History of the place

King of birds, Jatayu fell down almost dead after his fight with Ravana abducting Mother Sita. While Lord Rama and Sri Lakshmana were in search of Her, Jatayu informed them of the happening. He shed his mortal coil begging the Lord to perform the last rites to him and grant darshan with Mother Sita. Lord Sri Rama had Jatayu by His right, lit the pyre and performed the rites. Unable to bear the heat of fire, Mother Sridevi moved to left of the Lord from right and Bhoodevi Thayar moved to the left from the right. Lord Rama shot an arrow and created a spring, now called as Jatayu Pushkarini to get water for the last rites. Thiru in Taml is an honorific prefix, Pul means bird and Kuzhi the pit. The place is thus name Thiru Pul Kuzhi - Thiruputkuzhi.

Saints who worshiped

Mangalasaasanam (hymns) by Thirumangai Azhwar. This is the 58th temple among the 108 divya desams.

Speciality of this temple

Lord Vijaya Raghava Perumal blesses the devotees with Jatayu on His lap. As this is the place where Lord Rama performed the last rites for Jatayu - the eagle. As a mark of honour to him, the flag post and the Balipeeta are outside the temple. The vimana is of Vijaya Veerakoti design. Mother is greatly praised by the devotees for Her grace and power of germinating even fried pulse. The custom followed here is that whoever prays for child boon has to take a dip in Jatayu Theertham, tie the fried and soaked pulse in their dress and goes to sleep at night. If the pulse is germinated in the morning, it indicates that the child boon granted. Yadava Prakasa, the Guru of Acharya Ramanjua lived here. There is a stone horse vahan in the temple with moving limbs, a wonder in Tamil sculpture. The sculptor after making this horse, vowed not to make one such till his death. As a mark of respect to the sculptor for his skill and determination, the Lord visits the street named after the sculptor on the 8th days of the Brahmmotsavam.

Pariharam

People pray for child boon. This is also one of the holy place to offer Tarpan to ancestors.People believe that performing tarpan to ancestors on the new moon day in this place would bring them double benefit, as Lord Rama performed last rites to Jatayu in this place.

Pariharam Procedure

Devotees perform Thirumanjanam to Mother Maragathavalli Thayar.