Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thiruppullani

The Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple is in Thiruppullani, a village about 10 km from Ramanathapuram and 64 km from Rameswaram. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, with Vishnu worshipped as Adi Jagannatha and Lakshmi as Padmasini. Legend says Rama lay on darbha grass here while praying to the ocean god for a way to Lanka, which gave the place both its names, Thiruppullani and Dharbasayanam. The temple is believed to date from the late 8th century, with later additions under the Cholas, Pandyas, Madurai Nayaks and the Sethupathis of Ramnad, whose successors still act as hereditary trustees.

An east-facing five-tiered gopuram leads to the seated Adi Jagannatha with Sridevi and Bhudevi, a separate shrine for Padmasini, and a shrine to Rama reclining. A metal image shows Krishna dancing on a snake. Childless couples offer snake images and receive sweet payasam, recalling the pudding that led to Rama's birth. Inscriptions mention Arab pearl and pepper traders, and the main festivals are Panguni Brahmotsavam and Rama Navami.