Thirusiripuliyur

Located about 15 kms South of Mayavaram is the Kripa Samudran(Arumakadal) Divya Desam in Sirupuliyur where the Lord is seen as a small kid in sleeping posture (Bala Sayanam).

This is one among the 40 cholanadu divyadeshams.

Moolavar: Kripasamudra Perumal in a south-facing Bhujanga Sayana posture

Thaayar: Thirumaa Magal Nachiyar

It is believed that that the Lord originally gave darshan to the Rishis as Lord Ranganatha (like in Srirangam) in his full form. Because of their old age, the rishis could not see, clearly, the big image of the Lord and hence the Lord gave darshan in a smaller form known as ‘Bala Sayanam’. The Lord Kripa Samudran can be seen as a small kid in sleeping posture. Being the Lord in small form, this place is called Siru (small) Puliyur.

A special feature of this temple is that this is one of the only two Divya Desams where the Lord in sayana kolam (sleeping posture) is facing the Southern direction, the other being Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.

Sthalapuranam:
Gauthama Maharishi was the son of Madhiya Nandhana Maharishi. He was a devotee of Lord Shiva. To offer pure and sweet fruits and fine flowers he requested Lord Shiva to grant him eyes in his hand finger tips and claws like tiger. And he got the name Viyakirapadha rishi.
Then he married Vashits Maharishi’s sister and bore upamanyu Maharishi as his son.
Once Padanjali, the son of Aadhishesha came to Chidambaram and joined the Maharishi to enjoy the graceful dance of Lord Shiva and attained the eternal happiness in the process.
Lord Shiva ordered Vyakrapadha rishi to do penance at Srirangam requesting Lord Vishnu to give him place in Sri Vaigundam.
Because of their poor eyesight, the Rishis instead went southward, lost their way and reached Krupa Samudram (present name Sirupuliyur). Here, they prayed to Lord Vishnu saying that they were to come to Srirangam to invoke his blessings but have now lost their way and that he grant them Moksham.
It is believed that the Lord originally gave dharshan to the Rishis as Lord Ranganatha (like in Srirangam) in his full form. Because of their old age, the rishis could not able to see the big image of the Lord clearly and hence the Lord gave dharshan in a smaller form known as ‘Bala Sayanam’.
The Lord Krupa Samudran (means Ocean of Grace) can be seen as a small kid in sleeping posture. Being the Lord in small form and the saint who worshipped was in the form of a Tiger; hence this place is called Siru (small) Puli (Tiger) yur (Living place).
He has also got a place under the lotus feet of the Lord in the Moolavar Sannathi. It’s been said the perumal of this place gave protection to the snake Aadhiseshan from his enemy Garuda. The Lord here is small in size. Thirumangaialwar worried about this. So, Perumal asked him to come to Thirukannamangai to view his very big statue.
A special feature of this temple is that this is one of the only two Divya Desams where the Lord in sayana kolam (sleeping posture) is facing the Southern direction, the other being Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.
Garuda does not fly over this place because of an interesting story:


Fight between Garuda and Adhiseshan


Once Garuda(the Vehicle of the Lord) and Adiseshan (on whom rests the Lord) got into an argument as to who was more powerful and devoted to the Lord. Seeing Garuda a little arrogant, Lord Vishnu went in favour of the Serpant God.
Worried that Garuda might be angered at this, Adiseshan seeks Lord’s protection, upon which Lord asks him to roll himself and lie under him. It is said that as a result of this anger, Garuda never flies over this place.
There is another story that that Adiseshan won the argument and since snakes were sworn enemies of garuda, Adiseshan hid himself under the waters of the temple tank. There is since been a temple for Adisesha.
A separate shrine for Sri Adhiseshan is present near to the pushkarani – known as Ananthalwar Temple.
It is said that one will be relieved of Naaga Dosham if one visits this place. Unmarried people and childless couple can also visit this temple for solution.