108 Vaishnava Divya Desams
108 Divya Desams of Lord
Vishnu revered by the hymns of 12 Alwars)
Around 1300 years ago, during what is known as the Bhakti movement, the Alwar
saint poets of Tamilnadu, sang verses in praise of Vishnu, glorifying the deity enshrined in temples all over India. These
verses as well as these temples are still a part of the cultural fabric of the region. 108 of these shrines and mythological
abodes are collectively known as the Divya Desam shrines in the Vaishnava tradition.
Out of108 divya desams (Thirupathis,Vishnu Templs) human can worship in 106 divya desams in the earth and the remaining 2 after our demise. Out of 106 divyadesams
which are across the country 84 temples are in Tamilnadu, 12 in Kerala,
2 in Andhrapradesh and the balance in northern part of the country. They are called by Alwars as Chola nadu,Nadu nadu, Thonda
nadu, Pandia nadu,Malai nadu and Vadanadu. Chola Nadu Thiruppathi(Divya Desam): 40 Chola
Nadu consists of Tanjore,Nagapattinam, Trichy, Kumbakonam, Seerkazhi, Chidambaram,Mayavaram. Nadu Nadu Thirupathi:
2 Cuddalore,Thirukkoilur. Thonda Nadu Thirupathi: 22 Chennai,Kancheepuram, Sholingar, Mahabalipuram,
Thiruneermalai, Thiruninravur, Thiruvallur Pandia Nadu Thirupathi: 18 Nava thripathi(Srivaikundam), Thirunelveli,Tuticorin,Madurai,Srivilliputhur. Mala Nadu Thirupathi:(Kerala): 13 Chengnacheri, Ernakulam, Trivandrum, Thiruvalla comprising
of 11 temples. Thiruvanparisaram,Thiruvattaru temples belong to Tamil nadu are in Nagercoil and Marthandam area. Vada
Nadu Thirupathi:11 Ahobilam, Thirumala are in Andhra pradesh. Pancha Dwaraka in Gujarath. Badrinath, Devprayag,
Nandapryag are in Uthranchal State. Mathura, Gokulam, Brindavan,Ayodhi, Naimisaranyam are in UP state. Saligram(Mukthinath)
is in Nepal.
Thiruparkadal. Thiruvaikundam are the divyadesams
can be worshipped after we leave our soul from the earth.
Abodes of Mahavishnu All about
the Alwars, the works of the Alwars, historical background, the shrines, their geographical distribution and more. |
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A Regionwise Index pointing
to the divya desam shrines all over India with details on historical background, temple layout, architecture, iconography,
festivals etc. |
The Ranganathar temple at Srirangam in
Tamilnadu is the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams and is a repository
of history and art. |
The Venkateswara temple at Tirumala-Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is the most visited temple in India. |
The Parthasarathy temple at Tiruvallikkeni is a historic monument coexisting with the hustle
and bustle of Chennai. |
The Padmanabha swami temple at Tiruvanandapuram
in Kerala is a vast temple complex steeped in tradition. |
Badrinath in the lofty Himalayas
was visited by Adi Sankara several centuries ago. |
Dwarka in Gujarat, enshrining Krishna is an integral part of Indian mythology related to Krishna. |
The five Krishnaranya shrines of Tamilnadu are Tiruvazhundur, Tirukkannankudi, Kapistalam, Kannapuram and Kannamangai |
The massive Varadaraja
Perumaal temple complex is the foremost of the 14 Divya Desam shrines in Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu.
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Shrines associated with the Pancha Pandavas in Kerala are Chengannur , Tiruppuliyur , Aranmula
, Tiruvamundur and Tirukkadittanam |
Tiruchherai near Kumbhakonam
hosts a spectacular chariot procession in the month of January. |
Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh,
Sholingur near Chennai are home to ancient hill temples enshrining Narasimhar.
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The Trivikrama avataram of Vishnu is enshrined at Tiruoorakam at Kanchi, Trikakkara in Kerala, Tirukkovalur near Tiruvannamalai, &
Sirkazhi near Chidambaram. |
Srivilliputtur is the birthplace
of Andal, whose hymns are sung through the morning hours of the month
of Margazhi in Tamilnadu. |
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Ayodhya and Mathura are an integral part of Indian mythology and have been revered by the
hymns of the Alwars. |
The presiding deity at Nachiyaar
Koyil near Kumbhakonam in Tamilnadu is taken out in procession on a stone Garuda mount (Kal Garudan). |
The Koodalazhagar temple within the city and the Kallazhagar temple
in the suburbs are the well known Divya Desam shrines in the Madurai area.
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The Tirukkurunkudi temple
near Tirunelveli enshrining Azhagiya Nambi is of great sculptural splendour. |
SriVaikuntham and Alwar Tirunagari are the foremost of 9 shrines in the Tirunelveli region addressed
by the saint Nammalwar in his hymns. |
Tirukkottiyur near Madurai
is closely associated with incidents from the life of Ramanujacharya. |
At Tiruvattar and Tirupatisaram
in Kanyakumari district, worship is carried out as per the Kerala Tantram protocol. |
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