Divya Desams – (Click on the names for more details)
Divya Desams refer to the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars (saints). Divya in the Tamil language indicates “premium” and Desam indicates “place” (temple). Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and two are outside the Earthly realms. Most of the Divya Desams follow the Thenkalai Sampradayam, the most prominent of which are Sri Rangam(Pancharatra Agama), and Thiruvallikeni (Vaikhanasa Agama). There are also Divya Desams that follow the Vadakalai Sampradayam, includeingThiruvelliyangudi (Vaikhanasa Agama), and Thiruvanthipuram (Pancharatra Agama).
The Divya Desams are revered by the 12 Azhvars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. Lord Shiva, the other major deity in Hinduism, is similarly associated with the Paadal Petra Sthalams, 275 Shiva temples praised in the Tevaram canon by the 63Nayanars.
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Azhwars[edit]
Image of Rangamannar-Andal temple in Srivilliputhur
The word azhwar means the one who dives deep 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 A.D. 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.[1][2] The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first three azhwars, Poigai, Bhutha and Pey were born miraculously. Tirumizhisai was the son of a sage, Thondaradi, Mathurakavi, Periaand Andal were from brahmin community, Kulasekhara from Kshatria community, Namm was from a cultivator family, Tirupana from panarcommunity and Tirumangai from kazhwar community. Divya Suri Saritra by Garuda-Vahana Pandita (11th century AD),Guruparamparaprabavam by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jiyar, Periya tiru mudi adaivu by Anbillai Kandadiappan, Yatindra Pranava Prabavam by Pillai Lokacharya, commentaries on Divya Prabandam, Guru Parampara (lineage of Gurus) texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the azhwars and their works. 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 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 Saranga (Rama’s bow). The songs ofPrabandam are regularly sung in all the Vishnu temples of South India daily and also during festivals.[2][3]
According to traditional account by Manavala Mamunigal, the first three azhwars namely Poigai, Bhoothath and Pey belong to Dwapara Yuga (before 4200 BC). Modern historians place the period of azhwars from the 5th to 8th century AD, but there is dispute about the chronology and relation between each other. But it is widely accepted by tradition and historians that the trio are the earliest among the twelve azhwars.[1][2][4][5][6] Along with the three Saiva nayanmars, they influenced the ruling Pallava kings, creating a Bhakti movement that resulted in changing the religious geography from Buddhism and Jainism to these two sects of Hinduism in the region. The azhwars were also instrumental in promoting the Bhagavatha cult and the two epics of India, namely, Ramayana and Mahabaratha.[7] The azhwars were instrumental in spreading Vaishnavism throughout the region.[8] The verses of the various azhwars were compiled by Nathamuni (824-924 AD), a 10th-century Vaishnavite theologian, who called it the “Tamil Veda”.[9][10]
List of Divya Desams[edit]
The list of 108 Divya Desams is given in this table:[11][12]
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Srirangam Temple
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Srivilliputhur Temple
Direction of the holy face and region[edit]
In these 108 Divyadesams, Vishnu faces various directions and giving his seva (blessing), which are as follows:
| Facing Direction | Divyadesams |
| East | 79 |
| West | 19 |
| North | 3 |
| South | 7 |
| Region | Divyadesams |
| Chola region | 40 |
| Pandya land | 18 |
| Malai Nadu | 13 |
| Central land | 2 |
| Thondai land | 22 |
| Northern | 12 |
| Land transcedent | 1[13] |
List of Deities in Divyadesams[edit]
The list of deities[14] in the divyadesams is shown.
| S.No. | Divyadesam | Thayar (Lakshmi) | Swamy (Vishnu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Srirangam | Ranganayagi | Ranganathar (Periya Perumal) |
| 2 | Thirukozhi | Kamalavalli Vasalakshmi | Sundaravaraya 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 | Neelamega 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 | Parimalaranga | 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 | Thiru 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 | Thiruevvul | 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 | Amruthavalli Senchulakshmi | Lakshminarasimha Perumal |
| 75 | Thiruvengadam(Mel Thirupathi) | Padmavathi | Srinivasa 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 | Vamanaya 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 | Thirupparkadal | BooSamudradhanaya | Ksheerabdhinatha Perumal |
| 108 | Thirupparamapadham | Mahalakshmya | Paramapadhanathaya Perumal |
