Perumal is a term commonly used to refer to Hindu God Vishnu
in Tamil Nadu. The word is widely used by Vaishnavites. Perumal is also used to
refer to other deities worshipped in a temple. Kings in ancient times in Tamil
land were also called as Perumal – a mark of respect.
Some of the temples associated with
Bhagavan Vishnu with the title Perumal are Sundararaja Perumal, Varadaraja
Perumal, Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Adi Narayana Perumal, Venkateswara Perumal
etc.
Perumal simply means ‘god’. Thus they use
it along with Muruga, Shiva and Ganesha. Thus we have Shivaperumal.
Currently the term Perumal is a synonym
of Vishnu and His manifestations like Balaji or Venkateswara.