Vaikuntanathar Temple

Vaikuntanathar Temple, also known as Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Srivaikuntam on the banks of the Thamirabarani River in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams and the first among the Nava Tirupati temples. Notable for its Dravidian architecture, towering gopuram and association with Alvar saints, it is an important Vaishnavite pilgrimage centre.

Visitors can expect a large Dravidian-style temple complex with a multi-tiered gopuram, pillared halls, mandapas and shrines dedicated to Vaikuntanathan and his consort Vaikuntavalli. The temple is set in the town of Srivaikuntam near the Thamirabarani River. Inside, visitors can see stone sculptures, painted ceilings, and the main sanctum. The atmosphere is that of an active pilgrimage temple with daily pujas, devotees performing darshan, and shops selling offerings outside.

The temple exhibits Dravidian architecture with contributions attributed to Pandya and later Nayak rulers. It is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Alvar saint Nammalvar (7th-9th century CE) and is classified as a Divya Desam. Inscriptions and architectural styles indicate expansions over several centuries, reflecting the temple's long-standing religious importance in the Tirunelveli-Thoothukudi region.

The temple is sacred in Sri Vaishnavism as one of the 108 Divya Desams and as the first among the Nava Tirupati temples dedicated to Vishnu. The presiding deity is worshipped as Vaikuntanathan and the goddess as Vaikuntavalli. It is a centre for Vaishnavite pilgrimage, especially during Vaikunta Ekadasi and the annual Garuda Sevai festival when festival deities from all nine Nava Tirupati temples assemble.