Sundararaja Perumal, Keelasevalpatti, Sivaganga

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Sundararaja Perumal	Ambal / Thayar:	Sundaravalli Thayar
Deity:	Perumal	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Keelasevalpatti	District:	Sivaganga
Maps from (click):	Current location	Karaikudi (22 km)	Pudukkottai (32 km)
	Tiruchirappalli (84 km)	Madurai (84 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

At a very short distance from the Sundareswarar temple in Keelasevalpatti, is this small but beautiful temple for Vishnu as Sundararaja Perumal. The temple is relatively recent, about 400-500 years old, and so does not have a history or sthala puranam of its own.

That said, the temple is beautifully laid out, and presents an stunning sight from the inside, featuring art, architecture and some artefacts such as old brass vessels, which are used for tirumanjanam of Perumal, even today.

While the temple faces east, the entrance is from the south, where one is first met by Vinayakar (who is noted as such, and not as Thundikkai Azhvar). The ardha mandapam leads to the elevated garbhagriham, both of which are ornately carved from granite and feature pillars with various sculptures, including from Vishnu’s Dasavataram. The roof and upper part of the pillars are also painted with bright vegetable dye, again portraying scenes from the Dasavataram and the puranams.

The moolavar – Sundararaja Perumal – is in the garbhagriham in amarndha kolam, while the utsavar is in nindra kolam. There are separate shrines for Sundaravalli Thayar and Andal. There is a separate south-facing shrine for Rama and Sita with Lakshmana, as well as others for Vishwaksena and azhvars.

The temple is maintained very well by the bhattar on a day-to-day basis, and is administered by the Nagarathar community who are also responsible for its overall upkeep.