Hari Om
A Divya Desam or Vaishnava Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Alvars (saints).
Alvars and Divyaprabhanda
The word azhwar in Tamil, means one who immerses oneself into the ocean of the countless attributes of god.
Azhwars are considered the twelve supreme devotees of Vishnu, who were instrumental in popularising Vaishnavism during the 5th-8th centuries AD.
The religious works of these saints in Tamil, songs of love and devotion, are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham containing 4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs are classified as Divya desam.
The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first three azhwars (mudhal azhwargal ), Poigai Azhwar, Bhutha Azhwar and Pey azhwar were said to be born out of divinity.
According to these texts, the saints were considered incarnations of some form of Vishnu. Poigai is considered an incarnation of Panchajanya (Krishna’s conch), Bhoothath of Kaumodakee (Vishnu’s Mace/Club), Pey Azhwar of Nandaka (Vishnu’s sword), Thirumalisai of Sudarshanam (Vishnu’s discus), Namm of Vishvaksena (Vishnu’s commander), Madhurakavi of Vainatheya (Vishnu’s eagle, Garuda), Kulasekhara of Kaustubha (Vishnu’s necklace), Periy of Garuda (Vishnu’s eagle), Andal of Bhoodevi (Vishnu’s wife, Lakshmi, in her form as Bhudevi), Thondaradippodi of Vanamaalai (Vishnu’s garland), Thiruppaan of Srivatsa(An auspicious mark on Vishnu’s chest) and Thirumangai of Sarangam (Krishna’s bow).
The songs of Prabandam are regularly sung in all the Vishnu temples of South India daily and also during festivals.
”Divya” means “extremely good” and “Desam” indicates “place of worship” (temple).Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and last two are believed to be outside the Earthly realms.
In India, they are spread over states of Tamil Nadu (85), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (2), Gujarat (1), Uttar Pradesh (4), Uttarakhand (3). Muktinath, Saligramam is the only Divya Desam in Nepal.
The last two are Thirupparkadal and Parama padam. Tirupalkaddal is the ocean of milk and paramapadam is the Vaikuntha where Lord Vishnu presides.
The Divya Desams are revered by the 12 Alvars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. Divya Desams follow Thenkalai or Vadakalai modes of worship.
Significance of Divya Desams
In Hindu texts, Srirangam is referred to as Bhooloka Vaikuntam, which in Sanskrit means Vaikuntam on earth.
Each of the Divya Desam has its own significance related to Shri Vaishnava Mythology. Each of these Temples had separate shrines for the Supreme Lord Maha Vishnu and Maha Lakshmi.
List of Divya Desams
The 108 earthly Divya Desam temples are spread over the Indian states of Tamil Nadu (85), Kerala (11), Uttar Pradesh (4), Uttarakhand (3), Andhra Pradesh (2) and Gujarat (1), and Country of Nepal(1)- Muktinath. The last two are believed to be outside earthly realms.
The Divyadesams are revered by the 12 Azhvars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. While most Divyadesams follow Thenkalai mode of worship, some follow Vadakalai too among others.
The Divyadesams can be divided into 7 categories:
Thondai Naadu temples
Chozha Naadu temples
Nadu Naadu Temples
Pandiya Naadu Temples
Malayala Naadu temples
Vadu Naadu Temples
Vinnulaga Thiruppathigal
The idols of Lord Vishnu in these Divyadesams can be found in 3 positions:
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
List of 108 Divya Desam Temples
North India and Andhra Pradesh
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple – AP
Ahobilam – AP
Muktinath, Saligramam, Nepal
Naimisaranya – UP
Mathura – UP
Gokul – UP
Raghunathji Temple – UTK
Badrinath temple -UTK
Jyotirmath (Joshimutt) – UTK
Ayodhya – UP
Dwarka – Gujarat
Malai Nadu
Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple
Thirukatkarai
Moozhikkalam
Tiruvalla
Thirukadithanam
Sengunroor
Thiruppuliyoor
Thiruvaaranvilai
Thiruvanvandoor
Thiru naavaay
Viththuvakkodu
Madurai
Thirumeyyam
Thirukoshtiyur
Koodal Azhagar Temple
Azhagar Kovil
Tirumogoor
Srivilliputhur
Tiruththangal
Thiruppullani
Kanchipuram
Tirukkacchi
Ashtabujakaram
Tiruvekkaa
Tiruththanka
Tiruvelukkai
Tirukalvanoor
Tiru oorakam
Tiru neeragam
Tiru kaaragam
Tirukaarvaanam
Tiru parameswara vinnagaram
Tiru pavala vannam
Tiru paadagam
Nilathingal Thundam Perumal temple
Thiruputkuzhi
Chennai
Thiruvallikeni
Thiruneermalai
Thiruvidandai
Thirukadalmallai
Thiruninravur
Thiruvallur
Thirukkadigai
Mayiladuthurai and Sirkazhi
Thiruvazhunthoor
Thiruindaloor
Kazheesirama Vinnagaram
Thirukkavalampadi
Thiruchsemponsey
Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram
Thiru Vanpurushothamam
Thiruvaikunda vinnagaram
Thirumanimadam
Thiruthevanartthogai
Thiruthetriyambalam
Thirumanikkoodam
Thiruvellakkulam
Thiruppaarththanpalli
Thalai Sanga Nanmathiyam
Thiruchsirupuliyur
Thiruvali-Thirunagari
Thanjavur
Thiruccithra kootam
Thirukkannangudi
Thirunagai
Thiru Thanjai
Thirukkoodaloor
Thiru Kavith Thalam
Thiru Adhanoor
Thirupullabhoothangudi
Thirukkudandhai
Thiruccherai
Thirunandipura Vinnagaram
Thiru Naraiyoor
Thiruvinnagar
Thiruvelliyangudi
Thirukkanamangai
Thirukkkannapuram
Thiruvahithipuram
Tirukkoilur
Thirukkandiyur
Trichy
Sri Rangam
Thirukkozhi
Thirukkarambanoor
Thiruvellarai
Thiru Anbil
Thirupper Nagar
Tirunelveli
Thiruvaramangai
Thirukkurungudi
Srivaikundam
Thiruvaragunamangai
Thiruppulingudi
Thirukkurugoor
Thirutthulaivillimangalam
Thirukkoloor
Thirukkulandhai
Thentirupperai
Kanyakumari
Thiruvattaru
Thiruvanparisaram
Vinnulagam (Outside the Earthly realm)
Thirupalkkadal
Paramapadam
List of Thayar Lakshmi and Perumal at Divya Desam Temples
1 Srirangam Ranganayagi Ranganathar (Periya Perumal)
2 Uraiyur Kamalavalli Vasalakshmi Azhagiya Manavala Perumal
3 Thirukarambanur Poornaavalli Purushothama Perumal
4 Thiruvellarai Rakthapankajavalli Pundarikaksha Perumal
5 Thiruanbil Soundaryavalli Sundaramoorthaye Poornaya Perumal
6 Thiruppernagar Indravalli Appala Ranganatha Perumal
7 Thirukandiyur Kamalavalli Kamalanatha, Harasabavimochana Perumal
8 Thirukoodalur Padmasani Jagathrakshaga Perumal
9 Thirukavithalam Ramamanivalli Gajendravaradha Perumal
10 Thiruppullamboothangudi Hemabja Thrudathanvee Ramabadhra Perumal
11 Thiruaadhanur Ranganayagi Varshakalathinayaka Perumal
12 Thirukudanthai Komalavalli Aparyapthamrutha Perumal
13 Thiruvinnagar Boodevi Lavanavarjitha Srinivasa Perumal
14 Thirunaraiyur Vanjulavalli Srinivasa Perumal
15 Thirucherai Saranayagi Saranatha Perumal
16 Thirunandhipura Vinnagaram Shenbagavalli Jagannatha Perumal
17 Thiruvelliyangudi Maragadhavalli Srungarasundara Danushbani Ramaya Perumal
18 Thirukannamangai Abishegavalli Bhaktavatsala Perumal
19 Thirukannapuram Kannapura Sowriraja Perumal
20 Thirukannangudi Loganayagi Lokanatha Perumal
21 Thirunagai Soundaryavalli Soundararaja Perumal
22 Thiruthanjai Mamanikoil Rakthapankajavalli Neelamega Perumal
Manikundram Ambujavalli Maniparvatha Perumal
Thanjaiyali Nagar Thanjanayagi Narasimha Perumal
23 Thiruvazhundur Rakthapankajavalli Devadhiraja Perumal
24 Thiruchirupuliyur Dhayanayagi Krupasamudra Perumal
25 Thiruthalaichanga Nanmadiyam Siras sanga Chandrasabahara Perumal
26 Thiruindalur Pundareegavalli Parimalaranganatha Perumal
27 Thirukazhicheerama Vinnagaram Loganayagi Lokanatha Thrivikrama Perumal
28 Thirukkavalambadi Pankajavalli Gopala Krishna Perumal
29 Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram Amrudhagadavalli Gadakeli Narthanaya Perumal
30 Thiruvanpurushothamam Purushothama Purushothama Perumal
31 Thirusemponsaikoil Sweda Pushpavalli Hemaranganatha Perumal
32 Thirumanimadakoil Pundareegavalli Sashvatha Deepaya Narayana Perumal
33 Thiruvaigunda Vinnagaram Vaigundavalli Vaikuntanatha Perumal
34 Thiruthetriambalam Rakthapankajavalli Lakshmiranga Perumal
35 Thirumanikoodam Boonayagi Varadharaja Perumal
36 Thiruparthanpalli Kamala Parthasarathy roopa, Kamalapathaye Perumal
37 Thiruvali & Thirunagari Amrudhagadavalli Kedarapathivaraya Perumal
38 Thiruthevanarthogai Samudradanaya Devanayaka Perumal
39 Thiruvellakulam Padmavathi Srinivasa Perumal
40 Thiruchitrakoodam Pundareegavalli Govindaraja Perumal
41 Thiruvaheendrapuram Hemabujavalli Devanatha Perumal
42 Thirukkovalur Pushpavalli Thrivikrama Perumal
43 Thirukkachi – Atthigiri Perundevi Devathiraja Perumal
44 Ashtabuyagaram Padmasani Gajendravarada Perumal
45 Thiruthanka Maragadhavalli Deepaprakasa Perumal
46 Thiruvelukkai Amruthavalli Sundharayoghanarasimha Perumal
47 Thiruneeragam Boovalli Jagadeeswara Perumal
48 Thiruppadagam Rukmani Sathyabama Pandavadootha Perumal
49 Nilathingal Thundam Chandrasoodavalli Chandrasooda Perumal
50 Thiruooragam Amudavalli Thrivikrama Perumal
51 Thiruvehka Komalavalli Yathokthakari Perumal
52 Thirukkaragam Padmamani Karunagara Perumal
53 Thirukkarvaanam Kamalavalli Neelamega Perumal
54 Thirukkalvanur Sundarabimbavalli Choranatha Perumal
55 Thiruppavalavannam Pravalavalli Pravalavarna Perumal
56 Thiruparamechura Vinnagaram Vaigundavalli Vaikundanatha Perumal
57 Thirupputkuzhi Maragadavalli Vijayaraghava Perumal
58 Thirunindravur Sudhavalli Bhaktavatsala Perumal
59 Thiruvallur Kanagavalli Vaidhya Veeraraghava Perumal
60 Thiruvallikeni Rukmani Venkatakrishna Perumal
61 Thiruneermalai Sundaravalli Jalathivarnaya Perumal
62 Thiruidaventhai Komalavalli Lakshmivaraha Perumal
63 Thirukkadalmallai Boosthalamangadevi Sthalasayana Perumal
64 Thirukkadigai Amruthabalavalli Yoganarasimha Perumal
65 Thiruvayothi Seethadevi Ramachandra Perumal
66 Thirunaimisaranyam Sriharilakshmi Devaraja Perumal
67 Thirupruthi Parimalavalli Paramapurushaya Perumal
68 Thirukkandamenum Kadinagar Pundareegavalli Neelamega Perumal
69 Thiruvadariyachramam Aravindavalli Badrinarayana Perumal
70 Thirusalakraamam Sridevi Srimoorthi Perumal
71 Thiruvadamadurai Sathyabama Govardhanagiridhari Perumal
72 Thiruvaipadi Rukmani Sathyabama Navamohanakrishna Perumal
73 Thirudwaragai Lakshmi Rukmanyadhi Ashtamahishi, Dwarakadeesa Perumal
74 Thirusingavelkundram(Ahobilam) Amruthavalli Senchulakshmi Lakshminarasimha Perumal
75 Thiruvengadam(Tirupati) Padmavathi Srinivasa(Venkateswara) Perumal
76 Thirunavai Padmavathi Narayana Perumal
77 Thiruvithuvakodu Vithuvakoduvalli Sri Abhayapradhaya Perumal
78 Thirukatkarai Vathsalyavalli Katkaraswami Perumal
79 Thirumoozhikkalam Madhuraveni Sookthinatha Perumal
80 Thiruvallavazh Vathsalyavalli Sundaraya Perumal
81 Thirukkadithalam Karpagavalli Amruthanarayana Perumal
82 Thiruchengundrur Rakthapankajavalli Devathideva Perumal
83 Thiruppuliyur Hemalatha Mayashaktiyuthaswamy Perumal
84 Thiruvaranvilai Padmasani Vamana Perumal
85 Thiruvanvandoor Kamalavalli Kamalanatha Perumal
86 Thiruvananthapuram Harilakshmi Ananthapadmanabha Perumal
87 Thiruvattaru Maragadhavalli Adhikesava Perumal
88 Thiruvanparisaram Kamalavalli Thiruvazhmarbhan Perumal
89 Thirukkurungudi vamanashetravalli Vamanakshetrapoornaya Perumal
90 Thirucheeravaramangai Chireevaramangaivalli Thothadhrinatha Perumal
91 Thiruvaigundam (Navathirupathi) Boonayagi, Vaigundavalli Vaikuntanatha Perumal
92 Thiruvaragunamangai (navathirupathi) Varagunavalli Vijayasana Perumal
93 Thiruppuliangudi (Navathirupathi) Boonayagi Boomipalaya Vairinedharchidha Gopaya Perumal
94 Thirutholaivillimangalam(Navathirupathi) Visalakrishnakshidevi Aravindhalochana Perumal
95 Thirukkulandai(Navathirupathi) Baligavalli Padmavathi Srinivasa Perumal
96 Thirukkolur(Navathirupathi) Kolurvalli Nikshepavithaya Perumal
97 Thirupperai (Navathirupathi) Kundalakarnadevi Dheerga Magarakundaladharaya Perumal
98 Thirukkurugur (Navathirupathi) Aadhinathavalli Aadhinatha Perumal
99 Thiruvillipputhur Kodhadevi Vadapathrasayee Perumal
100 Thiruthangal Rakthapankajavalli Narayana Perumal
101 Thirukkoodal Madhuravalli Sangamasundharaya Perumal
102 Thirumaliruncholai Sundaravalli Chorasundara Perumal
103 Thirumogur Mohavalli Kalamega Perumal
104 Thirukkoshtiyur Mahalakshmi Uraga Mrudusayanaya Perumal
105 Thiruppullani Kalyanavalli, Padmasani Kalyana Jagannatha Perumal
106 Thirumeyyam Ujjeevana Sathyagirinatha Perumal
107 Thiruparkadal Sridevi Venkatesa Perumal
108 Thirupparamapadham Mahalakshmya Paramapadhanathaya Perumal
Dharshan of 108 Divya Desa Perumal Dharshan in 10 minutes:
GF’ Blessings.
