Divya Desams 1

Divya Desams

Lord Vishnu

Divya Desams refer to the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned inthe works of the Tamil Azhvars (saints). Divya means "premium" andDesam indicates "place" (temple). Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India,one is in Nepal, and two are supposedly outside the Earthly realms.The Divya Desams are revered by the 12 Azhvars in the DivyaPrabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. Lord Shiva, the othermajor deity in Hinduism, is similarly associated with the Paadal PetraSthalams, 275 Shiva temples praised in the Tevaram canon by the 63Nayanars.

Azhwars

Image of Rangamannar-Andal temple in Srivilliputhur

The word azhwar means the one who dives deep into the ocean ofthe countless attributes of god. Azhwars are considered the twelvesupreme devotees of Vishnu, who were instrumental inpopularising Vaishnavism during the 5th-8th centuries A.D. Thereligious works of these saints in Tamil, songs of love anddevotion, are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham containing4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs areclassified as Divya desam.[1] The saints had different origins andbelonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first threeazhwars, Poigai, Bhutha and Pey were born miraculously.Tirumizhisai was the son of a sage, Thondaradi, Mathurakavi,

Peria and Andal were from brahmin community, Kulasekhara from Kshatria community, Namm was from acultivator family, Tirupana from panar community and Tirumangai from kazhwar community. Divya Suri Saritra byGaruda-Vahana Pandita (11th century AD), Guruparamparaprabavam by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jiyar, Periya tirumudi adaivu by Anbillai Kandadiappan, Yatindra Pranava Prabavam by Pillai Lokacharya, commentaries on DivyaPrabandam, Guru Parampara (lineage of Gurus) texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of theazhwars 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'sMace/Club), Pey of Nandaka (Vishnu's sword), Thirumalisai of Sudarshanam (Vishnu's discus), Namm ofVishvaksena (Vishnu's commander), Madhurakavi of Vainatheya (Vishnu's eagle, Garuda), Kulasekhara ofKaustubha (Vishnu's necklace), Periy of Garuda (Vishnu's eagle), Andal of Bhoodevi (Vishnu's wife, Lakshmi, inher form as Bhudevi), Thondaradippodi of Vanamaalai (Vishnu's garland), Thiruppaan of Srivatsa (An auspiciousmark on Vishnu's chest) and Thirumangai of Saranga (Krishna's bow). The songs of Prabandam are regularly sungin all the Vishnu temples of South India daily and also during festivals.

Divya Desams 2

According to traditional account by Manavala Mamunigal, the first three azhwars namely Poigai, Bhoothath and Peybelong to Dwapara Yuga (before 4200 BC). Modern historians place the period of azhwars from the 5th to 8thcentury AD, but there is dispute about the chronology and relation between each other. But it is widely accepted bytradition and historians that the trio are the earliest among the twelve azhwars. Along with the three Saivanayanmars, they influenced the ruling Pallava kings, creating a Bhakti movement that resulted in changing thereligious geography from Buddhism and Jainism to these two sects of Hinduism in the region. The azhwars werealso instrumental in promoting the Bhagavatha cult and the two epics of India, namely, Ramayana andMahabaratha.[2] The azhwars were instrumental in spreading Vaishnavism throughout the region.[3] The verses ofthe various azhwars were compiled by Nathamuni (824-924 AD), a 10th-century Vaishnavite theologian, who calledit the "Tamil Veda".

List of Divya DesamsThe list of 108 Divya Desams is given in this table:[4]

108 Divya Desams

North India/Nepal Malai Nadu Madurai Kanchipuram Chennai

1. Ahobilam - Andhra Pradesh2. Muktinath, SaligramamNepal3. Naimisaranya - UttarPradesh4. Mathura - Uttar Pradesh5. Gokul - Uttar Pradesh6. Devprayag - Uttarakhand7. Tirupathi - Andhra Pradesh8. Badrinath temple -Uttarakhand9. Ayodhya - Uttar Pradesh10. Dwarka - Gujarat

11. Thiruvananthapuram12. Thirukatkarai13. Moozhikkalam14. Tiruvalla15. Thirukadithanam16. Sengunroor17. Thiruppuliyoor18. Thiruvaaranvilai19. Thiruvanvandoor20. Thiru naavaay21. Viththuvakkodu

22. Thirumeyyam23. Thirukoshtiyur24. Koodal AzhagarTemple25. Azhagar Kovil26. Tirumogoor27. Srivilliputhur28. Tiruththangal29. Thiruppullani

30. Thiruvengadam31. Tirukkacchi32. Ashtabujakaram33. Tiruvekkaa34. Tiruththanka35. Tiruvelukkai36. Tirukalvanoor37. Tiru oorakam38. Tiru neeragam39. Tiru kaaragam40. Tirukaarvaanam41. Tiru parameswaravinnagaram42. Tiru pavala vannam43. Tiru paadagam44. Tiru nilaaththingal thundam45. Thiruputkuzhi

46. Thiruvallikeni47. Thiruneermalai48. Thiruvidandai49. Thirukadalmallai50. Thiruninravur51. Thiruvallur52. Thirukkadigai

Mayiladuthurai andSirkazhi

Thanjavur Trichy Tirunelveli Kanyakumari

Divya Desams 3

53. Thiruvazhunthoor54. Thiruindaloor55. KazheesiramaVinnagaram56. Thirukkavalampadi57. Thiruchsemponsey58. Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram59. Thiru Vanpurushothamam60. Thiruvaikundavinnagaram61. Thirumanimadam62. Thiruthevanartthogai63. Thiruthetriyambalam64. Thirumanikkoodam65. Thiruvellakkulam66. Thiruppaarththanpalli67. Thalai SangaNanmathiyam68. Thiruchsirupuliyoor69. Thiruvali-Thirunagari

70. Thiruccithra kootam71. Thirukkannangudi72. Thirunagai73. Thiru Thanjai74. Tirukkoilur75. Thirukkoodaloor76. Thiru Kavith Thalam77. Thiru Adhanoor78. Thirupullabhoothangudi79. Thirukkudandhai80. Thiruccherai81. ThirunandipuraVinnagaram82. ThiruNaraiyoor83. Thiruvinnagar84. Thiruvelliyangudi85. Thirukkanamangai86. Thirukkkannapuram87. Thirukkandiyur

88. Sri Rangam89. Thirukkozhi90. Thirukkarambanoor91. Thiruvellarai92. Thiru Anbil93. Thirupper Nagar94. Thiruvanthipuram

95. Thiruvaramangai96. Thirukkurungudi97. Srivaikundam98. Thiruvaragunamangai99. Thiruppulingudi100. Thirukkurugoor101. Thirutthulaivillimangalam102. Thirukkoloor103. Thirukkulandhai104. Thentirupperai

105. Thiruvattaru106.Thiruvanparisaram

Vinnulagam (Outside the Earthly realm)

107. Thirupaarkadal108. Thiruparamapadham

List of Deities in DivyadesamsThe list of deities[5] 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

Divya Desams 4

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

Divya Desams 5

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

Divya Desams 6

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

Gallery

SrirangamTemple

VaradarajaPerumal Temple

Tirupathi Devastanam SarangapaniTemple

Srivilliputhur Temple Azhagar Kovil

Divya Desams 7

Notes[1][1] Dalal 2011, pp. 20-21[2][2] B.S. 2011, p. 42[3][3] B.S. 2011, pp. 47-48[4][4] Govindāchārya 1902, p. 59-69[5] http:/ / srividesikan. web. officelive. com/ Documents/ Divya%20Desa%20Divya%20Thambathigal%20Namavali. pdf

References• B. S., Chandrababu; S., Ganeshram; C., Bhavani (2011). History of People and Their Environs (http:/ / books.

google. co. in/ books?id=crxUQR_qBXYC& pg=PA47& dq=poygai& hl=en& sa=X&ei=50R0UaefIZGy9gSDt4DoCA& ved=0CC8Q6AEwADgU#v=onepage& q=poygai& f=false). BharathiPuthakalayam. ISBN 9789380325910.

• Chari, S. M. Srinivasa (1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs (http:/ / books. google. co. in/books?id=8TwHhuZrZ-wC& pg=PA16& dq=poygai& hl=en& sa=X& ei=JTZ0UY6UEoqC8ATkloHgDA&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q=poygai& f=false). Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.ISBN 9788120813427.

• Dalal, Roshen (2011). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide (http:/ / books. google. co. in/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC& pg=PA308& dq=poigai& hl=en& sa=X& ei=ozhzUYPiC4Ga9gT74YGYBQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q=poigai& f=false). Penguin Books India. ISBN 9780143414216.

• Das, Sisir Kumar; Sāhitya Akādemī (2005). A history of Indian literature, 500-1399: from courtly to the popular(http:/ / books. google. co. in/ books?id=BC3l1AbPM8sC& pg=PA29& dq=madhurakavi+ azhwar& hl=en&sa=X& ei=WcviUarJC7LC4AOX0oCYDg& ved=0CDYQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage& q=madhurakavi azhwar&f=false). chennai: Sāhitya Akādemī. ISBN 81-260-2171-3.

• Ramanujan, Attipat Krishnaswami (2005). Hymns for the Drowning: Poems for Vishnu (http:/ / books. google.com/ books?id=9pa7-h0jhB0C& printsec=frontcover& dq=nammalvar& hl=en& sa=X&ei=u3TVUa-HG47Y8gSW94DIDA& ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA). Penguin Books. ISBN 9780144000104.

• Govindāchārya, Aḷkoṇḍavilli (1902). The Holy Lives of the Azhvârs: Or, the Drâvida Saints (http:/ / books.google. co. in/ books?id=SoTe_qTyIKIC& dq=periyazhvar& source=gbs_navlinks_s). Mysore: G. T. A. Press.

External links• www.divyadesam.com (http:/ / www. divyadesam. com)

Article Sources and Contributors 8

Article Sources and ContributorsDivya Desams  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=608429196  Contributors: Ana8kor, Anup Ramakrishnan, Aprameyak 1991, Arun.rajagopal, B, Balajiviswanathan,Casablanca2000in, Charanvamsi, Crusoe8181, DaGizza, Dharmadhyaksha, Discospinster, Eric Corbett, Faizhaider, Gaura79, Gksrikant, GourangaUK, Hari7478, Hongooi, ImpuMozhi, Ismschism, Kalpathyram, Kumararaj, KyraVixen, Lifebonzza, Logicwiki, Lotje, Mallan23, Mamaberry11, Mattbr, Nagarjuna198, Nmadhubala, Nsmohan, Oculi, PKT, Padmakishore,Padmavasantha, Paul Raj, Philosopher123, PhnomPencil, Piggy bits, Pinecar, Polar, Priyanath, R'n'B, RaghuOnWiki, Raji.srinivas, Ravik, Redtigerxyz, Rhariram, Rjwilmsi, Roland zh, Ronz,Rs4670, Sharmanic2002, Shijualex, Squids and Chips, Ssriram mt, Sureshpb, The Evil Spartan, Vadakkan, Vaishmurali, VasuVR, Vidhyasathy, Vimalkalyan, Vineethvijayaraghavan,Vishwajith33, Vpartha, WikiPuppies, Woohookitty, World8115, 97 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Lakshmi Vishnu.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Lakshmi_Vishnu.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Gunkarta, Redtigerxyz, Roland zhFile:Andal Temple.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Andal_Temple.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: GauthamanFile:Srirangam Temple Gopuram.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Srirangam_Temple_Gopuram.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0  Contributors:http://www.flickr.com/photos/appaji/File:Varadharajar3.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Varadharajar3.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: User:Ssriram mtFile:Tirumala temple.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Tirumala_temple.JPG  License: Public domain  Contributors: VimalkalyanFile:Sarangapani Temple - Kumbakonam.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sarangapani_Temple_-_Kumbakonam.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: B BalajiFile:AzhagarKovil Madurai.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:AzhagarKovil_Madurai.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:TAMIZHU

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