Srivaikuntam Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal Temple, also known as ‘Srivaikuntam Temple’ is one of the ‘108 Divya Desam Temples’ dedicated to Lord Vishnu and also one of the ‘Nava Tirupathi Temples’ situated in Srivaikuntam for about 30 km from Tirunelveli city of Tamilnadu, and it is also called as ‘Kailasapuram’. Nava Tirupathi Temples is a set of nine temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located on the either sides of Thamiraparani River in Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli route in the state of Tamilnadu, India.
Sri Vaikundanatha Perumal Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Vaikuntapathi Swami, is located on Tiruchendur road in Srivaikuntam about 37 km from Thirunelveli. The idol of the main deity (Moolavar), also known by the names Kalla Piraan and Paal Pandiyan is kept alone in Nindra Thirukkolam facing east. This idol with the Gadha (a weapon) in one of hand along with the Sangu and Chakkaram in the other hand is in standing position and the Serpent God, Adisesh unfurls his hood over Vishnu. Vaikundanatha Perumal is one of the 108 Divya Desam Temple of Lord Vishnu
The temple gopuram which is 110 feet in height and 500 feet in width can be viewed from the Tamaraibarani bridge. Several poojas are held in this temple and the most important among them is the pooja done by childless couples. It is believed that if the childless couple consume the ghee for 48 nights, that has been offered at the deity's feet, they will be blessed with children.
A unique feature of the temple is that every year on two days (in the period of April-May and October-November) Sun's rays falls directly on Lord Vaikuntanathan. It is believed that this temple was used as a fort in the fight between the legendary freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman and the British in the 1800s.
Location - Tirunelveli