The 108 Divya Desams
The Divya Desams are the 108 abodes of Shri Vishnu sung in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the four thousand Tamil hymns of the twelve Alvars, which Nathamuni gathered in the 10th century and the Sri Vaishnava tradition reveres as the Tamil Veda.
Only a shrine praised by at least one Alvar counts. 105 are in Bharat, one, Saligrama at Muktinath, is in Nepal, and the last two, the Ocean of Milk and Paramapada (Vaikuntha), are beyond the earth, reached only when the soul leaves the body. Srirangam stands first and Tirumala is the most visited. The traditional order goes by region: 40 in Chola Nadu, 2 in Nadu Nadu, 22 in Tondai Nadu, 13 in Malai Nadu (Kerala and the far south), 18 in Pandya Nadu, 11 in the north (Vada Nadu) and the two in the heavens. A few, like Thanjai Mamanikoil and Thiruvali–Thirunagari, are counted as one Divya Desam though they are two or three shrines.
Temples in this circuit
StandingSri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
The first of the 108 Divya Desams, on an island between the Kaveri and Kollidam, with seven concentric walls and 21 gopurams. Ramanujacharya lived and taught here.
StandingAzhagiya Manavalar Temple, Thirukkozhi (Uraiyur)
The second Divya Desam, in the old Chola capital of Uraiyur, where Bhagwan Ranganatha came as the beautiful bridegroom for Kamalavalli, the Chola king’s daughter. Here the Thayar goes first in every procession and the Perumal follows.
StandingPurushottama Perumal Temple, Thirukkarambanur (Uthamar Kovil)
A temple near Srirangam where Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva are all worshipped inside one wall. Lakshmi filled Shiva’s begging bowl here, and so she is Poornavalli, the one who filled it.
StandingPundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai
A hill temple of white rock 27 km from Tiruchirappalli, older in local reckoning than Srirangam itself. Its two gates open by turns, one for Uttarayana and one for Dakshinayana, and its Pallava svastika well still holds water.
StandingVadivazhagiya Nambi (Sundararaja Perumal) Temple, Anbil
A reclining Perumal on the north bank of the Kollidam, 25 km from Tiruchirappalli, in the village of Anbil, home of the Chola minister Anirudha Brahmarayar. Thirumazhisai Alvar names it among the seven places where the Lord lies on the serpent.
StandingAppakkudathan Perumal Temple, Thirupper Nagar (Koviladi)
One of the Pancharanga Kshetrams on the Kaveri, where the Lord ate a whole pot of appam to free a cursed king. Neyyappam is still offered every night, and Nammalvar is held to have sung his last pasuram here.
StandingHara Saba Vimochana Perumal Temple, Thirukkandiyur
The Perumal who freed Hara, Shiva himself, from the skull of Brahma that clung to his hand. Kandiyur stands between Thanjavur and Thiruvaiyaru, with the Shiva temple of the same katha close by.
StandingJagatrakshaka Perumal Temple, Thirukkoodalur (Aduthurai)
Vaiyam Katha Perumal, the Lord who saved the world: here, the temple holds, Varaha entered the earth to bring Bhudevi back. The village of Vadakurangaduthurai lies between Kumbakonam and Thiruvaiyaru.
StandingGajendra Varadar Temple, Thirukkavithalam (Kapisthalam)
The place of Gajendra Moksha on the Kaveri, where the Lord came for an elephant’s cry of ‘Adimulam’. Hanuman also worshipped here, and so the village is Kapisthalam, the place of the kapi.
StandingValvil Raman Temple, Thiruppullam Boothangudi
Where Shri Rama performed the last rites of Jatayu, the eagle who fought Ravana for Sita. Here alone Rama lies down, and he has four arms.
StandingAndalakkum Aiyan Temple, Thiru Adhanur
The Lord who measured out wages to workers in sand, which turned to gems for the honest. He reclines with the measure as his pillow, near Swamimalai.
StandingSarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam
The great Vishnu temple of Kumbakonam and one of the foremost Divya Desams, whose sanctum is built as a chariot drawn by horses and elephants. A single decad of Nammalvar heard here led Nathamuni to recover the four thousand hymns of the Alvars.
StandingOppiliappan Temple, Thirunageswaram
The Divya Desam near Kumbakonam where Vishnu married Bhumi Devi, born as the daughter of Markandeya, and accepted her saltless cooking. No salt enters the temple kitchen, and vows made to Tirupati may be fulfilled here.
StandingThirunaraiyur Nambi Temple, Nachiyar Koil
The temple named for the Thayar: Vishnu agreed to Maharshi Medhavi’s condition that his daughter would always go first. Thirumangai Alvar received his initiation here and sang it in more than a hundred pasurams, and its stone Garuda grows heavier as he leaves the temple.
StandingSaranathar Temple, Thirucherai
Sara Kshetram, where Brahma made his pot for the Vedas from the earth of this place, and where Kaveri was granted equal glory with Ganga. Saranathan is seen here with five consorts, and Kaveri has her own shrine.
StandingBhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Thirukkannamangai
Lakshmi Vanam near Tiruvarur, where Lakshmi did tapas to wed Vishnu after the churning of the ocean. One of the Pancha Krishnaranya Kshetrams, with one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil Nadu and a beehive the devotees honour as the devas.
StandingSowriraja Perumal (Neelamegha) Temple, Thirukkannapuram
Bhuloka Vaikuntham: the most sung of all Divya Desams after Srirangam, praised by five Alvars in 128 pasurams. The festival Perumal wears a sowri, a lock of hair, after he grew one to save his priest.
StandingLokanatha Perumal Temple, Thirukkannangudi
One of the Pancha Krishnaranya Kshetrams near Nagapattinam, where the child Krishna, chased by Vasishtha for eating his butter image, was held by the sages’ love.
StandingSoundararaja Perumal Temple, Thirunagai (Nagapattinam)
The Lord of the port town, so beautiful he was named Soundararajan. Adisesha worshipped him here and gave Nagapattinam its name, and Thirumangai Alvar sang to him as a girl in love.
StandingThanjai Mamanikoil (Neelamegha, Manikundra and Veera Narasimha Perumal), Thanjavur
Three small temples on the Vennar, a short walk apart, that the Alvars praised as one: Mamanikoil, Manikundram and Thanjaiyali Nagar. The katha of the asura Tanjakan gives Thanjavur its name.
StandingJagannatha Perumal Temple, Thirunandipura Vinnagaram (Nathan Koil)
Nandipuram, where Shiva’s Nandi was healed of a curse by worshipping Vishnu; Nandi sits in the sanctum of this Vishnu temple. Here too Lakshmi did tapas for a place on the Lord’s chest.
StandingKolavilli Raman Temple, Thiruvelliyangudi
The temple Maya built to match Vaikuntha, where Shukracharya, blinded at Vamana’s gift, did tapas for his eye. A lamp called the Netra Deepam is kept burning for him.
StandingDevadirajan (Amaruviappan) Temple, Thiruvazhundur (Therazhundur)
The village where a king’s flying chariot sank to the ground, and where Krishna is the cowherd lord surrounded by his cattle. Kamban, poet of the Tamil Ramayana, was born here.
StandingSthalasayana (Kripasamudra) Perumal Temple, Thirusirupuliyur
Small tiger-place: the Perumal lies here in a little form for the aged sages Vyaghrapada and Patanjali, and faces south as at Srirangam. Garuda, the temple holds, does not fly over it.
StandingNanmathiya Perumal Temple, Thalaichanga Nanmathiyam (Thalaichangadu)
The Perumal who lifted Chandra’s curse, and wears a crescent on his head as Shiva does. The village near Poompuhar was known for its conches, and the Lord here holds one of rare beauty.
StandingParimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple, Thiruvindalur (Mayiladuthurai)
One of the Pancharanga Kshetrams, on the Kaveri at Mayiladuthurai. Here the Lord gave fragrance back to the Vedas, freed Chandra, and lies with Kaveri at his head and Ganga at his feet.
StandingGopalakrishna Perumal Temple, Thirukkavalampadi (Thirunangur)
One of the eleven Vishnu temples of Thirunangur, which the temple katha says appeared when Vishnu took eleven forms to calm Shiva’s grief-filled dance. Here Krishna is the lord of a garden that matched Indra’s.
StandingThadalan (Trivikrama) Temple, Thirukkazhicheerama Vinnagaram, Sirkazhi
Thadalan, the Lord of the long stride, in Sirkazhi: Trivikrama with his left foot lifted to the sky. Sage Romasa was given a lifespan here that outlasts Brahma’s.
StandingKudamadukoothan Temple, Thiru Arimeya Vinnagaram (Thirunangur)
Krishna the pot-dancer: Thirumangai Alvar named the Lord of this Nangur temple Kudamadukoothan for the kudakkoothu, the dance with pots that Krishna danced in Dvaraka.
StandingPurushottama Perumal Temple, Thiru Vanpurushothamam (Thirunangur)
A single-shrine temple of Thirunangur where, the temple katha says, the Lord brought the Ocean of Milk for the hungry child Upamanyu.
StandingHemaranganathar Temple, Thiru Semponsei Koil (Thirunangur)
The temple made of red gold: Shri Rama, returning from Lanka, gave a golden cow to a brahmin here, and the brahmin built the shrine with it.
StandingNarayana Perumal Temple, Thiru Manimada Koil (Thirunangur)
The largest of the Thirunangur temples, where all the Perumals of Nangur gather each Thai for the Garuda Sevai. Sunlight enters through openings in the gopuram to reach the Lord, worshipped by Surya the year round.
StandingVaikunthanatha Perumal Temple, Thiru Vaikunda Vinnagaram (Thirunangur)
Vaikuntha on earth among the Nangur fields: the Lord sits here as he sits in his own abode, as he showed himself to the sage Uthanka and King Uparichara Vasu.
StandingThiruvali–Thirunagari (Lakshmi Narasimhar and Vedarajan Temples)
The birthplace of Thirumangai Alvar and the home of his wife Kumudavalli: two temples that the Alvar always sang together, in over forty pasurams. At Thirunagari the flag post faces the Alvar’s shrine, not the Lord’s.
StandingDeivanayaka Perumal Temple, Thiru Thevanar Thogai (Thirunangur)
The assembly of the devas: thogai means a gathering, and here the devas gathered to worship the Lord of the gods, with Lakshmi as the daughter of the sea.
StandingPallikonda Perumal (Lakshmiranganathar) Temple, Thiru Thetriyambalam (Thirunangur)
The reclining Lord of Thirunangur: Ranganatha of Srirangam, the temple katha says, came here at Shiva’s request when the eleven forms were taken, and Adisesha worshipped him.
StandingVaradaraja Perumal Temple, Thiru Manikkoodam (Thirunangur)
Varadaraja of Thirunangur, worshipped, the temple katha says, by the eleven Rudras and by Indra. A small single-shrine temple among the fields.
StandingAnnan Perumal (Srinivasa) Temple, Thiru Vellakkulam (Thirunangur)
The Southern Tirupati: Srinivasa of Thiruvellakkulam, whom devotees call Annan, the elder brother of the Lord of the seven hills. Thirumangai Alvar’s wife Kumudavalli was found here.
StandingThamaraiyal Kelvan Temple, Thiruparthanpalli
Partha’s school: here, the Padma Purana katha says, Krishna gave Arjuna a sword to strike water from the earth, and taught him who he really was. Arjuna stands in the temple with the sword.
StandingThillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Where Shiva danced the Ananda Tandava in the Thillai forest, and the Akasha (space) sthala of the Pancha Bhuta lingas. The sanctum’s ‘Chidambara Rahasyam’ is an empty space hung with a golden garland.
StandingDevanatha Perumal Temple, Thiruvahindrapuram (Thiruvanthipuram)
The Lord of the devas on the Gadilam river, where Adisesha dug a well for the Lord’s abhisheka, and where Vedanta Desika lived and wrote for some forty years. Hayagriva sits on the hill above.
StandingUlagalantha (Trivikrama) Perumal Temple, Thirukkovalur (Tirukkoyilur)
The birthplace of the Prabandham: on a rainy night in a narrow passage here the three first Alvars felt a fourth press among them, and lit the first three Thiruvandhadhis as lamps to see him. Trivikrama stands here in wood under one of the tallest gopurams in Tamil Nadu.
StandingVaradharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
The Divya Desam on Hastigiri where Brahma’s yajna brought Vishnu forth as Varada. Its old wooden image, Athi Varadar, lies under the temple tank and rises for darshan once in forty years.
StandingAdikesava Perumal (Ashtabhuja) Temple, Ashtabhujakaram, Kanchipuram
The eight-armed Lord of Vishnu Kanchi, who took eight weapons to protect Brahma’s yajna from the serpent Saraswati sent against it. Pey Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar sing of him, and Vedanta Desika wrote his Ashtabhujashtakam here.
StandingDeepaprakasar (Vilakkoli Perumal) Temple, Thiruthanka (Thooppul), Kanchipuram
The Lord who came as the light of a lamp when darkness was sent against Brahma’s yajna. Thooppul is the birthplace of Vedanta Desika, who has a shrine here with Hayagriva.
StandingAzhagiya Singar (Narasimha) Temple, Thiruvelukkai, Kanchipuram
The place where the Lord desired to stay: Narasimha of Vishnu Kanchi, who came as Narahari to guard Brahma’s yajna. Vedanta Desika’s Kamasikashtakam is in his praise.
StandingUlagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
The temple of Trivikrama in Kanchipuram, where a murti about 35 feet tall shows Vishnu with one foot raised to the heavens, the moment Bali’s gift was taken in three strides. Four Divya Desams are worshipped within its walls.
StandingPandava Thoothar Perumal Temple, Thiruppadagam (Kanchipuram)
Shri Krishna sits here twenty-five feet tall, as he showed himself in the Kaurava court when he came as the Pandavas’ envoy. It is one of the three oldest Vishnu temples of Kanchipuram and the 48th Divya Desam.
StandingEkambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram
The earth (Prithvi) sthala of the Pancha Bhuta lingas, where Mata Parvati shaped a linga of sand under a mango tree. Its 11-tier rajagopuram is one of the tallest in the south.
StandingUlagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
The temple of Trivikrama in Kanchipuram, where a murti about 35 feet tall shows Vishnu with one foot raised to the heavens, the moment Bali’s gift was taken in three strides. Four Divya Desams are worshipped within its walls.
StandingYathothkari Perumal Temple, Thiruvekka (Kanchipuram)
The Lord who did as he was told. When Thirumalisai Alvar left Kanchi and asked Bhagwan to roll up his serpent bed and follow, he did, and came back when the Alvar returned. Poigai Alvar was born in the lotus tank of this temple.
StandingUlagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
The temple of Trivikrama in Kanchipuram, where a murti about 35 feet tall shows Vishnu with one foot raised to the heavens, the moment Bali’s gift was taken in three strides. Four Divya Desams are worshipped within its walls.
StandingUlagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
The temple of Trivikrama in Kanchipuram, where a murti about 35 feet tall shows Vishnu with one foot raised to the heavens, the moment Bali’s gift was taken in three strides. Four Divya Desams are worshipped within its walls.
StandingKamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram
The seat of Devi Kamakshi, seated in padmasana, and in Kanchi the only shrine of the Devi, for all other temples in the town are said to have none of their own. Adi Shankaracharya installed the Shri Chakra before her.
StandingPavalavannar Perumal Temple, Thiruppavalavannam (Kanchipuram)
A west-facing temple in Kanchi where Vishnu is the colour of coral. Across the road stands his twin, Pachaivannar, the green Lord, and devotees visit the two together.
StandingVaikuntha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
A Pallava stone temple whose three sanctums, one above another, hold Vishnu seated, reclining and standing, and whose cloister walls carry the story of the Pallava kings in sculpture with label inscriptions.
StandingVijayaraghava Perumal Temple, Thiruputkuzhi
Here Shri Rama performed the last rites of Jatayu, the vulture king who fell fighting Ravana. Pul is a bird, kuzhi a pit: the name of the village is the grave of Jatayu.
StandingBhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Thirunindravur
Lakshmi stopped here and stayed, so the town is Thiru-nindra-ur, where Shri stood. Thirumangai Alvar walked past without singing, and the Lord himself went after him for a verse.
StandingVeeraraghava Perumal Temple, Thiruvallur
The Divya Desam of Vishnu the healer, 45 km west of Chennai, where the sick dissolve salt and pepper in the temple tank and crowds gather on every new moon.
StandingParthasarathy Temple, Triplicane
The oldest temple of Chennai and a Divya Desam, where Krishna stands as Arjuna’s charioteer with a moustache and the scars of Bhishma’s arrows on his face. Five forms of Vishnu sung by the Alvars are worshipped in one complex.
StandingNeervanna Perumal Temple, Thiruneermalai
A hill once ringed by water, Toyadri. Thirumangai Alvar waited six months for the flood to go down before he could climb it, and he found Bhagwan here in all four of his postures: standing, lying, sitting and striding.
StandingNithyakalyana Perumal Temple, Thiruvidanthai
Varaha, who lifted the earth from the waters, holds Bhudevi on his lap here, and the temple says he weds a bride every day: Nithya-kalyana, the daily wedding. Couples come to pray for marriage.
RebuiltSthalasayana Perumal Temple, Thirukkadalmallai (Mamallapuram)
At Mamallapuram Vishnu lies on the ground itself, with no serpent bed, because he lay down where a tired sage left him. Bhoothath Alvar, one of the first three Alvars, was born here.
StandingYoga Narasimha Temple, Thirukkadigai (Sholinghur)
A ghatika is twenty-four minutes, and the temple says that one ghatika on this hill is worth a lifetime of prayer elsewhere. Narasimha sits here in yoga at the top of 1,305 steps, and Hanuman faces him from the smaller hill.
RebuiltNavamukunda Temple, Thirunavaya
Nine yogis installed nine images here and eight sank into the earth; the ninth sank to its knees and was held. That ninth is Navamukunda. On the sands below, the Zamorins of Calicut held the Mamankam festival every twelve years.
StandingUyyavandha Perumal Temple, Thiruvithuvakkodu (Thirumittacode)
Five deities share one compound on the Bharathapuzha: four forms of Vishnu said to have been installed by the Pandavas, and Mahadev. Kulasekhara Alvar, the Chera king who became a saint, gave this shrine one of his most loved decads.
StandingThrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple (Thirukkatkarai)
Kerala holds that Mahabali’s capital stood here, and that Onam began at this temple. The image shows Vamana about to set his foot on Bali’s head.
StandingLakshmana Perumal Temple, Thirumoozhikkulam
Tiru-mozhi-kalam, the place where sacred words were spoken. Here Lakshmana and Bharata made peace, and here the sage Harita received Bhagwan’s counsel for the age of Kali. It is the Lakshmana temple of Kerala’s Nalambalam pilgrimage.
StandingSreevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla (Thiruvallavazh)
One of the largest temple compounds of Kerala, where Kathakali is performed as an offering almost every night. The Lord came here as a young brahmachari to kill the asura Thukalasura for a devout old woman.
StandingThrikkodithanam Mahavishnu Temple (Thirukkadithanam)
The temple of Sahadeva, youngest of the Pandavas, one of the five Pandava temples of the Pamba country. A stone figure by the pond is the servant who kept devotees waiting at a closed door.
StandingThrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple, Chengannur (Thiruchengundrur)
Yudhishthira’s temple among the five of the Pandavas. The temple says he came here to atone for the one half-truth of his life, spoken at Kurukshetra to bring down Drona.
StandingMayapiran Temple, Thiruppuliyur
Bhima’s temple among the five of the Pandavas, large as befits the strongest brother. The Saptarishis are said to have won moksha here after refusing a king’s gold.
StandingAranmula Parthasarathy Temple
One of the five Kerala temples held to be founded by the Pandavas, this is Arjuna’s, on the Pamba river. Its snake-boat regatta and grand feast are among Kerala’s best-known festivals.
StandingPambanaiyappan Temple, Thiruvanvandoor
Nakula’s temple among the five of the Pandavas, near the Pamba. Nammalvar’s whole decad on it is recited here in a festival that runs for weeks.
RebuiltSree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
One of the 108 Divya Desams, sung by Nammalvar, where Bhagwan Vishnu lies on Ananta with a lotus rising from his navel. In 1750 Marthanda Varma laid his sword before the deity and the kings of Travancore ruled thereafter as Padmanabhadasa, servants of Padmanabha.
StandingAdikesava Perumal Temple, Thiruvattar
Three rivers wind round this temple, and the Lord inside lies so long that you see him through three doors: face, body, feet. Devotees call it older than the Padmanabhaswamy temple, and the Thiruvananthapuram shrine is said to follow its plan.
StandingThiruvazhmarban Temple, Thiruppathisaram (Thiruvanparisaram)
The Lord here has no separate Thayar shrine, for Lakshmi lives on his chest: Thiru-vazh-marban, he in whose heart Shri dwells. It was the home of Udaya Nangai, mother of Nammalvar.
StandingAzhagiya Nambirayar Temple, Thirukurungudi
A Divya Desam at the foot of the Western Ghats, the birthplace of the Kaisika katha of the devotee Nambaduvan, which is acted out in the temple every Kaisika Ekadashi.
StandingVanamamalai Perumal Temple, Nanguneri (Totadri)
A Swayam Vyakta kshetra and Divya Desam sung by Nammalvar, where the Lord is bathed in oil every day and the oil is kept in a well and given out as medicine; seat of the Vanamamalai Mutt.
StandingVaikuntanathar (Kallapiran) Temple, Srivaikuntam
First of the Nava Tirupati, the nine Vishnu temples of the Thamirabarani that Nammalvar sang. The festival image is Kallapiran, the Lord of the thief, because he once stood by a robber who prayed to him.
StandingVijayasana Perumal Temple, Thiruvaragunamangai (Natham)
Second of the Nava Tirupati, two kilometres from Srivaikuntam, where Vishnu sits as the victor. The Navagraha reckoning makes it the temple of Chandra.
StandingKaichina Vendhan Temple, Thiruppuliangudi
Third of the Nava Tirupati, where Vishnu reclines with a lotus stalk rising from his navel to Brahma. He is Bhoomipalar, protector of the earth, for here he coaxed Bhudevi back from the netherworld. The Navagraha reckoning makes it the temple of Budha.
StandingIrattai Tirupati, Thirutholaivillimangalam
Two temples side by side counted as one Divya Desam: Devapiran and Aravindalochanar. The name comes from a balance (tula) and a bow (vil) that a sage turned up with his plough.
StandingMayakoothar Temple, Thirukkulandai (Perungulam)
The Lord who danced on an asura’s head to free a devotee’s wife. Perungulam takes its name from its great tank, and the Navagraha reckoning makes the temple Shani’s.
StandingVaithamanidhi Perumal Temple, Thirukkolur
The Lord who keeps the treasure: he lies with a grain measure under his head and watches the palm of his hand, guarding Kubera’s wealth. Madhurakavi Alvar, who gave his life to Nammalvar, was born here.
StandingMakara Nedunkuzhaikathar Temple, Thenthiruperai (Thirupperai)
The Lord with the long fish-shaped earrings, a gift from Bhudevi who found them in the river. Seventh of the Nava Tirupati, and Shukra’s temple in the Navagraha reckoning.
StandingAlwarthirunagari (Tirukurugur), Adinatha Perumal Temple
The birthplace of Nammalvar on the Tamraparni, once called Tirukurugur, and one of the 108 Divya Desams. The tamarind tree in whose hollow the child saint sat for sixteen years still stands in the temple.
StandingAndal Temple, Srivilliputhur
The birthplace of Andal, the only woman among the twelve Alvars, who wore the garland meant for the Bhagwan and married Ranganatha. Its tall gopuram appears on the emblem of Tamil Nadu.
StandingNinra Narayana Perumal Temple, Thiruthangal
Ranganatha of Srirangam, on his way to wed Andal at Srivilliputhur, stopped here for the night: tangal, the halt. The temple stands on a low granite hill beside a Shiva temple.
StandingKoodal Azhagar Temple, Madurai
The Divya Desam in the heart of Madurai where Periyalvar sang the first Thiruppallandu, and whose three-storeyed vimana holds Vishnu seated, standing and reclining, one above the other.
StandingKallazhagar Temple, Alagar Kovil
The Vishnu temple at the foot of the Alagar hills, 21 km from Madurai, whose deity rides into Madurai every Chithirai on a golden horse for his sister Meenakshi’s wedding and steps into the Vaigai before lakhs of people.
StandingKalamegha Perumal Temple, Thirumohur
Mohanapuram: the temple says that here Vishnu took the form of Mohini at the churning of the ocean and kept the amrita from the asuras. Its Sudarshana shrine draws devotees from across the south.
StandingSowmya Narayana Perumal Temple, Thirukoshtiyur
From the tower of this temple Ramanuja called out the eight-syllable mantra, Om Namo Narayanaya, to everyone in the street, after his guru had made him come eighteen times to learn it.
StandingAdi Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thiruppullani
Here Shri Rama lay on darbha grass for three days, asking the Ocean for a way to Lanka. Pul is grass and anai a pillow: Thiruppullani. Childless couples come to pray, for the temple links Dasharatha’s payasam to this Lord.
StandingSathyamurthi Perumal Temple, Thirumeyyam (Thirumayam)
Under the hill fort of Thirumayam, Vishnu reclines in a cave cut into the living rock, one of the largest such images in the south. Beside it, in the same hill, is a cave of Mahadev.
StandingAyodhya (Saketa)
The city of the Ikshvakus on the Sarayu, first of the seven moksha-giving cities, birthplace of Shri Ram and of five Jain Tirthankaras. A Shunga-period inscription found here calls the place Kosala and names its king Dhanadeva as a descendant of Pushyamitra.
StandingNaimisharanya
The forest on the Gomti where Suta told the Puranas and the Mahabharata to Shaunaka and the assembled rishis. Without Naimisharanya, the Puranas say, there would be no Puranas to read.
StandingJyotirmath
The northern of the four amnaya mathas founded by Adi Shankaracharya, guardian of the Atharva Veda, and the winter home of Badrinath’s worship.
StandingDevprayag and the Raghunath Temple
Where the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda meet and the river is first called Ganga. Above the sangam is the Raghunath temple, where Shri Rama did tapas, sung by Periyalvar as one of the 108 Divya Desams.
StandingBadrinath
The northern dham of the Char Dham, on the Alaknanda between the Nar and Narayan ranges, where Bhagwan Narayan sits in tapas. Adi Shankaracharya is said to have recovered the murti from the river and set it back in worship.
StandingMuktinath
A Vishnu tirtha at 3,710 metres below the Thorong La pass, one of the 108 Divya Desams and sacred to Buddhists as well.
RebuiltShri Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mathura
The prison-cell of Kamsa where Shri Krishna was born at midnight. The Katra Keshavdev mound carried great temples that were destroyed in 1018 and 1670; the Shahi Idgah stands on part of it, and a new temple complex stands beside.
StandingGokul (Thiruvaippadi)
The cowherd village across the Yamuna where Vasudeva carried the newborn Krishna on the night of his birth. The Alvars called it Thiruvaippadi, the holy settlement of the herdsmen, and Andal and Periyalvar sang it as if they lived there.
RebuiltDwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka
The western dham of the Char Dham, Shri Krishna’s city on the Gomti creek, where the five-storeyed Jagat Mandir flies a flag changed several times a day.
StandingAhobilam (Nava Narasimha Kshetra)
The Nallamala forest where, by the tradition of the place, Bhagwan Narasimha burst from the pillar and killed Hiranyakashipu. Nine Narasimha shrines are scattered over the hills.
StandingSri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala
The hill shrine of Venkateswara on the seventh of the Seshachalam hills, where Bhagwan stands in this Kali Yuga to grant refuge. More pilgrims climb to it than to almost any shrine on earth.
The full list
- Thiruvarangam (Ranganathar)Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkozhi (Azhagiya Manavalar)Uraiyur, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkarambanur (Purushottamar)Uthamarkoil, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvellarai (Pundarikakshar)Thiruvellarai, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
- Thiru Anbil (Vadivazhagiya Nambi)Anbil, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
- Thirupper Nagar (Appakkudathan)Koviladi, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkandiyur (Hara Saapa Vimochanar)Kandiyur, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkoodalur (Jagatrakshakar)Aduthurai, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkavithalam (Gajendra Varadar)Kapisthalam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruppullam Boothangudi (Valvil Raman)Pullabhoothangudi, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiru Adhanur (Andalakkum Aiyan)Adanur, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkudanthai (Sarangapani, Aravamudhan)Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvinnagar (Oppiliappan)Thirunageswaram, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunaraiyur (Srinivasar, Nachiyar Koil)Nachiyar Koil, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirucherai (Saranathar)Thirucherai, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkannamangai (Bhaktavatsalar)Thirukkannamangai, Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkannapuram (Sowriraja Perumal)Thirukkannapuram, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkannangudi (Lokanathar)Thirukkannangudi, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunagai (Soundararajar)Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthanjai Mamanikkoil (Neelamegar, Manikkundram, Thanjaiyali Nagar)Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunandipura Vinnagaram (Jagannathar)Nathan Koil, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvelliyangudi (Kolavilli Raman)Thiruvelliyangudi, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvazhundur (Devadirajan, Amaruviappan)Therazhundur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruchirupuliyur (Krupasamudra Perumal)Thiruchirupuliyur, Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthalaichanga Nanmadiyam (Chandrasaabahara Perumal)Thalaichangadu, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvindalur (Parimala Ranganathar)Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkavalampadi (Gopalakrishnar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkazhicheerama Vinnagaram (Trivikramar)Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiru Arimeya Vinnagaram (Kudamadu Koothan)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvanpurushothamam (Purushottamar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirusemponsei Koil (Hemaranganathar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumanimada Koil (Narayanar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvaikunda Vinnagaram (Vaikunthanathar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvali–Thirunagari (Lakshmi Narasimhar, Vedarajan)Thiruvali and Thirunagari, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthevanar Thogai (Devanayakar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthetriyambalam (Lakshmiranganathar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumanikkoodam (Varadarajar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvellakkulam (Srinivasar)Thirunangur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparthanpalli (Thamaraiyal Kelvan)Parthanpalli, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruchitrakoodam (Govindarajar)Chidambaram, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvahindrapuram (Devanathar)Thiruvanthipuram, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkovalur (Trivikramar, Ulagalantha Perumal)Tirukkoyilur, Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkachi Atthigiri (Varadarajar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Ashtabhujakaram (Ashtabhuja Perumal)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthanka (Deepaprakasar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvelukkai (Azhagiya Singar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruneeragam (Jagadeesar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruppadagam (Pandavadoothar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Nilathingal Thundam (Chandrachooda Perumal)Ekambareswarar temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruooragam (Ulagalantha Perumal)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvekka (Yathothakari)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkaragam (Karunakarar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkarvanam (Neelamegar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkalvanur (Adi Varahar)Kamakshi Amman temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruppavalavannam (Pavalavannar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparameswara Vinnagaram (Vaikunthanathar)Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruputkuzhi (Vijayaraghavar)Thiruputkuzhi, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunindravur (Bhaktavatsalar)Thirunindravur, Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvallur, Thiruevvul (Vaidya Veeraraghavar)Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvallikeni (Parthasarathy)Triplicane, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruneermalai (Neervannar)Thiruneermalai, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvidaventhai (Nithyakalyana Perumal)Thiruvidanthai, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkadalmallai (Sthalasayana Perumal)Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkadigai (Yoga Narasimhar)Sholinghur, Ranipet, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunavai (Navamukundan)Thirunavaya, Malappuram, Kerala
- Thiruvithuvakkodu (Uyyavandha Perumal)Thiruvithuvakkodu, Palakkad, Kerala
- Thirukkatkarai (Katkarai Appan, Vamana)Thrikkakara, Ernakulam, Kerala
- Thirumoozhikkalam (Lakshmana Perumal)Thirumoozhikkulam, Ernakulam, Kerala
- Thiruvallavazh (Sree Vallabhan)Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala
- Thirukkodithanam (Amruthanarayanar)Thrikkodithanam, Kottayam, Kerala
- Thiruchengundrur (Imayavarappan)Chengannur, Alappuzha, Kerala
- Thiruppuliyur (Mayappiran)Thiruppuliyur, Alappuzha, Kerala
- Thiruvaranvilai (Parthasarathy)Aranmula, Pathanamthitta, Kerala
- Thiruvanvandur (Pambanaiyappan)Thiruvanvandoor, Alappuzha, Kerala
- Thiruvananthapuram (Ananta Padmanabha)Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Thiruvattaru (Adikesava Perumal)Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvanparisaram (Thiruvazhmarban)Thiruppathisaram, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkurungudi (Nindra Nambi)Thirukkurungudi, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruchirivaramangai, Vanamamalai (Thothadrinathar)Nanguneri, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvaikundam (Vaikunthanathar)Srivaikuntam, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvaragunamangai (Vijayasanar)Natham, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruppuliangudi (Kaichina Vendhan)Thiruppuliangudi, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirutholaivillimangalam, Irattai Tirupati (Aravindalochanar)Tholavillimangalam, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkulandai (Mayakoothan)Perungulam, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkolur (Vaithamanidhi)Thirukkolur, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirupperai (Makara Nedunkuzhaikkathar)Thenthiruperai, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkurugur (Adinathar)Alwarthirunagari, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
- Srivilliputhur (Vatapatrasayee, Andal)Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthangal (Ninra Narayanar)Thiruthangal, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkoodal (Koodal Azhagar)Madurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumaliruncholai (Kallazhagar)Azhagar Koil, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumogur (Kalamegar)Thirumohur, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkoshtiyur (Sowmya Narayanar)Thirukoshtiyur, Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruppullani (Adi Jagannathar, Darbhasayana Ramar)Thiruppullani, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumeyyam (Satyagirinathar)Thirumayam, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiru Ayodhi (Chakravarti Thirumagan, Shri Ram)Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
- Naimisaranyam (Devarajan)Naimisharanya, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh
- Thirupiridhi (Paramapurushar)Jyotirmath (traditional identification; some place it near Nandprayag), Chamoli, Uttarakhand
- Thirukkandam Kadinagar (Purushottamar, Raghunathji)Devprayag, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand
- Thiruvadari (Badrinarayanar)Badrinath, Chamoli, Uttarakhand
- Thiru Saligramam (Srimurti)Muktinath, Mustang, Nepal
- Thiruvadamadurai (Govardhanagiridhari)Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
- Thiruvaippadi (Navamohana Krishnar)Gokul, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
- Thiruduvarakai (Dwarakadhish)Dwarka, Gujarat
- Thiruchingavelkundram (Ahobila Narasimhar)Ahobilam, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh
- Thiruvenkadam (Srinivasar, Venkateswara)Tirumala, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
- Thiruppaarkadal (Ksheerabdhinathar)Kshira Sagara, beyond the earth
- Thiruparamapadam (Paramapadanathar)Vaikuntha, beyond the earth