Thiruppuliyur

Thiruppuliyur is a Divya Desam in the Cuddalore belt of Tamil Nadu where the presiding deity is Bhuvaragha Perumal — Vishnu who is the great boar, Varaha, the saviour of the earth (bhu). The name combines 'bhumi' (earth) and 'varaha' (boar), alluding to the Varaha avatar in which Vishnu dived into the cosmic ocean to rescue the submerged earth. Thirumangai Alvar, the last and most prolific of the twelve Alvars, sang passionate Mangalasasanam hymns for the deity here in his Periya Thirumozhi. The temple follows the Thenkalai Sri Vaishnava tradition and displays Dravidian gopurams with a sacred temple tank. The Cuddalore region hosts a rich cluster of Divya Desams — Thiruppuliyur, Thiruchirupuliyur, Thirukarambhanur, and Thiruvahindrapuram are all in close proximity, making this area a rewarding circuit for dedicated pilgrims. The landscape is flat coastal Tamil Nadu, fertile with agriculture, and the temple atmosphere is contemplative and deeply traditional.

The local tradition holds that the earth goddess Bhudevi herself worshipped here to honour Vishnu as Varaha after he rescued her from the demon Hiranyaksha. Vishnu is said to have remained here in his boar form — not returning to Vaikunta — because the earth's gratitude was so pure that he chose to stay and bless her forever. The name 'Puliyur' (town of the tiger) is explained as a reference to the forest clearing where these events transpired.