Temple Purohit ~ 108 Divya Desam – Lord Vishnu Temples
Divya Desams are an auspicious collection of 108 Vishnu temples. It is mentioned and praised in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses by the Alvars, the ultimate devotes of the Hindu Supreme God Vishnu.
Out of the 108 Divya desams, 105 Divya desams are spread in across the states of the Indian subcontinent - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. While one is located in Nepal and the last two resides beyond earthly realms namely, Thirupalkadal (the ocean of milk) and Paramapadam (Vaikuntha where Lord Vishnu resides).
Among the Divya desams in India, a collection of 84 Divya desams are located in Tamil Nadu, while 11 Divya Desams are spread out in the northern and southern parts of Kerala.
Vaishnava Hindus after the completion to the visits of the 106 Divya desams ultimately hope to reach the god's feet through the remaining two Divya desams - thirupparkadal and thiruparamapadham to acquire pure holiness.
Divya Desams are an auspicious collection of 108 Vishnu temples. It is mentioned and praised in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses by the Alvars, the ultimate devotes of the Hindu Supreme God Vishnu.
Out of the 108 Divya desams, 105 Divya desams are spread in across the states of the Indian subcontinent - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. While one is located in Nepal and the last two resides beyond earthly realms namely, Thirupalkadal (the ocean of milk) and Paramapadam (Vaikuntha where Lord Vishnu resides).
Among the Divya desams in India, a collection of 84 Divya desams are located in Tamil Nadu, while 11 Divya Desams are spread out in the northern and southern parts of Kerala.
Vaishnava Hindus after the completion to the visits of the 106 Divya desams ultimately hope to reach the god's feet through the remaining two Divya desams - thirupparkadal and thiruparamapadham to acquire pure holiness.
In Chozha Nadu, there are 40 Divyadesams found. In these 40 Divyadesams, Emperumaan gives his seva in Nindra Thirukkola seva in 23 divyadesams, in Kidantha kola sevain 13 Divyadesams and in Irundha kola seva in 6 divyadesams.
Facing his thirumugham along East direction, he is givng his seva in 33 divyadesams, along West direction, he is found in 4 divyadesams, along South direction, he is found in 2 Divyadesams and along North direction, he is giving his seva only in 1 Divyadesam.
Among these 40 Divyadesams in Chozha Naadu, the perumal is said to be giving his seva in the perumal in Krishnavathaaram in 8 Divyadesams and as the perumal in Ramavathaaram in 3 Divyadesams.
In these 40 Divyadesams, Thiruvellkkulam is also called as "Thenn Thirupathi". It is said that bhaktas can offer the dedications to this perumal who cant be able to go to Tirumala - Tirupati, so, this sthalaperumal and Sri Venkatachalapathy, Tirumala are considered to be the same.
In these 40 Divyadesams, the Thaayar is given the name on the base of the flower in 21 divyadesams.
In Nadu Nattu Thiruppathigal, two divyadesams are situated. They are Thirukkoviloor and Thiruvahindrapuram.
Thirukkoviloor divyadesam is situated near Vizhuppuram. In this divyadesam, the Perumal gives the thirukkolam of Thirivikrama (Vaamanar) avathaaram.
In Thiruvahindrapuram, the perumal is Emperumaan Devanatha Swamy. Hayagreevar is found in a mountain nearer to this temple. And it is situated near Cuddalore.
In Pandiya Naadu, there are 18 Divyadesams found in all these Divyadesams, the Perumal is found facing his thirumugham towards east direction.
In this 18 Divyadesams, 9 Divyadesams namely Thirukkurugoor, Thirukkoloor, Thirupperai, Thiruvaikundam, Thiruvaragunamangai, Thirukkulandai, Thiruppulingudi, Thirutholaivillimangalam and Thiruccheerivaramangai are collectively called as "Nava Tirupathi".
The Speciality of this Pandiya Nattu thiruppathigal is that in all these Nava Thirupathi Divyadesams, there are two thaayars found.
All the Malayala naatu sthalams explains about the Aathma Paramathma relationships with the perumal and bhaktaas, the relation with Mahabharat and Ramayan and the perumal who are found in this Malayala Nadu are said to be the Avathaars of Sri Rama, Sri Krishna and Sri Parasurama.
There are 13 Kerala Divya desams found. Among which, the Emperumaan is found in Nindra thirukkolam in 10 divyadesams, in Kidantha kolam in 2 divyadesams and in Irundha kolam in one divya desam.
The perumal is facing his thirumugham along East direction in 8 divyadesam along west direction is 3 divyadesams and in 2 divyadesams, he is facing his thirumugham towards south direction.
In two divyadesams, (Thiruvananthapuram and Thiruvaattaaru), where the perumal is giving his seva in 3 different vaasals (entrance) explains about the birth, the leading of life and the final state, the death of human.
The Panja Pandavas, Dharmar (Thirucchenkundroor), Arjunar (Thiruvaaran Vilai), Nakulan (Thiruvanvandoor), Bhiman (Thirupuliyoor) and Sahadevan (Thirukkadithaanam) have worked for these 5 divyadesams and done lots of help in making these divyadesams to grow.
In Thiruvanparisaaram, the thaayar is named as "Kamalavalli Naachiyaar", in Thirucchenkundroor, the thaayar is Sengalamala valli Naachiyaar, in Thiruvithuvakodu, the thaayar is Padmapani Naachiyaar in Thiruvaaranvilai she is named as Padmasani Naachiyaar, in Thirupuliyoor, the thaayar is porkodi Naachiyaar and in Thirunaavay the thaayar is Malar Mangai Naachiyaar and in all these 6 divyadesam, the thaayar has the name of flower as her name.
Vada Nadu Divya desams - Thirupathigal are said to be found in Northern part of our country (ie little bit above from TamilNadu, all the Divyadesams are termed to be Vada Nattu Thirupathigal).
There are 11 Divyadesams found in Vada Nadu. Among these 11 Divyadesams, the perumal is giving his seva facing his thirumugham along 8 divyadesam and towards Nord direction, he is found in 2 divyadesam.
He is also found in 3 different thirukkolams among these 11 Divyadesams.
Kidantha Thirukkolam - 1 Divyadesam.
Nindra Thirukkolam - 7 Divyadesams.
Irundha Thriukkolam - 3 Divyadesams.
Out of 11 Divyadesams, in 9 divyadesams, the perumal is found as "Ekapathini Samethar seva" (with only one wife), and in Thiruaayarpadi he is found along with Rukmami and Sathyabama and in Thirudwaraka, he is found along with more than two pirattis.
Some of the Vada Nattu divyadesa sthalams and the Perumals are destroyed by some of the Mughal Emperors, but they are re - constructed and the worship is still being done now.
Vinnulaga Thriuppathigal are said to be divyadesams wher we cant go through our human body, only our soul (Aathma can go into it). There are two Vinnulaga divyadesams - 1. Thiruppaarkadal and 2. Paramapadham. The Jeevathmas that are released (the soul) from our human body attains Mukthi and it is said to reach the Paramathma.
In these two divyadesams, Sriman Narayanan is found in Sayana (Kidantha) thirukkolam in Thiruppaarkadal and in Paramapadham, He is found in Veetrirundha thirukkolam. In Thiruppaarkadal, He is found facing his thirumugham along South direction, which is said to be the direction where Dharmarajan is found. In Paramapadham also, He is found facing His thirumugham along the South direction.