtis - Tumburu, Narada, Sanatkumaras, Kinnara Mithuna, Sun, and Moon are all around. Garudan, Senai Mudalvar, Lakshmi Varahar, Dasavatara Sannidhi, Alwars and Achariyars, and Chankrathalwar are in this temple.  

Dasavatar sannidhi

ANDAL TEMPLE

Moolavar: Andal, Sri Rangamannar, and Garudan

Thayar temple is on the southwest corner of the temple complex. The Nandha vanam temple with Andal shrine is between Vadapathra Sayana Perumal Temple and Andal Temple.

The temple faces east with a mandapam and a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are after the Rajagopuram. In the sanctum sanctorum, Maha Vishnu as Rangamannar is with Andal and Garudalwar. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In praharam, Senai Mudhalvar and Lakshmi Narayana.

Nandhavanam Temple entrance

ARCHITECTURE

VADAPATHRA SAYANA PERUMAL TEMPLE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Maha Vishnu’s sayana posture. Maha Vishnu is from south to north, keeping his head on the South side, sayana kolam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of the Vishnu Kantha style, featuring square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with madhalai, kapotam is like a kodungai with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The vimanam above prastaram was constructed with bricks. The Salakara vimanam is of 5 tiers, which includes adi tala. Vadapathra Sayana Perumal’s vimana is called Vimalakuthi Vimanam. A wooden mandapa is on the upper level, in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

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ANDAL TEMPLE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is square in shape.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of the Vishnu Kantha style, featuring square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with madhalai, kapotam like a kodungai with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The vimanam above prastaram was constructed with bricks and covered with golden plates. Andal’s Thirupavai is inscribed on the vimana Golden plates. The vimanam is of 2 talas, Samsana Vimanam.

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HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since this is one of the 108 Divya Desam temples, Mangalasasanam was done by 9^th 9th-century Periyalwar; hence, the temple might have existed from the 8^th to the 9^th century, built during the Pandya period, and later received contributions from Chozha, Pandyas, Vijayanagaras, and Travancore Kings. The inscriptions recorded start from the 10th-century Chozha period.

It is believed that the original structure was constructed by Tribuvana Chakravarthy Konerinmai Kondan Kulasekaran, and the Andal temple, and a 194-foot Rajagopura was built by Barathi Rayar of the Vijayanagar king, 15^th to 16^th century.

Vira Pandya’s period 13+1 reign year inscription (A. R. No. 548 of 1926), on the south wall of the mandapa in the Perumal temple, records that the sabha of Villipputtur, a brahmadeya in Malli-nadu, which had met in the temple of Tirukkarrali-Mahadeva, sold some lands newly constituted into a hamlet called Agara-dhanma-mangalam, to a certain official named Satrubhayakara-Muvendavelan alias Velan-Paranjoti of Perungulam in Tiruvaludi-valanadu, for instituting some charities in the two temples of Jalasayanattu-kkidandarulina-Paramasvamin and Tirukkarrali-Mahadevar in the village.

Among the boundaries of the village are mentioned the names of Marapputtur, Irambadu, and Srikantamangalam. Satrubhayankara was evidently a title borne by a Pandya king, possibly Vira-Pandya himself. The penalty to be imposed on those who obstruct this charity is specified, namely, in the case of an individual, it was 50 pon, but if the Sabha itself was at fault, the fine was 500 pon.

Thirumalai Nayaka (1623–1659 CE) and Rani Mangammal (1689–1706 CE), their contributions are more compared than other Kings. Thirumalai Nayak installed choultaries, temple tanks, paintings, and golden towers inside the temple. The sculptures in the mandapa leading to the Andal temple were also built by him.

Until 1850 CE, the Sri Andal temple was under the care of the king of Travancore. During modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu

This is a very interesting inscription written in the form of a letter sent by Lord Ranganatha to Kodai, the daughter of Periyalvar. The object of the inscription is to record the gift to Kodai of a village named Tidiyan alias Tiruvaranganallur, at Muttanadu in Madurai Mandalam, which belonged to the territory of Urangavillidasan alias Mahabalivanatarayan and the property of Lord Ranganatha.

While narrating the subject, it has been drafted as such, with the expression of Kodai and Ranganatha. The feelings of Kodai were dramatically told in the words of "Nalayiradivya prabhanta", particularly in Andal's Nachchiyar Tirumoli. While Ranganatha is seated on the Ariyarayan cot in Cheranaivenran mandapa under the canopy named Sundarapandya, including celestial gods (umbar), Tumburu, and Narada, a group of assistants of his temple came and told him about the arrival of Kodai's assistants, including Ramanuja Udaiyarkal, with gifts and a letter to him. After accepting them and realising her feelings, he sent back His assurance of affection towards her with many gifts such as his palanquin, umbrella, jewels, clothes, and perfumes from the village mentioned above.

This inscription reveals the taste and the enjoyment of the literature; they were quoted dramatically while drafting the official records.

Uranga-villi-dasan alias Mahabali Vanadharayar’s (சாசனம் – 137, D. 3226-1, ARE, No. 584 of 1926) inscription is on the south wall of the mandapa in front of the central shrine in the Andal temple. The inscriptions record that the mahamandapa of the temple of Sudikkodutta-Nachchiyar was built by Sundarattol-udaiya Sarvabhauma Mahabali-Banadhiraja.

Uranga-villi-dasan alias Mahabali Vanadharayar’s 1454 CE, March 13, inscription on the same wall, records the gift of the village Tidiyan alias Tiruvaranga-nallur in Mutta-nadu, a sub-division of Maduraimandalam, for the expenses of the kitchen (adukkalaip-puram) of the temple.

This record is of peculiar interest.

It purports to be the pranayapatrika which god Ranganatha sent to Kodai, daughter of Vishnuchitta of Puduvai (Srivilliputtur), while he was seated on the cot called Ariyarayan-kattil under the Sundara-Pandyan canopy in the pavilion called Seranai-venrān-mandapa at Arangapperunagar (Srirangam or more probably Vadaperuńkoyil at Srivilliputtur). It commences with a long preamble relating to the story of the divine love of Sudikkodutta Nachchiyar towards god, wherein many expressions from the Tiruppavai and the Nachchiyar-Tirumoli of the Nalayirapprabandham have been introduced to make a connected description, in her own words, of the yearnings of the love-lorn maid Andal towards her divine lover. "The phrases extracted are from the 7th, 10th, and 13th pattu of the Tirumoli, and in some cases, half and even full verses have been bodily incorporated in the preamble and connected together by the word eurum. 

As instances may be cited, the second half of verse 8 of the 13th pattu, and verse 8 of the 11th pattu, which are quoted in full, as they are from the Nachchiyar-Tirumoli. This introductory portion closes with the idea that, pleased with the devoted love of the lady-saint, god Ranganatha ordered that several honours equivalent to those shown to him should also be bestowed on her, and that, for this purpose, a gift was made of the village called “Tidiyan".  Although this donation has been stated to have been made by the god himself, according to a recognised convention prevalent in some temples, it is evident that the donor was the Bana chieftain Urangavillidasan.

Tirumalirunjolai ninrar alias Mavali Vanadharayar’s, (சாசனம் – 140, D. 3226-3, No. 578 of 1926). Year 1477 CE, May 16, inscription on the same wall (below the above inscription), records the gift of the village Mangudi alias Sundarattol-nallur in Tiraiļil-parru, a sub-division of Viranarayana-valanadu, for the expenses of worshipping and conducting the festival of Sudikkodutta-Nachchiyar in the month of Adi every year. The gift was made in the temple of god Alagar.

The Pandya king Parakrama Pandyadeva’s (Sasanam- 141, D. 3226-4, ARE No. 580 of 1926), 1546 CE, June 18, inscription records that one ma of land, a house-site, and some portion of the cooked offerings daily, were given under the orders of king Parakrama Pandyadeva to Kaalinga-rayan-Ulagudaiya perumal, for service as a clerk in the temple. This record also contains, in the preamble, phrases extracted from Nachchiyar Tirumoli.

Jatavarman alias Tribhuvana chakravartin Konerinmai-kondan perumal Vira Pandyadeva (சாசனம் -142, D. 3226-6, ARE No. 581 of 1926), 2+14^th reign year incomplete inscription, records a gift of the village Vaiyur Narappuļam in Sengudi-nadu for providing offerings to the goddess Sudikkodutta Nachchiyar. As read by the Epigraphical department, the name of the gift village is Vayyur Nallamaram, and the record also provides for feeding 12 brahmanas daily in the temple.

Pandya king Jatavar-man alias Tribhuvana chakravartin Kulasekhara deva, who restored the olden times, having a portion of the Sanskrit prasasti 'Samasta bhuvanaikavira' etc., (சாசனம் – 143, D. 3226-7), 1532-33 CE incomplete & damaged inscription on the lower Kuradu to the east of the entrance to the Sannidhi, records the tax-free gift of a devadana village in Anda nadu, as Tiruvidaiyattam to the temple of Nachchiyar.

Pandya king Tribhuvana chakravartin Konerinmaikondan Jaţavarman Kulasekhara deva, who restored the olden times with the prasasti “Samasta bhuvanaikavira” etc (சாசனம் – 145, D. 3226-9), 1534 CE, May 8^th inscription on the northern side to the east, records the gift of land for food offerings to the goddess Sudikkodutta Nachchiyar of Srivilliputtür in Tiruvillinadu.

Pandya king Maravarman alias Tribhuvana chakravartin Vira Pandyadeva’s 2+19th reign year incomplete inscription (சாசனம் – 147, D. 3226-11), in the same place as the temple records some gift for the morning worship of the goddess Sudikkodutta Nachchiyar and the god Pallikondaruliya parama-sivamin.

Vijayanagra king Vira Pratapa Sadasivadeva Maharaya’s 1550 CE, November 9^th reign inscription (சாசனம் – 1497, D. 3226-13, ARE No. 579 of 1925), on the south wall of the mandapa in front of the central shrine. Incomplete records of the Erama Nayaka, son of Kittama-Nayaka of the Yadava gotra in Adamanglam, an independent village in Pangaļa nadu, a sub-division of Tiruvannamalai Devamandalam, made the gift of Puliyanguļam midway between Nilaiyur and Kappalur, within his jurisdiction on the occasion of Uttanadvadasi for the merit of his mother Desammal, to meet the expenses of providing offerings to the goddess Sudikkodutta Nachchiyar.

Vijayanagara king Virapratapa Vira Sadasivadeva Maharaya’s, 1550 CE inscription (சாசனம் – 150, D. 3226-14, ARE No. 571 of.1926), on the north wall of the mandapa in front of the central shrine, records the gift by Peddurasa, son of Haritalapriya Apparas'a of the Kasyapa gora, of the village Perra rendal in the Kambikkudi-Nangur-sirmai, which had been given him as Umbalige-sirmai by Vitthalaiya dēva Maharaya. The gift was made on the Uttanadvadasi day, for the merit of the donor's mother, Basavammai-deviyar, for offerings and worship in the temple of Sudikkodutta Nachchiyar.

Pandya king Jatavarman alias Tri-bhuvana chakravartin Konernmaikondan Perumā! Kulasekharadeva alias Parakrama Pandyadeva, son of Abhirama Pandyadeva’s 2+ [2] nd, 1546 CE reign year inscription (சாசனம் – 161, D. 3226-25, ARE No. 538 of 1926), on the west wall of the central shrine in the Perumal temple, records the gift of the taxes on certain lands in Tirumallinadu for the expenses of conducting bath and worship, of providing offerings and burning perpetual lamps in the temples of god Parama Svamin, who is pleased to reside in the Vada perunkoyil and goddess Sudikkodutta Nachchiyar at Srivilliputtur, on the day of Mrigasirsha, the natal star of the king.

The Travancore king Sankara Narayana, Venru mankonda Bhutalavira Vira Udayamarttandavarman of Jayatunganadu, the senior (Muttavar) of Tiruppappur’s (சாசனம் -163 - D. 3226-26, ARE No. 540 of 1926), Kollam 709, 1534 CE, July 16^th reign inscription on the south wall of the same, records that the king, while staying in the house of Saivasikhamani Bhatar at Valliyur in Nattarruppokku, made a gift of the villages Sattipallam and Pirantakanallur for conducting the service called Viramarttandan Sandi and the special festival on the day of Svati, in the temple of the goddess Sudikkodutta Nachchiyar at Srivilliputtur, and for feeding 33 brahmaņas daily in the mathia called Viramarttandan-matham alias Tiruvengadattan-matham.

Tribhuvana chakravartin Konerinmaikondan’s (சாசனம் -170 - D. 3236-33, ARE, No.533 of 1926), 23^rd reign year & 80^th day, inscription on the north wall of the same shrine, records the gift of the brahmadeya village of Srivilliputtur in Tirumalli-nadu, dividing it into 122 shares, giving one share each to 108 brahmaņas learned in the Vedas and 14 more shares to men proficient in Maha-bharata, Jyotisham, Vaidyam, etc., and other servants. It is also mentioned in the beginning that it is a copy of an older inscription found engraved on Antaralapatti to the west of the Senai Mudaliyar temple.

Tribhuvana chakravartin Vira Pandyadeva’s 2+18th reign year inscription (சாசனம் -180 - D. 3226-45, ARE No. 525 of 1926), on the south wall of the central shrine and maha mandapam in the Vaidyanathes'vara temple, records an order declaring as devadana 10 ma of land in Karunguļam in Venbaikkudi nadu (which had already been endowed for conducting the service called Srīvalavan sandi).

Madurai Nayaka ruler Visvanantha Nayaka Virappa Nayaka-Krishnappa Nayaka’s inscription with many gaps (சாசனம் – 190 - D.3226-55 No. 593 of 1926), on the south wall of the central shrine in the Krishna temple, records the construction of the temple for (Krishna) with Rukmini and Satyabhama.

From the Epigraphical report, it is learnt that the cyclic year was Yuva and that the record registers the gift of the village Tiruvenkada Samudram to the god Krishna, in the temple. 

Ref:

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume –XIV
2. Select Inscriptions, Page 241.
3. தென்னிந்திய கோயில் சாசனங்கள் பாகம்-I. (Thenninthiya Koil Sasanagal Volume – I)
4. Ashta bandhana Maha Samprokshanam was conducted on 20^th January 2016.

LEGENDS

The Villi and Kandan went hunting in the forest. They were separated/lost their way without knowing the direction in the thick forest. In the process of hunting, Kandan was killed by a Tiger. Villi searched Kandan, tired, and slept under a tree. Sri Maha Vishnu came in his dream and informed that Kandan was killed by the tiger and attained moksha. Maha Vishnu also told his position as Vada Pathra Sayanar on a banyan tree leaf. Since Villi constructed this temple and the place is called Srivilliputhur.

Periyalvar, alias Vishnuchittar, was an ardent devotee of Maha Vishnu, and he used to make a garland for Vishnu every day. Since he didn’t have a child, he prayed to Maha Vishnu. Periyalwar’s prayer was answered in the form of a Girl child under a Tulsi plant in the nandavanam. Periyalwar, named Kothai, has become an ardent devotee of Krishna. She used to wear the garland made by Periyalwar, without his knowledge, and give it to adorn Maha Vishnu. Priyalwar later came to know this, highly upset over his daughter’s behaviour, and scolded her. That night, Maha Vishnu came in his dream, telling him that he liked the garland worn by Kothai. Hence called “Soodi Kodutha Sudarkodi”. Hence, Kothai was called Andal.

Later, Andal was taken to Srirangam in a Palanquin. Ranganatha of Srirangam came in the form of a King / Rajah, Maha Vishnu is being called Rangamannar. Kothai, alias Andal, later merged with Maha Vishnu. Periyalwar has become the father-in-law of Maha Vishnu.  It is believed that Andal was the incarnation of Bhudevi.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Aadi Pooram, Saturdays, all days in Margazhi, 9 days Chitrotasavam, Vasantha utsavam, Nammalwar Utsavam, Periyalwar Utsavam, 10 days Chariot Utsavam in Aadi, Avani 7 days Periyalwar Thirupavitra utsavam, Krishna Jayanthi, Puratasi 11 days Periya Perumal Utsavam, Aippasi Unjal Utsavam, Karthigai Chokkapanai & Thirukarthigai, Margazhi Ennai kappu, Pagal Pathu, Masi Masi Magam, 3 days Theppotsavam, and 10 days Andal & Rangamannar Thirukalyana Utsavam. 

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TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Temple website:

https://svpr.co.in/andal-temple/

HOW TO REACH

The temple is 2 km from Srivilliputhur Railway Station, 12 km from Rajapalayam, 21 km from Thiruthangal & Sivakasi, 77 km from Madurai, and 101 km from Tirunelveli.

The nearest Railway Station is Srivilliputhur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Koorathalwar sannidhi entrance

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--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---