Adikesava Perumal Temple, Hindu temple in Thiruvattaru, Tamil Nadu
Adikesava Perumal is a Hindu temple in Thiruvattaru, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to the reclining Vishnu and built using Salagrama stones. Three gateway arches lead into chambers where visitors view the head, torso, and feet of the reclining deity separately.
Achyuta Deva Raya commissioned the site in the 16th century, using over 16,000 Salagrama stones for the sculpture of the god. Later rulers expanded the grounds and added murals and wood carvings.
The name refers to Vishnu as Adi Keshava, and worshippers walk around the reclining god through three separate entrances. Wooden pillars and carved doors follow building traditions from Kerala, setting the shrine apart from other South Indian sacred spaces.
The shrine opens in the morning from 6 AM and in the afternoon from 4 PM, with male visitors required to remove upper garments. The interior is divided into three walkways, so you circle the figure in sections.
The reclining figure measures roughly 22 feet (6.7 meters) and shows Vishnu on the serpent Adisesha in resting pose. Each gate offers a view of a different body part, so you grasp the full image only through three visits.
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