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Tiruppullaani is located near Ramanathapuram. Tiru means
'sacred', Pula the great sage named Pula Maharshi and Ani means 'forest',
the sacred forest abode of Pula Maharshi. The other name of the place is "Pullaranyam"
(pull-shrub of grass, aranyam--forest: the forest of grass). This place is
known by a third name too, "Darbhasayanam" (darbha means sacred
grass and sayanam means a bed to rest on).
Darbhasayanam is one of the Sethu Stalams, on the coast of Tamil
Nadu, linked with the Ramayana. It alludes to the incident in Sri
Rama's life when he took rest on the sacred grass during his penance, for
three days and nights, in this particular place.
The Deities
The main deity worshipped here is Kalyana Jagannathan or Aadi Jagannathan
in a standing posture facing east and the Goddess worshipped here are
Padmasini and Kalyanavalli. There is a shrine of Lord Rama in the
Darbasayana pose, signifying his resting here and invoking Varuna for help
in crossing the ocean, enroute to Sri Lanka in search of Sita.
About The Temple
This temple with two Prakarams covers an area of about 1.5 acres and is
crowned with a 120 feet high Gopuram. In this temple the image of Sri
Vishnu, in the reclining posture, on his couch of Adi Sesha, is very
imposing to see. The place is rich with antiquities connected with divine
persons, sages and saints. The Ramanathapuram royal family has patronized
the temple.
Pullaranyam was a marshy land full of grass and Sri Rama chose a bed of
Darbha grass, which is held very sacred by all the Hindus. The grass is
used on all sacred occasions during the performance of propitiatory
rituals in honour of Gods and one's ancestors.
Hamsa Teertha
In front of the Peepal tree where Mahavishnu gave his darsan to Rishi
Pullar, there is a big tank, which is very holy. It is surrounded by a
number of hermitages. In this tank Sri Narayana assumed the shape of a
swan and gave Veda Upadesam to Brahma and hence it is called "Hamsa
Teertha" (Hamsa means Swan).
There lived in ancient times three mighty demons by name Mali, Sumali and
Malyavan. Of the three, Mali and Sumali were very cruel and they troubled
the hermits, Devas and others very much. In order to put an end to the
sufferings of the Devas and the hermits, Vishnu repaired on his Garuda to
slay them. By using the ordinary arrows he was not able to kill them.
So, he used Sudarsana Chakra, which did away with the Rakshasas (demons).
Since the Chakra became impure, Vishnu asked the Chakra to bathe in the
Hamsa Teertha (also spelt as Tirtha or Teertha) and wash away all its
sins. After the bath the Chakra returned to Vishnu's right hand. The tank
got the names of Chakra Teertha, Dharma Teertha and Varuna Teertha also.
Agastya Teertha
Sage Agastya once got very angry and made the mighty ocean flow into his
right palm and drank it off in a gulp. He installed a Teertha there and
took his bath in it. Then, for the sake of his forefathers, he offered
Pindapradana and performed Tarpana. From that day onwards, it is called "Agastya
Teertha".
Hiranya Teertha
It is on the western side of Chakra Teertha. On the banks of this,
Hiranya performed tapas and received powerful boons.
The Importance Of The Peepal Tree In Pullaranyam
There arose a famine, which lasted for twelve years. The Brahmins went
away to the fertile banks of the Ganges. Then, they went to river
Saraswati. Their saraswata was reciting the Yajurveda, the version of
which was different from that of the Brahmins. The Brahmins told that her
that the version was wrong. They took the case before Brahma. He was not
able to decide and prayed to Lord Vishnu for assistance. Lord Vishnu told
Brahma that the Peepal tree in Pullaranyam would point out the correct
version. During the recital, if the leaves did shake, then that text could
be deemed correct.
Accordingly, when the Brahmins recited the Veda, the leaves rustled, but
when Saraswati recited it, the leaves did not move at all. So, the text of
Saraswati was accepted as the correct one. This Peepal tree in Pullaranyam
is very sacred, whoever performs tapas under this tree gets salvation.
Pullar, Kan Kalavar, Tevalar and others performed penance under this tree
and were blessed with Moksha.
It is also believed that if people without child perform Nagapratishtha
under this Peepal tree, they would be blessed with children with long
lives. The Pradakshina round this Peepal tree wards off the worst sins.
Legends Connected With The Temple
The southern part of India in olden days was a vast shrubby jungle,
infested with demons, who were always a great menace to the saints and
sages in their pursuit after eternal truth. Sage Pula Maharshi started a
penance sitting under a Peepal tree, for the deliverance of people from
the persecutions of those Rakshasas. As a result, Mahavishnu appeared in
his vision in the form of Adi Jagannatha and declared that he (Vishnu), in
his subsequent avatar as Sri Rama, would annihilate the demons and the
wicked, and deliver the world from their cruelties. At the request of Pula
Maharshi, Mahavishnu also granted the boon by which he agreed to reside in
this sacred place and bless his devotees.
Since then, this place has become sacred and known as "Pullaranyam
Kshetram". Sri Rama in his search for his consort Sita and in his
effort to bridge the gulf to Lanka was perplexed how to overcome the
natural obstacle, the sea. He laid himself on the bed of the sacred grass
for three days and nights in deep meditation. In answer, Sri Adi
Jagannatha appeared before Sri Rama, handed him the weapon of victory,
called "Divya Chapa", and blessed him with success.
Adi Setu
Adi Setu, where Sri Rama commenced the Setubandhan, is three miles south
of this Kshetra. Sri Rama, on his return from Lanka and after the Linga
(also spelt as lingam) Pratishtha at Rameshwaram, visited Adi Setu to
bathe in the sea and ward off the evil effects of Brahmahatya committed by
his slaying of Ravana, the Brahmin. After visiting Adi Setu, Sri Rama
stopped his Pushpaka Vimanam (Lord Rama vehicle) at Darbhasayanam, to show
his consort Sita the place of his fast and penance and the place where he
received the divine weapon.
Once a hermit by name Tevalar, who was well versed in the Vedas,
performed tapas in this forest. One day seven Deva Kanyakas, who were
enamoured of the beauty of the place, played under the shades of trees and
bathed in the tank nearby, leaving their clothes on the bank. Then Tevalar
came there to take his bath. The Kanyakas, unmindful of the hermit,
continued their Jalakreeda (water-sport) without any dress on. The hermit,
getting offended with the Kanyakas, cursed them and they changed into
mortals.
The Kanyakas, however, begged of him to have mercy on them and save them
from the curse. Tevalar told them that there was a sage by name Pullar in
the forest. He was a devout Vishnubhakta. If they went to him, he would
indicate to them the manner of redemption. Hearing this, the Kanyakas went
to the hermitage of Pullar.
They related to him their past and present history and prayed to him to
save them from the curse. Pullar took pity on them and promised to help
them to regain their original status. He said that Mahavishnu would take
the Avatar of Sri Rama and if the Kanyakas would get darshan of him, they
would be absolved of the curse. The Kanyakas were anxiously waiting for
the arrival of Sri Rama.
On the northern side of Pullaranyam was the abode of Kanwa Maharshi. In
front of it flows a holy river. The hermit used to bathe in the river and
pray to Lord Vasudeva for divine bliss. Sage Kanwa heard a divine voice
that, when Raghava (Lord Rama) came to the forest, his desires would be
fulfilled. From that day onwards, the hermit too was anxiously waiting for
Sri Raghava.
In due course Rama with his army of monkeys arrived at this place. He
chanced to see the seven Kanyakas, who immediately got released from their
curse and turned into Deva Kanyas again. A hunter who accidentally came
there saw Lord Rama and received his blessings.
Rama asked him to turn the place into a hamlet, construct a temple in
that forest and watch the bridge Setu. Sri Rama gave the name of "Setu
Palaka" to the hunter.
The Festival
In commemoration of Sri Adi Jagannatha's darshan to Sage Pula and Sri
Rama, a great festival is celebrated in the month of Panguni (March-April)
and Brahmotsava is conducted in the month of Chithirai (April-May) to
commemorate the two visits of Sri Rama and the incarnation of Maha Vishnu
or Adi Jagannatha.
Rail:The nearest railway station is at
Ramanathapuram and from the station there are regular buses to the temple.
Road: Tiruppullaani is a small town, which is well connected by
road with the important towns and cities of the state.
Accommodation is available at the moderate class and small budgeted hotels in Ramanathapuram.
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