Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple, Thiruputkuzhi

Thiruputkuzhi is a small temple town some 7 miles west of Kanchipuram, half a kilometre from Baluchetti Chattiram on the Chennai–Vellore highway, and it is known for its Vijayaraghava Perumal temple. One of the 108 Divya Desams, the temple is dedicated to Vijayaraghavaswamy; inscriptions show it was built by the Pandya kings in the 13th century. Margathavalli Thayar has a separate temple, and there is a shrine to Ramanuja.

Legend ties the place to the Ramayana. After Ravana carried Sita off, the vulture Jatayu fought him and fell with his wings cut; Rama and Lakshmana found him dying here, heard his account and Rama performed his funeral rites. Jatayu belonged to the pul (bird) family and was buried in a kuzhi (pit), giving the name Thiruputkuzhi, and the deity is shown in the form in which he performed those rites. The pool where Jatayu fell is called Jatayu Theertham.