The Arulmigu Soundararaja Perumal Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, is located in Thadikombu, near Dindigul in Tamil Nadu. Built in the Dravidian style of architecture during the 16th century by Achyuta Deva Raya, Vishnu is worshipped as Soundararaja Perumal, and his consort Lakshmi as Soundaravalli. The temple features a five-tiered rajagopuram and is enclosed by a granite wall. The Ranga Mandapam, known for its rare life-size sculptures, is one of the temple's most prominent features.
The temple contains two inscriptions from the Nayak period and houses shrines for deities like Manmatha and Rati. Vishnu is believed to have appeared for the sage Mandukya here. Six daily rituals and three major yearly festivals are observed, with the chariot festival during Chittirai being the most important. The temple complex includes all necessary shrines and water bodies, reflecting its spiritual significance.
According to legend, a sage named Mandukya, cursed to live as a frog, was troubled by a demon. The frog worshipped Vishnu, who responded to the devotion by killing the demon and saving Mandukya. Vishnu then chose to reside in the place where he rescued the frog, leading to the establishment of this temple, which stands as a testament to his divine protection and grace.
The temple’s history is closely linked to the Vijayanagara Empire. Built during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya in the 16th century, additional expansions were made by Thirumalai Nayak in 1629. Inscriptions from various ruling dynasties mention contributions to the temple's maintenance. One inscription links the temple to the Pandyan era, while another refers to a festival in honor of Kallalagar of Madurai, indicating the temple's historical significance to the region.