DEVI PATINAM

The legend of Devipattinam is that when Lord Rama was proceeding towards Lanka in search of his wife Sita, Devi Mahishasuramardini; (the killer of the demon Mahishasura) appeared in his dream. She told Rama that he was suffering misfortune due to the adverse planetary conditions. She directed him to come to Devipattinam and worship the Navagrahas to get relief from his misery.

When Rama came to Devipattinam he did not find any shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas. He made the statues of nine planets, locally known as Navapashanas, out of the sand of the ocean. It is believed that when Rama was creating the Navapashanas, Lord Jagannatha stopped the waves of the ocean so that Rama could carry out the worship undisturbed. Hence, Lord Jagannatha is also known here as 'Kadaladaitha Perumal'. After worshipping the Navagrahas, Rama went to Thirupullani. There he built the bridge (Sethu) with the help of the Vanaras (monkeys) to go to Lanka. He conquered Lanka, killed Ravana, and retrieved Sita from the Ashoka garden. After crossing the ocean, he once again arrived in Rameshwaram.