Srivaishnava 108 DivyaDesam

108 Divya DesangaL

Srivaishnava DivyaDesam – Sri Mahavshnu Kshetrams

Welcome to our Virtual tour. Now we will go you through the Divya Desams with rare and beautiful images of PerumaL and Thayar (wherever available). Since we would like to present unique and rare images it will be a long journey and we would appreciate your patience. Now sit back and with a click of your mouse enjoy a visit to divya desams

Foreword

In Hinduism, Sri Mahavishnu is the most powerful and much-worshipped God. As India is surrounded by oceans, in the same way the devotion to Lord God known as Bhakti is also spread and spred throughout our country. Emperumaan Sriman Narayanan who is the Paramathma is manifest in all souls the Jeevathmas, is found from Himalayas to Kanyakumari in various thirukkolamgal (posture or position) in various sthalams (places).  

Out of these Sthalams, Alwars, who are said to be the amsam of Sriman Narayanan, have sung Mangalasasanam (sung in praise of The Lord God) on the Perumal and there are totally 108 Sthalams where Alwars have done Mangalasasanam on the Perumal. These 108 Vishnu Sthalams are called as “Divyadesams“, literally meaning Holy Shrine spots. 

The 108 Divya Desams or Tirupatis (Sriyah Pathihi) are sacred places were sung upon by Azhwars, the ultimate devotees of Narayana. There are 106 on the Indian Subcontinent (105 in India and 1 in Nepal). The remaining two, Tirupparkadal and Srivaikuntam, can be accessed only when one leaves this world. The Tirupparkadal is the “ocean of milk” and the Srivaikuntam is the domain where LORD NARAYANA presides.  

Here we go:  

In between the Pallava and the Chola kingdom lay an undefined small region called the Nadu nadu or mid country. The Pallava country was also known as Tondaimandalam or Tondai nadu which was boundary on the north by the Svarnamukhi River and on the south by the South Pennar. The Chola country known as Chozha nadu lay between the South Pennar and the Cauvery rivers. The Pandya kingdom lay south of the Cauvery right down to the sea. The western half of the extreme south (ruled by the Chera dynasty) extending to the Arabian sea was called the Malai nadu or Hill country. The remaining part of India to the north of the Tondai mandalam was known as the Vada nadu or Vadugar nadu (the country of the northerners). Accordingly, the listing arranged below shows the sacred places on regional basis adopted by the Sri Vaishnavas.  

In the SriVaishNava sampradAyam, a divya dEsam is a temple whose perumAL has been sung about by atleast one AzhvAr. This is called “maNgaLAsAsanam”. There are 108 divya dEsams, 106 of them on this earth and 2 that are not. By far, the majority of these divya dEsams are in Tamizh nAdu. There are a few in the current day state of Kerala, and a couple in the current state of Andhra PradhEsh. There are also a few divya dEsams in Northern India.

Following is a list of 108 Divya Desam presented in multiple sections according to their location. We have also provided the list of Azhvaar Mangalaasaasanam for each of the Divya Desam. Each divya dEsam has the paasuram number as found in the NAlAyira Divya Prabandham known as DrAvida Veda Sagaram

Among the twelve aazhvaars, only 11 composed hymns on the 108 Divya dEsams. Poykaiaazhvaar composed hymns on 6 Divya dEsam, boothathaazhvaar on 13, peyaazhvaar on 15, thirumazhisai aazhvaar on 17, nammaazhvaar on 37, kulasekaraazhvaar on 9, periyaazhvaar on 18, Sri Andaal on 11 and thondaradip podiyaazhvaar on 1, respectively. Madhurakavi Azhvaar glorified Nammazhvaar in his hymns.

I would like to thank Sri N. Sampath of Madras, India, who took time and effort to gather the details regarding the 106 Divya Desam.

Welcome to our Divya desam page. Probably you may be aware that the Srivaishnava shrines and Holy stations known as Divya Desam or Divya Kshetram that were sung by divine saints known as Azhvars (who lived in Southern part of India in this Kali Yuga).  There are 108 divya desams in total and two of them are not in this material world. They are Parama padam and ThiruppaRkadal. Other 105 temples are located in India and 1 divya desam is located in Nepal (SaLagramam). We will present you some basic information about each temple and would take you through all the relevant information right from how to reach there, Stay details etc . Since there are plenty of similar sites which basically provide beautiful images of the Lord God known as Perumal in these DivyaDesams we will concentrate only on rare information on each of the Kshetram.

Having said about the glory of divya desams, it is a sad truth that most of the temples are in need of financial support even to take care of day to day rituals. Those days the ruling kings have given plenty of fertile lands and jewels to temples for its maintenance and festivals known as utsavams;  now the temples not being looked after properly. We, the devotees of the Sriya: pathi should do our best to take care of these temples. Please come forward and choose one divya desam of your choice and support it for at least daily ritual. I can guide you through how to go about on undertaking this kaimkaryam .Also please visit the divya desams when ever possible and seek the blessings of Emperuman Lord Sriman NARayaNa, there. HE is patiently waiting for us to bless us and that is the only reason for HIM to be here in this material world. Those days Azhvars, particularly Thirumangai Azhvar has visited as much as 87 divya desams on foot and sung poem in His glory, (Mangalasasanam to Lord – PerumaL.) Now with the easily accessible facilities of multi-mode transportation, it is more easier to visit the temples. So make a vow to yourself to visit divya desams first around your home town  and then expand your visits to other areas. For your convenience we have **grouped the divya desams in an order which will facilitate an easy Kshetraadanam known as Tour – A Divya DEsa YAtra. 

Thanks for your interest. Hope you will enjoy these pages. Please do leave your feedback, suggestions & comments in the guest book.

** Though the listing of pages (Numbering from id161.php to id268.php) are according to the original Kshetra listing and sequence, the links provided above are differently arranged for easier access so as to prepare your itinerary in a less time consuming way with shortest possible routes. This is just based on grouping the temples with its location-wise. Also, a separate page dedicated to the Divya DEsa Divya Thampathi NAmAvaLi is provided.

You can also find the respective Mangalasasanam poems by Each Azhwar that they sung at each Kshetram. The Pasuram numbers along with names of Azhwar and the Kshetram is listed in this page.

Divya desams in Chozha naadu(Present Tanjavour,Trichy districts)

001. Srirangam (Aranga Maanagar, Thiruvarangam)
002. Thirukkozhi
003. Thirukkarambanur
004. Thiru veLLaRai
005. Anbil
006. ThiruppEr nagar
007. ThirukkaNdiyur
008. Thirukkodalur (Thirukkoodalur)
009. Kapisthalam
010. PuLLambUthangkudi
011. Adhanur
012. Kumbakonam (Thirukkudanthai)
013. Oppili Appan koil 
014. Naachchiyaar koil 
015. ThiruchchErai
016. ThirukkaNNamangai
017. ThirukkaNNapuram
018. ThirukkaNNangkudi
019. Nagaippattinam
020. Thanjai MaamaNik koil  
021. Thiru Nandhipura viNNagaram
022. VeLLiyangkudi
023. TherazhunthUr
024. SiRu puliyur
025. Thalaichchangkadu
026. IndhaLur
027. KaavaLam paadi
028. Seerkaazhi 
029. Arimeya viNNagaram
030. VaN purushoththamam
031. Thiru semponsey koil
032. Thiru maNi maadak koil
033. Vaikundha viNNagaram
034. Thiru vaali Thiru nagari
035. Thiru Thevanaar thogai
036. Thiru theRRiyambalam
037. Thiru maNik koodam
038. Annan koil 
039. Parththan paLLi
040. Chidambaram

Divya desams in Nadu naadu (Near Cuddalore)

041. Thiruvahendrapuram (Thiruvaheendipuram)
042. Thirukkovalur

Divya desams in Thondai naadu (Madras,Kanchi areas)

043. Kachchi, Aththigiri (Kanchipuram, Kancheevaram, Kanjeevaram)
044. Ashtapuyakaram (Kanchi)
045. ThiruththaNkaa
046. ThiruvELukkai
047. Thiru neerakam
048. Thiruppadakam
049. Thiru nilaath thungaL thuNdam
050. Thiru Urakam
051. Thiru Veqkaa
052. Thirukkarakam
053. Thirukkaarvaanam
054. ThirukkaLvanUr
055. ThiruppavaLa vaNNam
056. Thirup ParamEsvara viNNagaram
057. Thirup putkuzhi
058. Thiru ninRavUr
059. ThiruvaLLur (Thiru EvvuLLUr)
060. ThiruvallikkENi (Thiru AllikkeNi)
061. Thiruneermalai
062. Thiru Idavendhai
063. Thirukkadal Mallai
064. Sholinghur (Thiruk Kadigai, Sozhasimhapuram)

Divya desams in North India (Vada naadu)

065. AyOdhdhi
066. NaimicharaNyam
067. Thiruppiruthi  
068. ThirukkaNdam kadinagar  
069. Badrinath 
070. SaaLaggraamam
071. Madhura
072. Ayppadi
073. Dwaraka
074. Ahobilam 
075. Thiru vEngadam (Sapthagiri, Thirumala, Tirumalai, Thirupathi)

Divya desams in Malai Naadu (Kerala)

076. Thiru naavaay
077. Thiru viththuvakkOdu
078. Thiruk kaatkarai
079. Thiru mUzhikkaLam
080. Thiru vallavaazh
081. Thiruk kadiththaanam
082. Thiruch chengkunRanUr
083. Thiruppuliyur
084. ThiruvaaRan viLai
085. Thiru vaN vaNdUr
086. Thiru anantha puram
087. ThiruvattaRu
088. Thiru vaN paricharam

Divya desams in Paandiya Naadu (Madurai, Srivillipuththur, Thirunelveli areas)

089. Thiruk Karungkudi
090. Vanamaamalai
091. SriVaikundam
092. VaraguNa mangai
093. Thirup PuLingkudi
094. Thiruth Tholaivilli Mangalam
095. ThiurkkuLandhai
096. ThirukkOLUr
097. Then ThiruppErai
098. Azhvar Thirunagari 
099. Srivillipuththur
100. ThiruththaNkaal
101. ThirukkUdal
102. Thirumaalirum sOlai (Thirumaaliruncholai)
103. ThirumOkUr
104. ThirukkOshtiyur
105. ThiruppullaaNi
106. Thiru meyyam

Divya desams in out of this world.

107. Thirup paaRkadal
108. Paramapadham.

Among the 108 Temples known as Divyadesam for Srivaishnavites, only 106 visibly located on the mother Earth. Rest two known are (the most Srivaishnavites would like to visit on attaining the Moksha, to liberate themselves from rebirth) known as Thiruparkadal and Sri Vaikuntham – The Abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu.  These are the places worshipped and sung by great Tamil Saints known as Alwars, the saintly poets who immersed themselves in the divine ocean of Lord Vishnu. Divyadesams are also Divya Kshetrams. Those who have seen these two places are not with us to elaborate and those who elaborate about these places are never seen it! (Kandavar Vindadillai, Vindavar Kandadillai!). Yet, the great Maharishis and Munis and Sages, who could visualize these places with their sheer power of Njana Drushti had given us some light on the two Eternal Divya Desa kshetraams. Thus we could get some know on these two most important Abode of Sri Maha Vishnu.

Emperumaan, Lord Sriman Narayanan is found in various Thirukkolam. The Thirukkolam (Appearance of His revered Idols) in 108 Divyakshetrams are listed  below:

Kidantha Thirukkolam (Sleeping Posture) – 27 Divyadesams

Veetrirundha Thirukkolam (Sitting Position) – 21 Divyadesams

Nindra Thirukkolam (Standing Position) – 60 Divyadesams

Out of these 108 Divyadesams, as we have seen that The Lord ( Perumal) is appearing in various Thirukkolam (Postures), he is also facing his Thirumugham (Face) on various directions and giving his seva darshan,  as below:

The Lord appears facing Towards East direction at 79 temples, facing towards West direction – 19, facing towards North direction – 3  and facing towards South direction in 7 temples. 



Additional information with Divyakshetra route, history, and other details posted in the following pages.. Please do not forget to sign in my guest-book and to make  your comments please click HERE.

My sincere and heart felt thanks to Sri Ingimedu Ranganathan (known as Murali of Hyderabad) and his father –  my maternal uncle Pt. Ingimedu Narasimhan (Chellappa) for making and presenting these pages a grand one. All the credits goes to Mr. Ingimedu Ranganathan for his full efforts in taking time to type, decorate and make it a  presentable article with beautiful photograph of the Lord Sriman NArAyaNa. May Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha shower His blessings to the family of Sri Ingimedu Chellappa without whose help these pages would have been a distant dream for me. May every visitor to these pages, too get the Blessings of  Lord Sriman NArAyaNA.

Rare Images and beautiful photographs of all Srivaishnava Divya Desam are published in 3 different pages, with each page providing 36 images. I split these images into three pages to save uploading time of the images. These are quite apart from the other photographs of many Divya Kshetrams published under the Image Gallery. Here below are the links for Images:

Images 1 – 36          Images 37 – 72          Images 73 – 108

Click here to view all 108 photographs & images at a single location. (It might take a bit longer to load all images in a single page).

Click here to view the Mangalasasanam Poems of Each Divya Desam by respective Azhwars.

Click here to view/download Divya_Desa Divya Thampathi Namavali.

Mukkur – TRS Iyengar

To proceed with the Virtual Divya Desa Yatra, please click on the link for each Kshetram provided 001 to 108 above. For easy navigation, the Link provided in each page with marking to previous & next pages, but according to sequence listing. 

A special mention about the wordings used in these pages for the non-Tamil persons to understand, a brief Glossary:

Emperuman, Emperumanaar, Perumal: Lord God Sriman NArAyaNa (Sri Maha Vishnu)

PirAtti, Devi, NAchhiyAr: Goddess

Sthalam: Place

Kshetram, Divya Desam: Divine Place

MangaLAsAsanam: Poem recited by the Azhwars in praise of the Divine place & Lord they worshiped there

PAsuram: Poem in cuplets

Prathyaksham: His persona-fids appearance

Rishis, Munis: Sages & Saints

Shabam: Curse

Tapas: Penance

Thirumugam: Divine Face

ThirukkOlam: Divine posture

Varam: a Boon from the Lord God

Yatra: Pilgrimage

TRS Iyengar

Born on Makara Uthiradam star, native of Mukkur and brought up in Ladavaram village near Arcot and now well settled in Mumbai for over five decades. Presently, at 70, trying to run this website without any commercial expectations or profit motive, just for the sake of our future generations to understand about Sanatana Dharma & Srivaishnavam sampradayam.Within my limited knowledge that I put it here, what I learnt from the world.

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