This petite and beautiful Perumal temple features Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, seated, with His consorts Sridevi and Neeladevi. The temple is said to be quite old – perhaps over 1300 years – but there are no records for this. However, what is the interesting Ramayanam story that may have given this village its name?… Read More Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Mappadugai, Mayiladuthurai
In the Narasimha Avataram, Vishnu had to leave His abode quickly to reach Prahalada, and so Lakshmi missed seeing His form as Narasimhar. The events after the Ramayanam resulted in Anjaneyar coming here, where he found Lakshmi. Vishnu established Himself as Narasimhar, and to give importance to Anjaneyar, had the latter be present here for ever. But what is the really interesting part of the Anjaneyar vigraham at this temple?… Read More Anjaneyar, Namakkal, Namakkal
This Divya Desam located between Kumbakonam and Tiruvaiyaru is known for many interesting stories that serve as its sthala puranam. The temple is virtually the starting point for Vishnu’s Varaha avataram, which ends in Srimushnam. There are also at least 3 stories as to how the place gets is name. But how did Vishnu protect his devotee – king Ambarisha – from the mercurial sage Durvasa, and how does that connect with this temple?… Read More Vaiyam Katha Perumal, Tirukudalur, Thanjavur
Considered to be over 2000 years old, this temple is located in the heart of Veppathur – once called Ghatika Sthanam and Chaturvedi Mangalam. The all-wish-fulfilling Perumal is attended to by Anjaneyar depicted as a child. Krishna gave mantropadesam to Agastyar here. But how is this temple connected to the Ramayanam, that too in a rather unusual way?… Read More Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal, Veppathur, Thanjavur
With various puranams associated with it, this Divya Desam temple in Chennai is dedicated to Vishnu as Parthasarathy – Arjuna’s charioteer in the Mahabharatam, and also features Vishnu in four other forms. The iconography of the moolavar and utsavar murtis are highly nuanced, embedding instances from the life of Krishna as told in the epic. But what interesting reasons are is behind this temple’s chariot/car running twice during the temple’s annual festival, and differing neivedyams offered to Parthasarathy Perumal and Yoga Narasimhar?… Read More Parthasarathy Perumal, Triplicane, Chennai
This Pancha Varada Kshetram, which finds mention in the Mahabharatam, is one of the temples the Pandavas visited during their period of exile, and they regained the wisdom they had lost when gambling with the Kauravas. The long list of dynasties who ruled the region, have each left their mark on the temple construction. But what is the connection between this temple and the celestial architect Takshaka, in the depiction of Vishnu on three levels at this temple? … Read More Sundara Varadaraja Perumal, Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram
This is the one of a set of 3 temples, which is unique as they are together reckoned as one Divya Desam temple. The sthala puranam is common to all the three, and is connected with the demons Thanjakan, Thandakan and Tharakasuran. The first of these – Thanjakan – is whom Thanjavur is named for (at least that’s one version of the story!). But what is the connection between these temples, Vishnu’s varaha avataram, and the Bhuvaraha Perumal temple at Srimushnam?… Read More Neelamegha Perumal, Thanjavur, Thanjavur
Divya Desam referred to by the epithet “Kaayaa Magizham, Uranga Puli, Theeraa Vazhakku, Ooraa Kinaru – Tirukannangudi”… Read More Loganatha Perumal, Tirukannangudi, Nagapattinam
Divya Desam and a prarthana sthalam for marriage, where Vishnu married every day of the year… Read More Nitya Kalyana Perumal, Tiruvidandhai, Kanchipuram
A temple that has existed across the four yugams, where Vishnu appeared to Sanat Kumara… Read More Koodal Azhagar, Madurai, Madurai
Divya Desam temple located inside the Chidambaram Thillai Natarajar temple, this shrine is connected with the origin of the Kaveri river, and also to the Ramayanam… Read More Govindaraja Perumal, Chidambaram, Cuddalore
Divya Desam associated with Vamana Avataram, and the site of Tirumangaiazhvar’s victory over Sambandar in debate… Read More Trivikrama Perumal, Sirkazhi, Nagapattinam
Considered the Eastern residence of Vishnu, this Divya Desam temple’s puranam is about how the presiding grew hair on His head to uphold a devotee’s word, that the hair on the garland given to the king actually belonged to the Lord! Interestingly, every amavasya day, the deity is taken outside to meet His devotee Vibheeshana. How did this come to be?… Read More Sowriraja Perumal, Tirukannapuram, Nagapattinam
Located near Kumbakonam, this Divya Desam is believed to have existed in all 4 yugams, and is said to have been built by Mayan, the architect of the asuras. We may remember the story from Vamana Avataram, of Sukracharya entering Mahabali’s kamandalam as an insect to block the flow of water, and how Vamana blinded him. What happened to Sukracharya after that? And why does Garuda hold Vishnu’s conch and discus?… Read More Kolavilli Ramar, Tiruvelliyangudi, Thanjavur
In addition to being a Divya Desam – commonly referred to as Uttamar Koil – this temple is also a “Mummurti Kshetram”, having shrines for Vishnu, Siva and Brahma as well as their consorts. Vishnu, wanting to test Brahma, hid inside a Kadamba tree, and revealed Himself only after a worried Brahma searched everywhere and then surrendered to the Lord! This Chola temple is also a Guru kshetram, as all 7 Gurus are enshrined here. Who are these seven, what are the Ramayanam connections here, the link to Bhikshatanar, and who is an Uttamar? … Read More Purushottama Perumal, Uttamar Koil, Tiruchirappalli
Very ancient temple, considered the equivalent of Tirupati, and a prarthana sthalam for mental illness… Read More Prasanna Venkatachalapathy, Gunaseelam, Tiruchirappalli
Divya Desam temple where Vishnu, as Kallazhagar, came to give away his sister Meenakshi’s hand in marriage to Siva… Read More Sundararaja Perumal (Kallazhagar), Alagarkovil, Madurai
Basic information about the temple Moolavar: Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Ambal / Thayar: Sridevi, Bhoodevi Deity: Perumal Historical name: Vriksham: Teertham: Agamam: Vaikanasa Age (years): 1000-2000 Timing: to & to Parikaram: Temple group: – Sung by: Temple set: Navagraham: Nakshatram: City / town: Vanathirajapuram District: Nagapattinam Maps from (click): Current location Mayiladuthurai (5 km) Kumbakonam (34… Read More Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Vanathirajapuram, Nagapattinam
Divya Desam Perumal temple associated with the story of Gajendra moksham… Read More Gajendra Varada Perumal, Kabisthalam, Thanjavur
Perumal temple on the banks of the Tambraparani, considered equal to Tirupati.… Read More Venkatachalapathi, Mela Tiruvenkatanatha Puram, Tirunelveli
One of a set of three temples considered equivalent to Kalahasti-Keezh Tirupati-Mel Tirupati, and a prarthana sthalam for prosperity… Read More Varadaraja Perumal, Keela Tiruvenkatanatha Puram, Tirunelveli
Divya Desam temple in Kandiyur, where Siva is said to have been relieved of his Brahma-haththi dosham (for having severed one of Brahma’s heads)
… Read More Hara Saaba Vimochana Perumal, Kandiyur, Thanjavur
Where Neelan became Tirumangaiazhvar, and the site of Vishnu’s marriage to Lakshmi as Vanjulavalli and the promise He made to Sage Medhavi
… Read More Srinivasa Perumal, Nachiyar Koil, Thanjavur
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