Dasavatara Perumal Agaram

Dasavatara Perumal, Agaram

Vaishnavite Temples - Thoothukudi

God

Anjael Perumal, facing east

Goddess

Sreedevi and Bhoodevi with processional deity Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal

Other Deities

Kanni Vinayaka, Pattabhirama with Lakshmana and Sita, Anjaneya, Vishwaksenar, Krishna with Rukmini and Sathyabhama

Dasavatara Perumal Agaram is a small east-facing temple where the main deity is Anjael Perumal. He is seen in a standing posture. The Dasavatara panel is a separate carving on a single panel of stone installed in the adjacent shrine. The Tamiraparani river runs in a beautiful area behind the west side of the temple.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Dasavatara Theertham section of Tamiraparani

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Arasamaram (Peepal tree – Ficus relegiosa)

History

Dasavatara Perumal Agaram is an old temple as is evident from the few inscriptions found on the outer wall of the sanctum sanctorum of the main deity Anjael Perumal. The details of the inscriptions are not available as of now. A part of the temple was in a dilapidated condition till some years back and has been completely renovated. Dasavatara Perumal Agaram finds mention as Manimahodaya Agraharam in Veda Vyasa’s Tamiraparani Mahatmaeyam. This village has been a place of Vedic Education in the ancient past and had many Bhagavatars (singers) and was hence, also called Bhagavatha Kshetram.

Legend

Mitrasaha, a local youth born to a brahmin couple here was fascinated by dance dramas of the epics and himself wanted to become a drama artist. He started creating stage shows of Lord Maha Vishnu’s Dasavatars and his fame spread far and wide. A king called Kungumangadam of Kashmir heard of his fame and requested him to come there and perform. The people there were so impressed by the stage shows that the King made him stay for some time. The King’s daughter Chandramalini fell in love with Mitrasaha and the King happily gave her in marriage to him. They together traveled to many places and in their old age settled back in Agaram and continued serving the Lord here at the old Perumal temple. One day Mitrasaha passed away and dejected Chandramalini decided to take her life by jumping off a rock into Tamiraparani. She was saved by an old man and brought ashore. When she regained consciousness, Perumal stood in front of her and said Anjael – never fear. The main deity’s name here changed after that. She was also blessed with the vision of the Lord’s Dasavatar. She understood her folly and continued to serve the lord here at Dasavatara Perumal Agaram as long as she lived. The day lord gave her the Dasavatar vision is celebrated grandly in Dasavatara Perumal Agaram as Dasavatara Jayanthi. Sages Agastya, Athri, Angirasar, Vasishta, Soma, Durvasa, Kabila, and others have worshiped the Lord here at Dasavatara Perumal Agaram.

Directions

Dasavatara Perumal Agaram is 14 kilometers east of Tirunelveli on the Thoothukudi Highway. Take a left into Agaram and go for about a kilometer to reach Dasavatara Perumal Agaram the temple.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is Tirunelveli.

Vaishnavite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples