VAISHNAVA KSHETRAS
108 Divya Desams
திவ்யதேசம் - the divine abodes of Vishnu, sung by the Alvars
The 12 Alvar poet-saints composed 4000 Tamil hymns in praise of Vishnu across 108 sacred temples. These temples - the Divya Desams - are the foundation of Sri Vaishnava pilgrimage, spanning from Srirangam to the Himalayas, from Dwaraka to the celestial Vaikunta.
மன்னு மதுரை யாளுவானை வாழ்த்தி · நாலாயிர திவ்யப்பிரபந்தம்
Mannu Maturai yāḷuvānai vāḻtti - Nālāyira Divya Prabandham
Praise to the Lord who rules over eternal Madurai - from the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 4000 Tamil hymns of the 12 Alvars.
Nalayira Divya Prabandham (4000 Tamil hymns, c. 700–900 CE)
Tamil Nadu (80 temples)
Srirangam
Thiruvarangam
Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, TN
Deity: Ranganatha (Periya Perumal)
Jambukeshwara / Thiru-Vanaikkaval
Thiruvanaikkaval
Srirangam island, Tiruchirappalli, TN
Deity: Jambukeswara (Akhilandeswari kshetra - Vishnu as Appelam-naayakan)
Uraiyur Kaveri-Thaduttha Perumal
Thiruvellarai
Uraiyur, Tiruchirappalli, TN
Deity: Kaveri-Thaduttha Perumal
Thiruvellarai
Thiruvellarai
Vellarai, Tiruchirappalli, TN
Deity: Pundarikaksha (Lotus-eyed Vishnu)
Anbil (Thiru-Indalur)
Thiruindalur
Anbil, Lalgudi taluk, TN
Deity: Parimaelalagar (fragrant)
Kumbakonam - Sarangapani
Thirukumbakonam
Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, TN
Deity: Sarangapani (bow-bearer)
Kumbakonam - Chakrapani
Thirukumbakonam
Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, TN
Deity: Chakrapani (discus-bearer)
Kumbakonam - Aravamudhan (Uppiliappan)
Thirunageswaram
Thirunageswaram, Kumbakonam, TN
Deity: Uppiliappan (salt-less Lord)
Thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur district, TN
Deity: Hamsavahana (Swan-vehicle Vishnu)
Thirukoilur (Trivikrama)
Thirukoilur
Thirukoilur, Villupuram district, TN
Deity: Trivikrama (3-stride Vamana)
Varadharaja Perumal - Kanchipuram
Kachi Athigiri
Kanchipuram, Kancheepuram district, TN
Deity: Varadharaja (boon-giving Vishnu)
Ashtabhuja Perumal - Kanchipuram
Kachi Nerumbur
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Ashtabhuja (8-armed Vishnu)
Yathothkari - Kanchipuram
Thiru Vegaa
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Yathoktakari (acts as told)
Ulagalanda Perumal - Kanchipuram
Thiruooragam
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Ulagalanda Perumal (Trivikrama form)
Dooram Nilayam - Kanchipuram
Thiruthankai
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Thadalan (striding Vamana)
Pandava-Dhuta - Kanchipuram
Kachi Pavala Vannar
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Pandava-Dhuta (messenger of Pandavas)
Pachaivannan - Kanchipuram
Thiru Neeragam
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Pachaivannan (green-hued Vishnu)
Karakam - Kanchipuram
Thiru Kaaragam
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Karaiyamarntha Perumal
Kaavananam - Kanchipuram
Thiru Kaavaanam
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Trivikrama
Nilaatha-Nadanthan - Kanchipuram
Thiru Nilaaththingal-Thundam
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Nilaatha-Nadanthan (cloud-hued)
Tirumala Venkateswara
Thiruvenkatam
Tirumala, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh (counted in TN Divya Desam set - a Divya Desam)
Deity: Venkateswara / Srinivasa
Sirkazhi (Shiyali) - Trivikrama
Thiru-Sirgazhi
Sirkazhi, Nagapattinam district, TN
Deity: Trivikrama-Perumal
Thiruvalur (Veeraraghava)
Thiruvallur
Thiruvallur, Tiruvallur district, TN
Deity: Veeraraghava
Thirunindravur (Bakthavatsala)
Thirunindravur
Thirunindravur, Thiruvallur district, TN
Deity: Bakthavatsala (loves devotees)
Thiruvidanthai
Thiruvidanthai
Thiruvidanthai, Chennai ECR, TN
Deity: Nithyakalyana Perumal (eternal wedding)
Sirucherai (Thiru-Sirucherai)
Thiru-Sirucherai
Kumbhakonam region, TN
Deity: Komalavalli Thayar Perumal
Thirukannapuram
Thirukannapuram
Nagapattinam district, TN
Deity: Sowrisara-Perumal
Thirukandiyur
Thirukandiyur
Thirukandiyur, Thanjavur district, TN
Deity: Hara-Saphavimocha Perumal (freed Brahma)
Thirukazhiseerama Vinnagaram
Thirukazhicceerama-vinnagaram
Sirkazhi, TN
Deity: Trivikrama (standing)
Thirunangur (11 divya desams)
Thirunangur
Sirkazhi area, Nagapattinam, TN
Deity: 11 forms of Vishnu (Nangur group - Thiruvaikunta Vinnagaram and 10 more)
Thiru-Chengannur
Thirucheringomathur
Chengannur, Alappuzha, Kerala
Deity: Bhagavatha Perumal (in Kerala Divya Desam)
Thirukoshtiyur
Thirukoshtiyur
Thirukoshtiyur, Virudhunagar district, TN
Deity: Sowmya Narayana Perumal
Thirumeyam
Thirumeyam
Thiruchirapalli district, TN
Deity: Satyagirinatha
Thiruaattar (Srirangam-2)
Thiruaattar
Near Srirangam, TN
Deity: Aravamudhan
Thiruputkuzhi
Thiruputkuzhi
Kanchipuram district, TN
Deity: Vijayasana Perumal
Thiruvekka
Thiruvekka
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Yathoktakari
Thirupaadagam
Thirupaadagam
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Pandava Dhuta
Thiru-Arimeya-Vinnagaram
Thiru-Arimeya-Vinnagaram
Kumbakonam area, TN
Deity: Purushottama
Thiruvanpurushothamam
Thiruvaan-Purushothamam
Kumbakonam area, TN
Deity: Trivikrama
Thiru-Tholaivillimangalam
Thiru-Tholaivillimangalam
Srivilliputhur area, Virudhunagar, TN
Deity: Thadalan
Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar district, TN
Deity: Vatapatrasayi (Vishnu on banyan leaf)
Thiruchuligai
Thiruchuligai
Nagapattinam, TN
Deity: Kaarvannan
Sirupuliyur
Sirupuliyur
Cuddalore district, TN
Deity: Krupasamudra Perumal
Thiru-Thanka
Thiru-Thanka
Kanchipuram district, TN
Deity: Vilaakoli Perumal
Thiruvahindrapuram
Thiruvahindrapuram
Cuddalore district, TN
Deity: Devanatha Perumal
Thiru-Senkundroor
Thiru-Senkundroor
Thanjavur district, TN
Deity: Kolavilli Raman
Tirunaraiyur (Nachiyarkoil)
Thirunaraiyur
Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, TN
Deity: Nambiyappan
Thiru-Varagunamangai
Thiru-Varagunamangai
Pattukkottai, Thanjavur, TN
Deity: Neelamegha Perumal
Thirupullabhoothangudi
Thirupullabhoothangudi
Papanasam, Thanjavur, TN
Deity: Vallabha Perumal
Thirucherai
Thirucherai
Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, TN
Deity: Saranatha Perumal
Thirupparthan-Palli
Thirupparthan-Palli
Tirunelveli district, TN
Deity: Nindra-Nambi
Thiru-Govindapuram
Thiru-Govindapuram
Kumbakonam, TN
Deity: Trivikrama Perumal
Thirumanikkoodam
Thirumanikkoodam
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Sowmyanarayana
Thirumoozhikkulam
Thirumoozhikkulam
Moozhikkulam, Ernakulam, Kerala
Deity: Lakshmana Perumal
Thiru-Navay
Thiru-Navay
Navamukunda, Malappuram, Kerala
Deity: Navamukunda
Thiruvananthapuram - Padmanabhaswamy
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Deity: Ananthapadmanabha (reclining Vishnu)
Thiruvalla
Thiruvalla
Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala
Deity: Vallabha Perumal
Thiruvanvandoor
Thiruvanvandoor
Alappuzha district, Kerala
Deity: Pambanaiappan
Thiruvaaranvillai
Thiruvaaranvillai
Nanguneri, Tirunelveli, TN
Deity: Thrivikrama
Thiruvallikeni (Triplicane)
Thiruvallikeni
Triplicane, Chennai, TN
Deity: Parthasarathy (Krishna as Arjuna's charioteer)
Thiruvanmiyur
Thiruvanmiyur
Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, TN
Deity: Marundeeswarar Perumal (healing deity)
Thiruneermalai
Thiruneermalai
Thiruneermalai, Chennai, TN
Deity: Ranganatha + Trivikrama
Thiruevvul (Tiruvallur)
Thiruvallur
Tiruvallur, Thiruvallur district, TN
Deity: Veeraraghava
Thirumazhisai
Thirumazhisai
Thirumazhisai, Thiruvallur district, TN
Deity: Jagannatha / Trivikrama
Thiruverkadu
Thiruverkadu
Thiruverkadu, Chennai, TN
Deity: Yoga Narasimha
Thiruninravur
Thiruninravur
Thiruninravur, Thiruvallur district, TN
Deity: Bakthavatsala
Thiruputkuzhi (Vikramasinghapuram)
Thiruputkuzhi
Kancheepuram district, TN
Deity: Vijayasana
Thiruvanparisaram
Thiruvanparisaram
Tirunelveli district, TN
Deity: Nambinathan
Thiru-Kurungudi
Thiru-Kurungudi
Tirunelveli district, TN
Deity: Nindra-Nambi (Vaishnava-Shaiva combined)
Thiru-Irundhai Vinnagaram
Thiru-Irundhai-vinnagaram
Sirkazhi, Nagapattinam, TN
Deity: Trivikrama (Vinnagaram form)
Thiruvanparisaram-2
Thiru-Vanparisaram
Tirunelveli, TN
Deity: Vishnu (specific murti)
Thirukolur
Thirukolur
Thirukolur, Tirunelveli district, TN
Deity: Vaithamanidhi Perumal
Thiruvaikundavinnagaram (Therkku Thiruvayi)
Thiru-Vaikuntha-Vinnagaram
Sirkazhi area, TN
Deity: Trivikrama (Vaikunta Vinnagaram)
Thiru-Semponseikoyil
Thiru-Sempon-Seikoyil
Nagapattinam, TN
Deity: Trivikrama (copper-walled shrine)
Thiruparameswara Vinnagaram (Kachchi Mamam)
Kachchi Mamam
Kanchipuram, TN
Deity: Paramapada-Natha
Thiru-Adanur
Thiru-Adanur
Nagapattinam, TN
Deity: Hrishikesha
Thiru-Sirupuliyur
Thiru-Sirupuliyur
Cuddalore, TN
Deity: Krupasamudra
Thiru-Thenthiruperai
Thiru-Thenthiruperai
Tirunelveli district, TN
Deity: Sindhura-Vanna Perumal
Thiru-Pullabhoothangudi-2
Thiru-Pullabhoothangudi
Thanjavur district, TN
Deity: Vallabha Perumal (second shrine)
Thirumandangudi
Thirumandangudi
Kumbakonam area, TN
Deity: Sukruthanatha Perumal
North India (4 temples)
Badrinath
Thiruvaatpadi / Badrinath
Chamoli, Uttarakhand (3,133 m, Garhwal Himalaya)
Deity: Badrinarayana (Nara-Narayana)
Naimisharanya
Thiru-Naimisaranyam
Naimisar, Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh
Deity: Hrishi-Perumal (Devanatha)
Vrindavan - Govindadeva
Thiru-Aayarpadi
Vrindavan, Mathura district, UP
Deity: Govindadeva (Krishna as cowherd)
Dwaraka
Thiru-Dvaarakai
Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat
Deity: Dwarkadhish / Trivikrama
Kerala (8 temples)
Guruvayur
Thiru Guruvayur
Guruvayur, Thrissur district, Kerala
Deity: Guruvayurappan (Krishna as infant prince)
Thiruvananthapuram (Ananthapura Lake)
Thiruvananthapuram-cave
Kasaragod district, Kerala
Deity: Ananthapadmanabha (cave / lake shrine)
Thirumoozhikkulam
Thirumoozhikkulam
Moozhikkulam, Ernakulam, Kerala
Deity: Lakshmana Perumal
Thiru-Navay (Navamukunda)
Thiru-Navay
Malappuram, Kerala
Deity: Navamukunda
Thiruvalla
Thiruvalla
Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala
Deity: Vallabha Perumal
Thiruvanvandoor
Thiruvanvandoor
Alappuzha district, Kerala
Deity: Pambanaiappan
Thiru-Chengannur
Thiru-Chengannur
Chengannur, Alappuzha, Kerala
Deity: Bhagavatha Perumal
Thiru-Kaatkarai (Payammal)
Thiru-Kaatkarai
Kottayam district, Kerala
Deity: Bhuvaraguna Perumal
Rest of India (8 temples)
Srimushnam
Thiru-Srimushnam
Srimushnam, Cuddalore, TN (an Orissa-tradition temple in TN)
Deity: Bhuvaraguna Perumal / Varaha
Thirukkurungudi - Nindra Nambi
Thirukkurungudi
Nanguneri, Tirunelveli, TN
Deity: Nindra Nambi Perumal (Vaishnava–Shaiva)
Ahobilam
Thiru-Ahobilam
Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh
Deity: Narasimha (9 forms in one forest)
Thiru-Venkatam (2nd reference)
Thiru-Venkatam
Tirumala, Tirupati, AP
Deity: Venkateswara
Mangalagiri
Thiru-Mangalagiri
Mangalagiri, Guntur district, AP
Deity: Panakala Narasimha (drinks jaggery-water from devotee's hands)
Thiru-Totiyam
Thiru-Totiyam
Tiruchirappalli district, TN
Deity: Vallabha
Thiru-Vinnagar (Uttara Kosamangai)
Thiru-Kosamangai
Kosamangai, Pudukkottai, TN
Deity: Uttara-Kosamangai Perumal
Thiru-Nanganallur
Thiru-Nanganallur
Nanganallur, Chennai, TN
Deity: Lakshmi-Narasimha
Celestial / Outside India (8 temples)
Muktinath
Thiru-Saalagiramatham
Mustang district, Nepal (3,710 m, Gandaki river valley)
Deity: Muktinaatha (Vishnu liberating all)
Naimisharanya-2
Naimisaranyam
Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh (sages' forest)
Deity: Hrishi-Perumal
Thiruparkadal
Thiruparkadal
Milky Ocean - Celestial / Vaikunta (not on earth)
Deity: Ranganatha on Adi-Shesha (cosmic form - sung by Alvars as a celestial abode)
Tirupati (full reference)
Thiru-Venkatam
Tirumala, Tirupati, Chittoor district, AP
Deity: Venkateswara / Srinivasa / Balaji
Thiru-Aatpadi (Nandagopuram)
Thiru-Aatpadi
Vrindavan / Gokul, UP (Alvar tradition of Vrindavan)
Deity: Krishna-Gopala (Nandagopuram form)
Thiru-Narayanapuram (Melkote)
Thiru-Narayanapuram
Melkote, Mandya district, Karnataka
Deity: Cheluva-Narayana (Tirunaarayana Perumal)
Thiru-Salagramam
Thiru-Salagramam
Muktinath area / Gandaki river, Nepal
Deity: Salagram Vishnu (sacred black stone)
Thiruppernagar (Koviladi)
Thirupernagar
Sirkazhi area, Nagapattinam, TN
Deity: Trivikrama (108th and final Divya Desam)
The 12 Alvars and the Prabandham
The 12 Alvars were Tamil Vaishnava saints - from a fisherwoman (Andal) to a pariah (Thiruppaan Alvar) to a king (Kulashekara) - who saw no distinction in the eyes of Vishnu. Their 4000 hymns (Prabandham) were compiled by Nathamuni (9th century) and are recited in Vaishnava temples to this day, alongside the Vedas. Andal’s Thiruppavai (30 hymns) is recited every morning during Margazhi month throughout Tamil Nadu. The Prabandham is called the “Tamil Veda” or “Dravidaveda.”
Commission at a Divya Desam
Offer a Vishnu seva at a verified Divya Desam tradition temple.
Sahasranama Archana, Sathumurai, Thirumanjanam - performed by KYC-verified archakas.