This ancient temple located in Kanyakumari district, on the railroad between Kanyakumari and Thiruvananthapuram, has been glorified by a decad of 11 verses composed by Nammalwar in the first millennium CE. This temple is an important center of worship and is referred to as Aadi Anantam and Dakshina Vaikuntham. Tiruvattar is referred to in the Sangam period tamil work Puranaanooru. The deity Aadi Kesava Perumal in a reclining posture faces west. As in Thiruvananthapuram, the deity is viewed through three openings in the sanctum. The sanctum has been designed so that the rays of the setting sun illuminate the face of the deity. Legend has it that Vishnu vanquished the demons Kesa and Kesi ,(hence the name Aadi Kesan) and took abode on the coils of Aadi Seshan here at Tiruvattaar. Kesi took on the form of the Tamraparani river. Shiva is believed to have taken on 12 forms to witness the battle between Vishnu and Kesi, and worship Vishnu. A pilgrimage to all of the 12 Shiva temples is considered complete after visiting this temple at Tiruvattaar. Representatives of the maharaja of Travancore accompany processions at Tiruvattar, symbolizing the living link between the Travancore royalty and the Tiruvattar temple. Legend has it that an army of invaders from North India, were miraculously turned away by a swarm of wasps, in answer to prayers by the Maharaja of Kottayam (17th century). Legend also has it that the festival image was stolen by the armies of the Nawab of Arcot in the 18th century and that a mysterious ailment which gripped the Nawab's wife was cured, only after he returned the image to the temple. It is said that the Thiruvanantapuram Padmanabhaswami temple was built after this temple was constructed and both the temples are similar in structure and features. Offer worship at this sacred Divyadesam temple and receive Lord Vishnu’s divine grace in abundance.