ThiruppuLLam BoothanguDi divya dEsam

Valvil Raman

Goddess poTrAmaraiyAL

Location: This temple is located 10 km from KumbakONam in ThanjAvUr district between the
rivers KAvEri and KoLLiDam. In close vicinity there are some other divya dEsams. It is also
proximal to a village called MaNDanguDi, which is the birthplace of toNDaraDippoDi AzhwAr.
The temple is under the administration of ahObila maTam. Accordingly there are some decent
facilities for those who want to visit the shrine. The temple timings are 7:30 AM to 12 noon, and
4:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Features: The temple features a portal with a 3-tier rAjagOpuram. The presiding deity is Rama,
called valvil rAman as well as cakravartti tirumagan. The goddess goes by the name
PotrAmaraiyAL or HEmAmbujavalli. The temple tree which dates from ancient times is a
mastwood tree. The temple pond is known as JaTAyu tIrttam or Kruthra tIrttam. The
vimAnam is called SOpana vimAnam. The Lord is found in a reclining posture facing easterly.
There is a separate shrine for BhUmidEvi. The festival idol is also Rama with 4 arms carrying
conch and discus in two of them. The annual BrahmOtsavam is celebrated in the Thamizh month
of panguni (Mar-Apr). The unique aspect of this temple is that only in this divya dEsam Rama is
seen in reclining posture (bhujanga sayanam) whereas everywhere else he is seen in a standing
posture.
Legend: This shrine marks the place where Rama performed the obsequies for JaTAyu who
fought valiantly with Ravana while the latter was abducting sItA. Ravana finally cut JaTAyus
wings which ended JaTAyus efforts to save sItA. He chanted rAma, rAma and died when
Rama and Lakshmana arrived there in pursuit of sItA. JaTAyu told them about Ravanas
abduction of sItA before dying. JaTAyu was a friend of Ramas father Dasharata. Rama could
not perform the funeral rites for his father when his father died since Rama was in exile at that
time. Rama was glad that he could perform the funeral rites of his fathers close friend.
According to tradition the wife of the person performing the funeral rites had to be present by his
side. Since sItA was not there, BhUmidEvi stood there by Ramas side while he performed the

rites. JaTAyu being a bird (puL species in Thamizh), this place is called tirupuLLam
bhUthanguDi (tiru = sacred; puL= bird; bhUtam = body; kuDi = place) since the last rites were
performed for JaTAyu here. The explanation given for the recumbent position of Rama here is
that after performing the final rites for JaTAyu he rested there under the punnai tree.

JaTAyu fighting Ravana

Rama performing funeral rites for JaTAyu

In Valmiki Ramayanam there is reference to Rama asking Lakshmana to collect firewood in order to
cremate the remains of JaTAyu (as revealed by the two shlokams below) in AraNya KANDam.

3.68.26

Meaning: Just as the illustrious king Dasharatha is worthy of respect and honors, this lord of the
birds is also worthy of the same for me.
3.68.27

Meaning: Oh Sowmithri (Lakshmana), get some firewood. I shall generate fire and incinerate
the king of birds who laid his life for my sake.
Thus the mortal remains of the king of birds were laid to rest in this place. Hence the name
tiruppuLLam bUthanguDi.
MangaLAsAsanam: It is said that when ThirumangaiyAzhwAr visited this place he thought it
was some other deity under the mast wood tree (
in Thamizh) and since he was an
inveterate Vishnu worshipper, he walked away from the temple. He was blinded by a sudden
effulgence and Rama appeared with four arms and his conch/discus pair. The AzhwAr then
recognized the Lord and felt ashamed as to how he could have ignored the shrine. He then sang
10 pAsurams (1348-1357 NDP count). Let us look at one of them (1348 NDP and 5.1.1 periya
tirumozhi) here.

aRivadariyA nanaittulagum uDaiyAnennai yALuDaiyAn

kuRiya mANi yuruvAy kUttan manni amarumiDam
naRiya malarmEl surum pArkkezhilAr magnjai naDamADa
poRigoL siRai vaNDisai pADum puLLam pUdanguDi tAnE
Meaning: The AzhwAr describes the shrine as a place where the Lord resides amid orchards
where bees hum around the fragrant flowers while honeybees sing for the dance of handsome
peacocks in PuLLambUthanguDi. He describes that the Lord is difficult to comprehend by ones
own efforts. He is the bearer of all worlds who came in the form of a little manikin (dwarf
VAmana) and danced over the worlds. He decided to stay there forever. The AzhwAr surrenders
to the Lord.

Sethuraman Subramanian
mahakavi@gmail.com