108 Divyadesam, Vishnu Temples -

108 Divya Desam - Shrines of Lord Vishnu

Lord Vishnu known as Preserver among the trinity which includes Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. In Vaishnavism tradition, Vishnu is the supreme being who creates, protects and transforms the universe.Whenever the world is threatened with evil, chaos, and destructive forces, Vishnu descends in the form of an avatar (incarnation) to restore the cosmic order and protect Dharma 

There are various temples that are spread throughout the country, from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari dedicated to Lord Vishnu.  

Dvidya Desam Temples:

Divya desam Temples are the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars (saints). ”Divya” means “premium” and “Desam” indicates “place” (temple). Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and last two are beyond the realm of Earth. The last two are Thiruparkaddal and Paramapadam. Tiruparkaddal is the ocean of milk and Paramapadam is the Srivaikuntam where lord Narayana resides.

The Divyadesams are revered by the 12 Azhvars in the Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. While most Divyadesams follow Thenkalai mode of worship, some follow Vadakala mode of worship too among others.

The Divyadesams is divided into 7 categories:

  1. Thondai Naadu 
  2. Chozha Naadu
  3. Nadu Naadu 
  4. Pandiya Naadu 
  5. Malayala Naadu 
  6. Vadu Naadu 
  7. Vinnulaga Divyadesam

The idols of Lord Vishnu in these Divyadesams can be found in 3 postures:

  • Kidantha Thirukkolam        ( Sleeping Position )    – 27 Divya desams
  • Veetrirundha Thirukkolam  ( Sitting Position )        – 21 Divya desams
  • Nindra Thirukkolam           ( Standing Position )     – 60 Divya desams

In these 108 Divyadesams, the Lord Vishnu can be seen facing one of the four directions: east, north, south and west. On this basis, the Divyadesams can be classified as:

  • Towards East direction – 79 Divya desams
  • Towards West direction – 19 Divya desams
  • Towards North direction – 3 Divya desams
  • Towards South direction – 7 Divya desams

Thondai Nadu Divyadesams

In Thondai Nadu, there are 22 Divyadesams found and out of it 14 Divyadesams are found in Kanchipuram, which is the capital of Pallava Empire.

Out of these 14 Divyadesams in Kanchipuram, Thirukkalvanoor Divyadesam is found inside Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple and Thirunilathingal thundan is found inside Kanchi Ekambareswarar temple. These two temples are said to "Saivism temple". By giving the seva in these temples, the Perumal Sriman Narayanan explains the unity of Saivam and Vaishnavam.

Outside Kanchipuram is Thirupputkuzhi Divyadesam. In Chennai, Thiruvellikkeni and Thiruneermalai Divyadesams are found. Near Mahabalipuram, Thirukkadal Mallai and Thiruidavendhai Divyadesam are found.

Near Arakkonam, Thirukkadigai (Sholingar) and Thirunindraoor Divyadesam are found. Close to Arakkonam, Thiruevvul (Thiruvalloor) Divyadesam is situated.

Chennai Temples

Mahabalipuram Temples

Kanchipuram Temples

  • Thiru Kacchi (Kanchipuram) - Sri Varadharajar Temple
  • Thiru Vekka - Sri Yathothakaari Temple
  • Ashtabuyagaram (Ashtabujam) - Sri Aadhikesava Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Ooragam (Ooragathaan) - Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Neeragam (Neeragathaan) - Sri Jagadeeshwarar Temple
  • Thiru Kaaragam - Sri Karunakara Perumal Temple
  • Thirukkaar Vaanam - Sri Thirukkaar vaanar Temple
  • Thiruparameshwara Vinnagaram - Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Pavala Vannan - Sri Pavala Vannar Temple
  • Thiru Paadagam - Sri Pandava Thoodhar Temple
  • Thiru Nilathingal Thundam - Sri Nilathingal Thundathan Perumal Temple
  • ThirukKalvanoor - Sri Aadhi Varaha Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Velukkai - Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple
  • Thiruthanka (Thoopul) - Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple
  • Thiruputkuzhi - Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Evvul (Tiruvallore) - Sri Veeraraghava Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Nindravoor - Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple

Chozha Nadu Divyadesams

In Chozha Nadu, there are 40 Divyadesams found. In these 40 Divyadesams, Lord Vishnu is in Nindra Thirukkola seva in 23 Divyadesams, in Kidantha kola seva in 13 Divyadesams and in Irundha kola seva in 6 Divyadesams.

Facing East direction in 33 Divyadesams, facing West direction he is found in 4 Divyadesams, South direction in 2 Divyadesams and North direction, he is giving his seva only in 1 Divyadesam.

Among these 40 Divyadesams in Chozha Naadu, the perumal is said to be giving his seva in the perumal in Krishnavathaaram in 8 Divyadesams and  Ramavathaaram in 3 Divyadesams.

In these 40 Divyadesams, Thiruvellkkulam is also called as "Thenn Thirupathi". It is said that bhaktas can offer the dedications to this perumal who are not able to go to Tirumala - Tirupati, so, this sthala perumal and Sri Venkatachalapathy, Tirumala are considered to be the same.

Trichy Temples

Kumbakonam Temples

Tanjore Temple

Mayavaram Temples

  • Thiruvazhunthoor - Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Sirupuliyur - Sri Arulmaakadal Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Thalaicchanga Naanmathiyam - Sri Naan Madhiya Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Indhaloor - Sri Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

Nagapattinam Temples

Chidambaram Temple

  • Thiru Chithrakoodam (Chidambaram) - Sri Govindaraja Perumal Temple

Seergazhi Temples

  • Thirukkazhiseerama Vinnagaram (Seerkazhi) - Thirivikaraman Perumal Temple
  • Thiruvaali Thirunagari - Sri Lakshmi Narashima Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Kavalampaadi - Sri Gopala Krishna Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Arimeya Vinnagaram - Sri Kuda Maadu Koothan Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Vann Purushothamam - Sri Purushothama Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil - Sri Per Arulaalan Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Manimaada Kovil - Sri Narayana Perumal Temple
  • Thiru VaiKunda Vinnagaram - Sri Vaigundha Nathan Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Devanaar Thogai - Sri Deiva Naayaga Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Thetri Aambalam - Sri Seganmaal Ranganatha Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Manikkoodam - Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Vellakkulam (Annan Kovil) - Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Paarthanpalli - Sri Thamaraiyal Kelvan Perumal Temple

Nadu Nadu Divyadesams

In Nadu Nattu Divyadesams there are two temples

Pandya Nadu Divyadesams

In Pandiya Naadu, there are 18 Divyadesams found in all these Divyadesams, the Perumal is found facing his thirumugham towards east direction. In this 18 Divyadesams, 9 Divyadesams namely Thirukkurugoor, Thirukkoloor, Thirupperai, Thiruvaikundam, Thiruvaragunamangai, Thirukkulandai, Thiruppulingudi, Thirutholaivillimangalam and Thiruccheerivaramangai are collectively called as "Nava Tirupathi". The Speciality of this Pandiya Nattu thiruppathigal is that in all these Nava Thirupathi Divyadesams, there are two thaayars.

Tirunelveli Temples - Nava Tirupathis

Virudhu Nagar Temples

Madurai Temples

Ramanathapuram Temples

  • Thiruppullanni - Sri Kalyana Jagannatha Perumal Temple

Pudukkottai Temples

  • Thirukkotiyoor - Sri Uraga Mellanayaan Perumal Temple
  • Thirumeyyam - Sri Sathyagiri Natha Perumal Temple

 

Malayala Nadu Divyadesams

There are 13  Divyadesams found in Kerala. Among which, Lord Vishnu is found in Nindra thirukkolam in 10 Divyadesams, in Kidantha kolam in 2 Divyadesams and in Irundha kolam in one Divyadesam. The perumal is facing  East direction in 8 Divyadesam,  west direction is 3 Divyadesams and in 2 Divyadesams, he is facing south direction.

In two Divyadesams, (Thiruvananthapuram and Thiruvaattaaru), where the perumal is giving his seva in 3 different vaasals (entrance) explains about the birth, the leading of life and the final state i.e the death of human.

The Pancha Pandavas, Yodhishtira (Thirucchenkundroor), Arjuna (Thiruvaaran Vilai), Nakulan (Thiruvanvandoor), Bhima (Thirupuliyoor) and Sahadevan (Thirukkadithaanam) have offered their pujas for these 5 Divyadesams respectively

Malayala Temples

 

Vada Nadu Divyadesams:

Thirupathis are said to be found in Northern part of our country - all the Divyadesams above TamilNadu are termed to be Vada Nadi Thirupathi. There are 11 Divyadesams in Vada Nadu.  He is also found in 3 different thirukkolams-

  • Kidantha Thirukkolam - 1 Divyadesam
  • Nindra Thirukkolam - 7 Divyadesams
  • Irundha Thriukkolam - 3 Divyadesams

Out of 11 Divyadesams, in 9 divyadesams, the perumal is found as "Ekapathini Sametha seva" (with only one consort)

 Andhra Temples

  • Tirupathi - Tirumalai - Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Singavel Kundram (Ahobilam) - Sri Nava Narasimhar Temple

Uttar Pradesh Temples

  • Thiru Ayodhi - Sri Ramar Temple
  • Thiru Naimisaranyam - Sri Devaraja Perumal Temple

Nepal Temple

  • Thiru Salagramam - Sri Moorthy Perumal Temple

Other Divyadesams

  • Thiruvadhari Ashramam (Badrinath) - Sri Badri Narayana Perumal Temple
  • Thirukkandam - Kadi Nagar (Devaprayag) - Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple
  • Thiruppirudhi (Joshimutt) - Sri Paramapurusha Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Vadamathura (Brindhavanam) - Sri Govardhana Nesa Perumal Temple
  • Thiruvaaipadi (Aayarpadi) - Sri Navamohana Krishna Perumal Temple
  • Thiru Dwaraka (Dwaraka) - Sri Kalyana Narayana Perumal Temple  

 

Vinnulaga Divyadesams:

Vinnulaga Divyadesams are the Divyadesam where we cannot go through our human body, only our soul (Aathma can go into it).

There are two Vinnulaga divyadesams -

1. Thiruppaarkadal

2. Paramapadham

The Jeevathmas that are released (the soul) from our human body attains Mukthi and it is said to reach the Paramathma. In these two Divyadesams, Sriman Narayanan is found in Shayana (Kidantha) thirukkolam in Thiruppaarkadal facign South which is said to be the direction where Yama Dharmaraja is found and in Paramapadham he is found in Veetrirundha thirukkolam I,e Sitting Posture facing south direction.

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