Sri Vatapatrasaayi Temple

Sri Vatapatrasaayi Temple at Srivilliputhur is among the most celebrated Divya Desams, revered as the birthplace of Andal (Goda Devi), the only female among the twelve Azhwars, and the home of her father Periyazhwar (Vishnuchitta). The deity Vatapatrasaayi — meaning "the Lord who reclines on a banyan leaf" — depicts the infant form of Lord Vishnu floating on a tiny banyan leaf during the cosmic deluge, sucking His toe, a captivating image of divine childhood encompassing all creation. Periyazhwar found the infant Andal beneath the Tulasi plant in this temple garden, and she grew up composing the immortal Thiruppavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi, declaring her undying love for Lord Ranganatha. The temple's magnificent 11-tier rajagopuram (192 feet) is the official emblem of the Government of Tamil Nadu, symbolizing the state's cultural and spiritual heritage.