Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple

Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple at Thiruvellarai is a revered Divya Desam located about 10 km north of Srirangam in Tiruchirappalli district. The presiding deity, Sri Pundarikaksha (meaning "lotus-eyed Lord"), is celebrated in the Divya Prabandham by Periyazhwar and his daughter Andal, two of the most beloved Azhwar saints in Sri Vaishnavism. The temple sits atop a small hillock surrounded by lush greenery and fertile lands fed by the Kaveri. The deity graces in a rare seated posture (Veetrirundha Thirukolam), and the temple features magnificent Chola-period architecture with intricate carvings. Pilgrims visiting Srirangam often include Thiruvellarai in their itinerary, drawn by the serene hilltop setting and the powerful hymns of the Azhwars that glorify this sacred Vaishnavite abode.