Jagad Rakshaka Perumal Temple, Thirukoodalur

The Jagad Rakshaka Perumal Temple, known locally as the Aduthurai Perumal Temple, stands at Vadakurangaduthurai (Thirukoodalur) on the Kumbakonam–Tiruvaiyaru road, four miles from Ayyampet. One of the 108 Divya Desams, it honours Vishnu as Jagad Rakshaka, 'protector of the world', and Lakshmi as Pushpavalli. Legend links it to Vishnu's Varaha avatar, which entered the earth to rescue the goddess Bhumi; a gap in the sanctum is believed to mark the earth's centre, where the gods gathered (koodal) to worship. King Ambarisha is believed to have built the temple, so the deity is also called Ambarisha Varadhar.

Attributed to the Medieval Cholas, with later Vijayanagara and Nayak work, the temple has a brick wall, a three-tier rajagopuram and a standing image of the deity beneath the Suddha Satwa Vimana, with shrines to Pushpavalli, Ramanuja, Andal and Garuda. The Ambarisha Ratha chariot, renovated by Rani Mangammal, was used until the 1940s, and a statue of the queen stands in the temple.