DIVYA DESAMs - 61/108 - Thiruneermalai
Name of the Divya Desam : Neervannan Perumal temple
Location : Thiruneermalai, Chennai
Moolavar (Presiding Deity) : Sri Neervannan Perumal, Sri Neelamugilvannan Perumal
Thayaar (Consort) : Animamala Mangai Thayar
Thirukkolam (Posture) : Nindra (Standing)
Irundha (Sitting), Kidandha (Sayanam), Nadandha (Walking)
Thirumugam (Facing) : Sayanam facing South, all other postures facing East
Mangalasasanam (Hymns sung by) :
Boodathazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar
Sthalapurana (Brief History) :
As per legend after the darshan of the Lord in Srirangam in reclining posture, Sages Markandeya and Brigu were returning to their ashrams. The darshan at Srirangam was afresh in their minds. They prayed to Lord to grant them darshan again at this place. Lord granted the darshan as Boga Ranganatha in reclining posture in this place and continues to bless from the hill top to His devotees.
As per another legend Sage Valmiki desired to have the wedding darshan of Lord Sri Rama, performed penance here. Lord Rama appeared before the sage as he wished with Mother Sita and brothers Sri Lakshmana, Sri Bharatha and Sri Satrugna. The sage wished the Lord to stay in this place and bless all the devotees, which the Lord obliged. As the Lord is in a place surrounded by water (Neer in Tamil), He is praised as Neer Vanna Perumal and the place Tiru Neer Malai – meaning mount surrounded by water. This place is also known as Thoyadri, 'Thoya' means water and 'Adri' means mount.
About the temple:
Saint Thirumangai Azhwar came to this place for Perumal’s darshan. He could not see Perumal as the mount was surrounded by water. Azhwar decided to wait and have the darshan of Lord and stayed in the opposite hill. Though days moved, water level did not recede. He was steadfast in his determination and waited till the water level lowered, had the darshan of the Lord.
Pleased with Azhwar's devotion, Perumal granted four darshans –
* Lord Neervannar - Nindra Thirukkolam.
Lord Narasimhar - Irundha Thirukkolam.
Lord Ranganathar - Kidantha Thirukkolam.
Lord Thiruvikraman - Nadantha Thirukkolam. *
Lord Neervanna Perumal blesses from the foot of the hills while Sri Ranganatha, Sri Narasimha and Sri Ulagalandha Perumal are at the hill top temple.
Lord Narasimha shed His fury and appeared before Prahlada as a smiling boy Himself. He is known as Bala Narasimha. There is a shrine for him in the hill temple. Behind Bala Narasimha is Ugra (furious) Narasimha with two hands. Sri Narasimha is in two forms here - Bala and Ugra.
The Pushkarani (holy tank) comprises of four theerthams - Siddha, Swarna, Karunya and Ksheera theerthams. As this is a hill temple, Giri Valam is observed on Poornima-new moon days.
DIVYA DESAMs - 62/108 - Thiruvidandhai
Name of the Divya Desam : Nitya Kalyana Perumal temple
Location : ECR Road, South Chennai
Moolavar (Presiding Deity) : Sri Lakshmi Varaha Perumal
Thayaar (Consort) : Komalavalli Nachiyar/ Akhilavalli Nachiyar
Thirukkolam (Posture) : Nindra (Standing)
Thirumugam (Facing) : East
Mangalasasanam (Hymns sung by) :
Thirumangai Azhwar
Sthalapurana (Brief History) :
As per legend during Treta Yuga, King Bali was ruling the three worlds in a righteous way. The demons Mali, Malyavan, Sumali and others sought the help of Bali to fight against the devas. Bali simply declined to help them.
The demons fought alone were defeated by the Devas. They came again to Bali for help which he obliged this time.
Bali won the war but was afflicted with the Sin of Fighting the Devas without a just cause. He came to this place for relief and performed penance to the Lord. Pleased with his penance, Perumal appeared before Bali and granted darshan in Varaha Rupa.
As per another legend Sage Kuni and his daughter prayed to Lord Narayana and performed penance to reach Svarga (heaven). Kuni alone got his wish fulfilled but not the daughter. Maharishi Narada told the young girl that she could not reach Svarga as she was not married. He requested one of the sages to marry her. Kalava Maharshi married her and had 360 girl children. He performed penance to Lord Narayana begging Him to marry his daughters.
Lord Perumal came as a Brahmachari, the sage requested Him to marry his daughters. He agreed and married one each day. On the last day, the Lord appeared in the Varaha form. The Lord Varaha Swamy merged all the 360 daughters into Akilavalli Thayar (Goddess Earth) and seated her in His left lap. As Perumal has Thayar on His Left Lap (left in Tamil is Idam) the place came to be known as Thiruvidavendhai which later changed as Thiruvidandhai.
About the temple:
Devotees seek the blessings of Lord Nithyakalyana Perumal for their early and happy marriage. They bring two garlands for Puja and offer to the Lord. The priest after Puja gives back one of the garlands placed at feet of the Lord.
The devotees wear the received garland and does Pradakshinam (Circumambulation) around the Temple. Later they bring the Garland home. It is a strong belief among the devotees that their prayers get answered within a short span of time.
After marriage as a thanksgiving gesture, the couple revisit the Temple and offer flower garlands to the Lord. They carefully bring the old garlands from home and offer them to the divine Punnai tree behind the temple. This is the only Divya Desam, where the Wedding Festival is celebrated on all the days of the year.
DIVYA DESAMs - 63/108 - Thirukadalmallai
Name of the Divya Desam : Sthala Sayana Perumal temple
Location : Mahabalipuram, Kanchi Dist
Moolavar (Presiding Deity) : Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal
Thayaar (Consort) : Nilamangai Thayar
Thirukkolam (Posture) : Sayanam (Reclining)
Thirumugam (Facing) : East
Mangalasasanam (Hymns sung by) :
Boodhath Azhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar
Sthalapurana (Brief History) :
As per legend Sage Pundareeka was performing penance here. He saw lotus flowers in a tank nearby and wanted them to be placed at the feet of Lord Narayana in the Milky Ocean-Thiruparkadal. Picking up the flowers, he proceeded to Thiruparkadal but the sea obstructed his march. To make way, he began to dry the sea by removing the water day and night. This went on for years.
Tired, he cried “Oh Lord Parandhama, if I am your true devotee, let the sea dry and make way for me and till such time I reach you these flowers should not fade off .” His mind was completely set on Lord. Perumal appeared before him as an aged man.
The old man asked the sage to get him food as he was hungry. He also advised him to stop his impossible task and do something worthwhile. The sage asked the old man to hold his flower basket and wait till he brought food for him saying that he was determined to see Perumal in Tiruparkadal, place the flowers at His feet and would not rest till then.
The sage went to bring food for the old man. Before he returned, Perumal wore all the flowers on His Thirumeni – body – and was in his reclining posture. It was a pleasant shock for the sage to see his Lord and begged His pardon for making Him carry the flower basket and also begged to allow him at His feet.
About the temple:
As Lord gave darshan in His Sayana(reclining ) position, He is known as Sthala Sayana Perumal. Sage Pundareeka can be seen sitting at the Lord's feet here. This is the birth place of Vaishnava Saint Boodhath Azhwar.
DIVYA DESAMs - 64/108 - Thirukadigai
Name of the Divya Desam : Yoga Narasimhar temple
Location : Sholingur, North Arcot Dist
Moolavar (Presiding Deity) : Sri Yoga Narasimhar
Thayaar (Consort) : Amruthavalli Thayar
Thirukkolam (Posture) : Vettrirundha (Sitting)
Thirumugam (Facing) : East
Mangalasasanam (Hymns sung by) :
Peyazhwar, Nammazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar
Sthalapurana (Brief History) :
As per legend, upon the completion of the purpose of Ramavataram, Sri Rama intended to leave the mortal world here; desirous of being with him, Sri Hanuman accompanied Him here. Saptharishis who were desirous of having a darshan of Lord Vishnu here, were troubled by the demons.
With Sri Rama's blessings Hanuman vanquished the demons. Rama provided the saptarishis with a vision of Narasimha Avataram and an elated Hanuman bearing a conch and discus that had been given to him by Rama stood on the nearby hill.
As per another legend Sage Vishwamitra worshipped Lord Vishnu for a 'kadigai' (represents fraction of time, approx 30mins) and earned the title Bhrammarishi. Hence the name of this place is Thirukadigai. It is believed that Budhan (Mercury) worshipped here and was relieved of a curse that had been placed on him by Durvasa muni.
About the temple:
Kadikachalam Hill (Big hill) with 1305 steps enshrines Yoga Narasimhar in a seated posture facing east; Amruthavalli Thayar blesses from a separate sannadhi.
The smaller hill with 407 steps enshrines Yoga Anjaneyar, with four arms, two holding a conch and a discus. This temple has two towers and the Hanuman theertham and the Rama theertham. The Pandava theertham is situated at the bottom of this hill.
In the ground temple, the festival image of Bhaktavatsala Perumal is enshrined. There is also a shrine to Adikesava Perumal here. It is said that even during the time of Karikal Cholan, this region of Tamilnadu was referred to as Kadikaikkottam.
It is believed that even being here for a Kadigai would liberate one from the cycle of births and deaths and hence the name Kadikachalam.
Swamy Dhottachar (nephew of Sri Ramanujar) used to worship Lord Varadaraja Perumal of Kanchipuram on the third day of Brahmotsavam every year. Once during the festival he was sick and could not visit Kanchi and thus missed the Seva. Dhottachar got thoroughly worried, offered prayers to Lord Varadharajar sitting on the banks of Brahma Theertham at Sholinghur.
Lord Varadarajar of Kanchi, pleased by the prayers of Swamy Dhottachar, appeared before him on Garuda Vahanam (enroute to the big hill - Yoga Narasimhar shrine). This incident resulted in a ritual called Dhottachar Seva performed on the third day of Brahmotsavam at Kanchi Varadarajar Temple.
Name of the Divya Desam : Sri Rama temple ( Sri Ram Janmabhoomi )
Location : Ayodhya, Uttarpradesh
Moolavar (Presiding Deity) : Sri Ramar
Thayaar (Consort) : Seetha Piraattiyaar
Thirukkolam (Posture) : Veetrirundha (Sitting)
Thirumugam (Facing) : North
Mangalasasanam (Hymns sung by) :
Periyazhwar, Kulasekara Azhwar, Thondaradipodi Azhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Nammazhwar
Sthalapurana (Brief History) :
As per legend after retrieving Mother earth from the floods by taking the Varaha (Boar) avatar, Lord Vishnu gave a part of His Vaikunta to Swayambhu Manu (son of Lord Brahma) and asked him to establish that part in Bhuloka. Manu placed it on the southern bank of River Sarayu which is known as Ayodhya.
In this sacred place Lord Perumal took the Avathaar as Sri Rama, led a life as an ordinary human being with extraordinary value systems. At the end of the Avathaar attained mukthi walking into Sarayu river.
As per another legend Lord Brahma did penance and prayed to Lord Narayana. Pleased by Brahma's devotion it is believed that Perumal gave darshan and was moved emotionally wherein His (perumal) eyes started to swell with tears. Instantly Brahma who did not want the tears to fall down on the earth in vain, collected in a Kamandalam (water jug held in hand). Brahma made a Pushkarani with the drops of tears, since this was created with Manasika (heartfelt) emotion of Perumal it is known as Maanasasaras in the Himalayas.
As per the wish of Ayodhya king, Maharishi Vasishtar took the help of Brahma to get Maanasasaras flow in this place. Since, Maanasasaras was made to flow in Ayodhya, it is called as "Sarayu Nadhi". Since Vasishtar brought this river it is also called as "Vasistai". It is believed that this river is said to have conversed with Sri Rama and Sri Dasaratha hence it is also called as "Rama Ganga".
About the temple:
The Ammaji Temple is a temple built embracing South Indian architecture, at a much later date, at Ayodhya, on the banks of the Sarayu river.
Ranganathar and Rama are enshrined here. Worship services are conducted here by South Indian Sree Vaishnava priests.
Ayodhya is one of the Saptha Puris or 7 mukthi sthalams.
'Ayodhya Mathura Maya Kashi Kanchi Avantika Puri Dwarakavati caiva saptaide moksha dayika’
Each represents different parts of the body of Sriman Narayanan.
Avanthi (Ujjain) is represented as the divine feet, Thiruvadi of Lord Perumal.
Kanchipuram, represents the waist,
Thirudwaraka represents the Nabhi (Navel),
Maya (Haridwar) represents the Thiru maarbhu (the chest)
Madhura represents the neck,
Kasi represents the nose
and finally, this Ayodhya Kshetram represents the Head of Lord Perumal.
DIVYA DESAMs - 66/108 - Thirunaimisaranyam
Name of the Divya Desam : Sri Devaraja Perumal (Sri Hari) temple
Location : Nimsar, Uttarpradesh
Moolavar (Presiding Deity) : Sri Devaraja Perumal/ Sri Hari
Thayaar (Consort) : Sri Hari Lakshmi Thayar
/Pundarikavalli Thayar
Thirukkolam (Posture) : Nindra (Standing)
Thirumugam (Facing) : East
Mangalasasanam (Hymns sung by) :
Thirumangai Azhwar
Sthalapurana (Brief History) :
As per legend the sages went to Lord Narayana and asked O’Lord ! we are experiencing several Yugas. In each of these Yugas, Dharma (righteousness) is prevailing to some extent. In the Kali Yuga, Dharma will be totally lost. But we have to survive somehow even during this period. Where can we survive ? We do not want to become the victims of Kali Yuga. It is believed that the Lord said don’t worry. I’ll send my discus and let it go. Wherever it stops that is the place where there will not be any impact of “Kali”. The divine discus went all over the world and finally when it reached this place it stopped. That place here became “Chakra Theertham”. The rim of chakra (discus) is called “Nemi” and as it stopped, it became “Nemisa” in Sanskrit. Here a big forest (Aranya) was formed and hence this place came to be known as “Naimisaranya”.
As per another legend, when sages were looking out for a sacred place to perform penance, Lord Brahma, brought out a ring from darbagrass. He asked the sages to perform penance at the place where the ring falls, which is believed to be Naimisaranyam. The sages performed penance here, pleased by their devotion Lord Perumal gave darshan. It is believed that the forest still has Lord Vishnu and all sages as trees.
About the temple:
Maharshi Veda Vyasa composed, classified and separated the vedas at Naimisaranyam, and arranged them as the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and the Atharvaveda. He had also composed and delineated the eighteen great puranas at this sacred place. * Vyasa Gaddi * (seat of Veda Vyasa) Sutha Gaddi (seat of Sutha) and Suka Gaddi (seat of sage Sri Suka) where they sat and taught the Vedic literature in Naimisaranyam are now shrines for devotees to worship.
This kshetram is one of the 8 Swayam Vyaktha kshetrams (Abodes of the self-manifest form of Lord Vishnu). The other Swayam Vyaktha kshetrams are Sri Rangam, Srimushnam, Salagramam, Thotadri (Vaanamamalai), Tirupathi, Pushkaram and Badrinath.
This Naimisaranya kshetram is revered as "Tapovanam". There are 9 tapovams. They are Dandakaranyam, Saindhavaranyam, Jambhukaranyam, Pushkararanyam, Utpalaranyam, Badrikaranyam, Gurujangalaranyam, Aruputharanyam and Naimisaranayam. It is believed that the Perumal is found in the form of forest. And this Naimisaranyam is regarded as a holy forest.
The Pushkarani (water body) of this sthalam are Gomukhi river and * Chakkara theertham. * Devotees take a holy dip at the Pushkarani and worship sannadhis of Chakarathalwar, Vinayakar, Sri Rama, Seetha Devi and Lakshmana.
DIVYA DESAMs - 67/108 – Thirupiridhi
Name of the Divya Desam : Paramapurusha Perumal temple
Location : Joshi Mutt, Nandprayag, Uttaranchal
Moolavar (Presiding Deity) : Sri Paramapurusha Perumal
Thayaar (Consort) : Parimalavalli Nachiyar
Thirukkolam (Posture) : Sayanam(Reclining)
Thirumugam (Facing) : East
Mangalasasanam (Hymns sung by) :
Thirumangai Azhwar
Sthalapurana (Brief History) :