Undhi Pootha Perumal Thondi

Undhi Pootha Perumal, Thondi

Vaishnavite Temples - Ramanathapuram District

God

Undhi Pootha Perumal, facing east

Goddess

Sreedevi and Bhoodevi along with main deity, facing east

Other Deities

Garuda, Baktha Anjaneya, Ramanujar, Krishna, Adisesha

Undhi Pootha Perumal Thondi is a small east-facing temple with an entrance gate on the east side. The temple is situated in a single Prakaram. The sanctum sanctorum is a beautiful structure with some intricate carvings on it.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

An inscription dating back to 1329 CE has been found here at Undhi Pootha Perumal Thondi recently in the Garuda shrine which mentions the Lord’s name as Puravuvari Vinnagara Perumal. This corresponds to the period of King Parakrama Pandya (regnal years 1315 to 1333 CE). The first and last lines of the 35 lines of inscriptions have been damaged. It mentions the land donation by one Thiruvarangarayan of Malainadu (Kerala) to the temple in a village called Sathi Eri. The name of the same village is mentioned in an inscription in the Thiruvadanai temple along with another village called Kadambakudi. Today there is no village called Sathi Eri and it is presumed that it could have faded away or been destroyed. It is also thought that the village could have existed near Kadambakudi. In the inscription in Undhi Pootha Perumal Thondi temple, the borders of the donated land and the land measures used are also mentioned. The temple is mentioned as Thirumerkovil and the main deity as Puravuvari Vinnagara Perumal. Puravuvari is a land tax system of the olden days and it is interesting to see the deity named so. A temple with a similar named main deity exists in Kallikudi in Madurai District. The name of the main deity has been changed to its present name sometime later.

Legend

It is believed that Lord Rama came here to Undhi Pootha Perumal Thondi to worship Lord Vishnu. At that time a bloom from the main deity’s navel is believed to have appeared and advised him to worship the Nava Pashaanam at Uppoor on his way to Sri Lanka via Rameswaram.

Directions

Undhi Pootha Perumal Thondi is about 50 kilometers north of Ramanathapuram via Devipatnam in the East Coast Road going towards Manalmelkudi.

Stay and Food

None locally except tea shops. The closest is Ramanathapuram.

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