Divya Desam (, ) or Vaishnava Divya Desams are the 108

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

and

Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...

temples that are mentioned in the

works Works may refer to: People * Caddy Works (1896–1982), American college sports coach * John D. Works (1847–1928), California senator and judge * Samuel Works (c. 1781–1868), New York politician Albums * ''Works'' (Pink Floyd album), a Pi ...

of the

Alvars The Alvars () are the Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused '' bhakti'' (devotion) to the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, in their songs of longing, ecstasy, and service. They are venerated in Vaishnavism, which regards Vishnu as the ...

, the poet-saints of the

Sri Vaishnava Sri Vaishnavism () is a denomination within the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, predominantly practiced in South India. The name refers to goddess Lakshmi (also known as Sri), as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and the god V ...

tradition. By comparison, the

Paadal Petra Sthalam The Paadal Petra Sthalams (), also known as Devara Sthalams, are 276 temples that are revered in the verses of Shaiva Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE. The Divya Desams by comparison are the 108 Vishnu temples glorified in the poems of the ...

are the 276 Shiva temples glorified in the works of the

Shaiva Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. It is the second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million Hindus, found widely across South Asia (predominantly in ...

Nayanars The Nayanars (or Nayanmars; , and later 'teachers of Shiva') were a group of 63 Tamils, Tamil Hindu saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries CE who were devoted to the Hindu god Shiva. Along with the Alvars, their contemporaries who were de ...

Of the 108 temples, 105 are in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, one is in

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

, and the last two are believed to be outside the earth, in Tirupparkatal and

Vaikuntha Vaikuntha (), also called Vishnuloka (), and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil language, Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the Parabrahman , supreme deity in the Vaishnavism, Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism,Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism' ( ...

m. In India, they are spread across the states of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

(84),

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

(11),

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

(2),

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

(1),

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

(4), and

Uttarakhand Uttarakhand (, ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the n ...

(3).

Muktinath Muktinath is an ancient Vishnu temple located in Mustang, Nepal. The temple of Muktinath, known as 'the lord of liberation', is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists whom they worship as an abode of Hindu deity Vishnu and Buddhist deity Avalokiteśv ...

, Saligramam is the only Divya Desam in

is home to the most number of Divya Desams with 25 of them being located in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. The Divya Desams are revered by the 12 Alvars in the ''

Naalayira Divya Prabandham The Naalayira Divya Prabandham () is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the 12 Alvars. It was compiled in its present form by Nāthamuni during the 9th–10th centuries. The work, an important liturgical compilation of the Tamil ...

'', a collection of 4,000

Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

verses. The Divya Desams follow either Tenkalai or Vadakalai modes of worship.

Etymology

In Sanskrit, ''divya'' means "divine" and ''desam'' indicates "realm" (temple). For a temple to be classified as a Divya Desam, the temple's main shrine should be dedicated to Vishnu and an adjoining shrine must be for Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort. The temples at

Guruvayoor Guruvayur ) is a municipal temple town in Thrissur district, of Kerala State in India. It is a suburban town of Thrissur city, located from Thrissur towards the north-west. It houses the Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple. It is located at ...

, Jagannath-Puri are not Divya Desams despite being the most visited temples in India.

Geography

The Divya Desams are classified into six regions: # Chera Nadu (western) # Chola Nadu (central) # Pandya Nadu (south) # Pallava Nadu (north) # Vada Nadu (northern India) # Vinnulaga Divya Desams (celestial)

Alvars and Divya Prabandham

Vishnu and Lakshmi attended by Garuda and two attendants

The word ''Alvar'' in Tamil, means "the immersed", referring to their deep devotion of God. ''

'' are considered to be the twelve poet-saints of

, who were instrumental in popularising

Vaishnavism Vaishnavism () ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, that considers Vishnu as the sole Para Brahman, supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, ''Mahavishnu''. It is one of the majo ...

during the 5th-8th centuries CE. The religious works of these saints in

, their hymns of love and devotion, are compiled as the ''

,'' containing 4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs are classified as ''Divya Desams''.

Dalal Dalal may refer to: * Dalal, alternative name for the black grasswren of Western Australia * Dalal (name), Arabic and Indian name * Dalal Street Dalal Street (), () is the metonym for the financial markets of India, the Indian financial ser ...

2011, pp. 20-21 The saints had different origins and belonged to different varnas. According to tradition, the first three ''Alvars'' (''mudhal alvargal''), Poigai, Bhuthathalvar,

Peyalvar Pey Alvar (also spelt Peyalvar, Peialvar, Pey Azhwar, or Pei Azhwar) is one of the twelve ''Alvar'' saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of ''Alvars'' are compiled as ''Nalay ...

and

Andal Andal (ISO 15919: Āṇḍāḷ), also known as Godhai, Nachiyar, and Godha Devi, is the only female Alvars, Alvar. (Orthodoxy posits the number of Alvars as ten, though there are other references that include Andal and Madhurakavi Alvar, ...

were said to be born "out of divinity", Tirumalisai was the son of a sage, Thondaradi, Mathurakavi,

Periyalvar Periyalvar (), also known as Vishnuchittar, was one of the twelve '' Alvar'' saints of South India who are known for their affiliation to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He was the foster father of Andal. Andal, also called as Kodhai, is ...

were of

Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

birth, Kulasekhara from the

Kshatriya Kshatriya () (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority"; also called Rajanya) is one of the four varnas (social orders) of Hindu society and is associated with the warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

community,

Nammalvar Nammalvar was one of the twelve Alvars, Alvar saints of Tamil Nadu, India, who are known for their affiliation to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of the Alvars are compiled as the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, Naalayira Divya Prab ...

was from a cultivator family, Tirupanalvar from the ''

panar The Panar are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiaw ...

'' community and Tirumangai was from the ''kalvar'' community. The ''Divya Suri Saritra'' by Garuda-Vahana Pandita (11th century CE), ''Guruparamparaprabhavam'' by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jeeyar, ''Periya tiru mudi adaivu'' by Anbillai Kandadiappan, ''Yatindra Pranava Prabavam'' by Pillai Lokam Jeeyar, commentaries on the ''Naalayira'' ''Divya Prabandam'', Guru Parampara (lineage of Gurus) texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the ''Alvars'' and their works. According to these texts, the saints are considered to be incarnations of attributes of Vishnu. Poigai is considered to be an incarnation of ''

Panchajanya Panchajanya (, ) is the '' shankha'' (conch) of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, one of his four primary attributes. The Panchajanya symbolises the five elements, and is considered to produce the primeval sound of creation when blown. Literat ...

'' (Krishna's conch), Bhoothath of ''

Kaumodaki Kaumodaki () is the gadā (mace) of the Hindu deity Vishnu. Vishnu is often depicted holding the Kaumodaki in one of his four hands; his other attributes are the chakra, the conch and the lotus. The ''gada'' is also found in the iconography of ...

'' (Vishnu's mace), Peyalvar of ''

Nandaka Nandaka () or Nandaki is the sword of the Hindu god Vishnu. Nandaka is generally depicted in images where Vishnu is represented with more than his usual four arms. The sword is compared to knowledge in Hindu scriptures. In Sri Vaishnavism (a maj ...

'' (Vishnu's sword), Thirumalisai of ''

Sudarshana Chakra The Sudarshana Chakra (, ) is a divine discus, attributed to Vishnu in the Hindu scriptures. The Sudarshana Chakra is generally portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu, who also holds the Panchajanya (conch), the Kaumodak ...

'' (Vishnu's discus), Nammalvar of ''

Vishvaksena Vishvaksena ()Nayar p. 103 or Vishwaksena, is the commander-in-chief of the army of the Hindu deity Vishnu, additionally serving as a gatekeeper and chamberlain of his celestial abode of Vaikuntha. As the embodiment of the tantras, Vishvaksena i ...

'' (Vishnu's commander), Madhurakavi of ''Vainatheya'' (Garuda), Kulasekhara of ''

Kaustubha Kaustubha () is a divine ruby or ''ratnam'' (gem) in Hindu mythology. This gem is in the possession of Vishnu, granting him the epithet of ''Kaustubhadhari''. It is believed in Hindu scriptures to be the most magnificent ''ratnam'' in all of c ...

'' (Vishnu's gemstone), Periyalvar of

Garuda Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths. Garuda is also the half-brother of the D ...

(Vishnu's demigod eagle), Andal of

Bhudevi Bhumi (Sanskrit: भूमि, romanized: Bhūmi), also known as Bhudevi, Dharani, and Vasundhara, is a significant goddess in Hinduism, personifying the Earth. Her earliest form is reflected in the Vedic goddess Prithvi, though their roles and de ...

(Vishnu's wife, Lakshmi, in her form as Bhudevi), Thondaradippodi of '' Vanamalai'' (Vishnu's garland), Thiruppaan of ''

Srivatsa The Shrivatsa (Sanskrit: ; IAST: ''Śrīvatsa,'' ) is an ancient symbol, considered auspicious in Hinduism and other Indian religious traditions. Hinduism Origin Shrivatsa means "Beloved of Shri", an epithet of Vishnu, and a reference to h ...

'' (An auspicious mark on Vishnu's chest) and Thirumangai of ''

Sharanga Sharanga may refer to: *Sharanga (Hindu mythology), the bow of the god Vishnu * Sharanga (urban-type settlement), an urban-type settlement in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Nizhny Novgorod Oblast () is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russ ...

'' (Vishnu's bow). The songs of ''Prabandham'' are sung in several Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu daily and also during festivals.

Significance

In Hindu texts, these temples are often referred to as ''Bhuloka Vaikuntham'', which in

means ''heavens on earth''. Each of the Divya Desam has its own significance related to Sri Vaishnava legend. Almost all of these temples have separate shrines for

and

List of Divya Desams

The 106 earthly Divya Desam temples are spread over the Indian states of

(84),

(11),

(4),

(3),

(2) and

(1), and the country of

(1) (

). The last two are believed to be outside earthly realms.

References

Sources

* * * * * * *

External links

4000 Divya Prabhandam from Project Tamil

R.K.K. Rajarajan (2012) Antiquity of the Vaiṣṇava divyakśētras in Pāṇḍinādu
Acta Orientalia, Societates Orientales Danica Fennica Norvegia Svecia, Vol. 73, pp. 59–104. {{Azhwars Vishnu temples Divya Desams Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu