Kallapiran Temple also called as Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple and as Srivaikuntam temple is located in Srivaikuntam, a town in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and this precious temple is situated just a few kilometres far away from Tirunelveli. This wonderful temple is sanctified in the Vaishnavite Text, Sri Nalayira Divya Prabandham, and it is also classified as one of the 108 Divya Desams, and here the Lord is worshipped as Sri Vaikunthanathar and Ma Lakshmi as Vaikunthavalli.
The temple is associated with Lord Surya Bhagavan, who is also fondly called as Lord Surya Narayanan, and those who suffer from eye and skin diseases are suggested to visit this temple, in order to get relieved from their diseases. As per legend, Srivaikuntanathar is believed to have appeared at the present place of this temple, in order to destroy the dreaded demon Somukasura, who has forcefully acquired the four Vedas from the creator god, Lord Brahma Bhagavan. The Lord is also worshipped as Kallapiran since, once he helped a thief, who was also his devotee, who prayed to him while he was in trouble. Six daily rituals and festivals like annual Brahmotsavam, Krishna Jayanti and Vaikunta Ekadasi are being celebrated at this temple in a joyful manner.
During Annual Brahmotsavam Festival event, we can see lot of devotees, who used to recite the sacred verses from the precious Sri Garuda Ashtakam at this temple, and some of the excerpts from the Garuda Ashtakam are as follows:-
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my head by touching his gentle hands on my head.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my forehead, by gently rubbing his hands on that part.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my eyes, by keeping his divine hands on my eyes.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my ears, by pressing my ears on his marvellous hands.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my nose, by gently pressing his nose on my nose.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my face, by touching his hands on my face.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my throat, by pressing his hands on my throat.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my arms, by gently holding my arms with his strong arms.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my fingers, with his divine fingers.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my nails with his sharp nails.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him protect my stomach and all other body organs, by hugging me, by considering me as his humble servant.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu. Let him follow me like a shadow in every walk of my life.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu, who is a very gigantic divine bird, and contains the strength of holding the entire universe on his nose itself.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda, who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu, who is equivalent to millions and millions of sun with regard to his brightness, who is equivalent to millions and millions of Devas with regard to his powers, who is equivalent to millions and millions of Bhagavathas, with regard to his great Vishnu Bhakti.
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda, who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu, who is praised by the Vishnu devotees like Narada, Tumburu, Prahalada and Dhruva. I offer my humble salutations to Lord Garuda, who is the Vehicle, and the humble devotee of Lord Vishnu, who is not subject to worldly illusions, who has won his senses, who has got the capacity even to fight with his master Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped even by Lord Hanuman, who is the greatest among all other Divine birds, who contains very good qualities, who is liked by everyone in the universe, who contains a soft nature, who has even befriended with snakes, who contains the divine nectar on his hands, who is capable of even granting salvation to his devotees, who is considered to be an aspect of Lord Vishnu itself!
“OM SRI GARUDA BHAGAVANE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR