Pages

Saturday, February 5, 2011

VETHA KUZHAMBHU AND VENGAYA SAMBAR




If Valmiki and Vyasa took Indian Epic writing to its pinnacle of glory, if Shakespeare and Milton lent lustre to English Literature, if Lindwall and Miller tormented the batsmen the world over and always haunted in pair, if Gandhiji and Vinobhaji instilled spirituality in politics, Vetha Kuzhambhu and Vengaya Sambar, demonstrate the Tamil Brahmin's culinary skill at its sharpest best.
Vetha Kuzhambu and Vengaya sambar, like Sehwag and Sachin, would always dominate the scene and that is the reason perhaps they are not served on plantain leaves in marital lunches. Any other sambar, needs the support of a thair pacchadi, avial, olan, parrupu usili and karakari, to survive the lunch. Remove the support of the various vegetables save one and sambar would surrender at once - a roaring lion, only when there is a retinue around. Not Vengaya Sambar. It can stand its ground in testing time. When Vengaya Sambar is around, like one's own wife, who would glance at Avial or pacchadi, mere coquettes, though they may have inviting looks?

"In small things we just beauty see,
In short measure, life may perfect be",


says Shakespeare in one of his sonnets, underlying the fact that it is the small vengayam that we are talking about. In Travancore, small vengayam is called ulli or Eerulli. The larger one doesn't deserve a treatise to write about.

Vetha Kuzhambu and Vengaya Sambar can conquer the world with the help of a single vegetable to play a subordinate role, as Kapil Dev played that world conquering game, with Syed Kirmani at the other end. When Concerns in Mumbai served Vengaya Sambar with Potato karakari on Thursdays, a serpentine queue with saliva oozing out, would wait for hours. If no vegetable is available, Vetha Kuzhambu can still hold its sway with the help of a roasted appalam. Sorry my Palakkad brothers and sisters.  Our pappadam cannot measure upto the expectations of Vetha Kuzhambu. They are not made for each other. It is always ensnared by the amorous advances of  appalam.

I prepared only vetha kuzhambhu and chutta appalam today, a Thanjavur Mami, would murmur in humility, oblivious of the fact that the aroma from her kitchen has already reached eight houses ahead in her Agraharam. Chutta appalam, like chundaikai  or karela, can also immerse in Vetha kuzhambhu, reiterating the fact that it is part of the household and not a mere catalytic agent.

And yet, we deny them their legitimate place in marriage lunches; instead we relegate them to the light dinner on the marriage day when all the ceremonies are over and only a few are around. Why treat your best batsmen as tailenders? Is it because all other vegetables have ganged up to isolate Vetha Kuzhambhu and Vengaya Sambar, so that they too are noticed? Would it be a blasphemy if we serve Vetha Kuzhambhu and Vengaya Sambar in saddhies of Sasta preetis, instead of several vegetables and varieties of payasams? After all payasams were dictated by palate and not prescribed by Shastras.

Idli and Mulagapodi are always made for each other. And yet, Chutney and Vengaya Sambar are not looked upon as the 'the other woman'. What more, Vengaya Sambar can also lend legitimacy to Idli and dosai and take them to dizzy heights.


If Vengaya Sambar and Potato Karakari is unparalleled, Koorkai, Chenai and Banana also go well with it. It does not need  varieties of vegetables or pathnis as it strictly follows Lord Sriram.It chooses one and remains loyal. However, Vetha Kuzhambhu is too strong a personality to entertain Idli and Dosai. It prefers to stand alone or mingle with a few lesser mortals. It is a little complex personality and yet has popular appeal.

One needs the arbitrating skills of a Solomon Pappaya to decide whether Vengaya Sambar emerges out better when prepared with Sambar Powder or ground coconut and other ingredients. To put in Brahminical tamil, whether Podi potta sambar scores over arachuvitta sambar, if Vengayam is the main ingredient?  I am for one, is a protagonist of vengaya sambar, prepared with sambar powder. The vengayam here is endowed with a rare ability, as the overcast sky does to a swing bowler. When ground coconut is used, the sharpness of Vengayam is bludgeoned as the effectiveness of a pace bowler is, in a flat wicket. Fortunately, Vetha Kuzhambhu does not face such a threat from coconut. I may be torn into pieces by some of the well known professional cooks or mamas and mamis from Palakkad for this sacrilegious statement. It is availability that dictates the ingredients and develop the taste.

One major area where Vetha Kuzhambhu differs from its brother Vengaya Sambar is in longevity. As some of its ingredients are basically preservatives, Vetta Kuzhambhu is blessed with a longer shelf life. Vengaya sambar suffers from Balarishtams if not alpa-ayusu.

Vengaya Sambar, as the very name suggests, leans on good quality small onions, for survival. Vetha Kuzhambhu does not need such singular support. It needs varieties of ingredients and deft handling which is available aplenty in Thanjavur and Trichi. (yours truly is a poor soul from Travancore).

It is not Sandhya Vandhanam or various other rituals that  bench mark brahminical eminence. Ability to prepare, enjoy and evaluate quality Vetha Kuzhambhu and Vengaya Sambar that marks brahminical endowments.

Let young mothers and fathers dissuade their children from Pav Bhaji and Pani poori and instead eulogise them, if they show proclivity towards Vengaya Sambar and Vetha Kuzhambhu.

And finally, let me make a Marxian appeal. Brahminical youth, unite! You have nothing to lose except polluted and contaminated pav bhajis and pani poories and a world with Vetha Kuzhambhu and Vengaya Sambar to gain.


Recipe:- 

Vatha kulambu is the one which you make with vatral (sun dried and preserved vegetables like ladies fingers, manathakkali, sundaikkai..) I always use this recipe of mallika bhadrinath.Try it out and see if you also like it. Recipe ; Any dry vatral- 3 tbsps; gingelly oil-- 1 tbsp; tamarind extract-- 1/4 cup; sambar powder-- 2 tsps; salt to taste; jaggery -little; For seasoning-- mustard seeds--1/4 tsp ; asafoetida powder -1/4 tsp ; fenugreek - 1/2 tsp; red chillies broken into bits-2 tuar dal- 1 1/2 tsps Method;- Heat oil, Add seasonings and when they are browned add the vatral and fry till it turns dark. Add sambar powder in the oil itself. mix it and then pour tamarind extract.add salt and let it boil. Mix a little rice flour in water and pour it in. Cook till it gets thicker. Add jaggery in the end Mix well and garnish with curry leaves and serve. 
  Even fresh vegetables like pumpkin, brinjals beans, colocasia can be used . If sambar powder is not available, then add 1 tsp of red chilli powder, 2 tsps of dhaniya powder in the oil instead . Add 1/2 tsp of roasted fenugreek powder just before removing from the fire. 


BABY ONION SAMBAR 

 INGREDIENTS:
  
Baby onion - 250 gms
Tur Dal (Red gram lentil) – 1 tea cup

Turmeric -1/4 tsp
Tamarind - enough to roll into the size of a small marble.
Salt – 1 ½ tsp
Mustard seeds – ¼ tsp
Curry leaves – 10
Cooking oil – 3 tbsps
For Sambar Masala Paste
Asafoetida – ¼ tspa
Bengal gram dal (chana dal) – 1 tbsp
Black gram dal (urad dal)1 tsp
Coriander seeds -1 tbsp
Red chillies – 8
Fenugreek seeds – ¼ tsp
Dry coconut gratings or
Roasted fresh coconut gratings – 1 tbsp
METHOD:
 
1. Soak tamarind in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes, and extract the juice.
2. Peel the baby onions and keep aside.
3. Pressure cook tur dal with turmeric powder and 3 cups of water until mushy, and let it cool.
For Sambar Masala Paste
1. Heat ¼ tsp of oil and fry the asafoetida.
2. Add black gram dal, bengal gram dal, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds and lastly the red chillies, and roast till crisp and golden in colour.
3. Dry grind all the roasted ingredients.
4. Now add the dry coconut gratings and grind again with some water and keep the paste aside.
To prepare the Sambar
1. Heat the remaining oil and add mustard seeds followed by curry leaves.
2. After the mustard splutters add the peeled baby onions and stir.
3. Cover with a lid and cook on low flame.
4. When the onions are done and look glassy, pour in the tamarind extract.
5. Add salt and cook for for 5minutes on a medium flame.
6. Add the cooked dal and stir well avoiding lumps.
7. Now add the ground sambar masala paste. If the masala is too thick, you can dissolve in ½ cup of water and then stir it in.
8. Let the sambar boil for 2 more minutes until all the ingredients blend together giving out a delicious aroma.
9. Garnish with coriander leaves before serving.
Enjoy baby onion sambar with rice or any other dish of your choice.

Video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbo2aAi0qOU


Thursday, February 3, 2011

Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Temple - Sriperumbudur

 Srimad Ramanuja

    




On the way to Kanchipuram one can see a huge arch with an inscription “Bhagavat Ramanujar Avatharitha Sriperumbudur” i.e. Birthplace of Srimad Ramanuja 

Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Temple - Sriperumbudur

Sriperumbudur which is located on the Chennai – Bangalore Highway (NH 4) about 40 Kilometers South-West of Chennai. This is the birth place of Saint Ramanuja, great Philosopher of Vaishnavism. The town hosts Sri Adi Kesava Perumal Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu in the standing posture here is known as Sri Adhikesava Perumal with his consorts Shreedevi and Bhoodevi bestows his abundant grace on his devotees. The divine mother [Thayar] is known as “Sri Yatirajanathavalli Thayar” meaning she is the consort of the master to Yathiraja i.e. Ramanuja. This is the only temple where Goddess Lakshmi has a name attributed to a devotee of the Lord. She is a varaprasadi who grants all wishes. The temple is in the south Indian style of temple architecture with feature of both Chola and Vijayanagara periods. It was constructed in the later Chola and Vijayanagara period. There is an inscription dated 1572 which mentions Srirangaraya I of the Vijayanagara period. Vijayanagara sources mention that in 1556 during the reign of Rama Raya a gift of 31 villages was made at the request of one Sadasiva to maintain this temple. The temple has a golden vimana with Sri Ramanuja’s image etched on it. This is the first golden vimana erected in the year 1912. To the right of the sanctum sanctorum is the Sannathi of Saint Ramanuja. Other deities like Rama, Andal, Udayavar, Desikan, and Alavandhar are enshrined in this temple complex.

Legends associated with the Temple

Legend has it that the builders of the temple tried to erect the pillars but owing to their excessive size and weight they failed and gave up the endeavor at nightfall. The next morning to their utter surprise they found the pillars duly installed. The people concluded that only giants or bhootas could have accomplished this. This is why the place came to be called Sri Perum Budur (great town of giants).
Another legend is that one day Lord Shiva started dancing in Kailash as if he was obsessed. Lord Shiva’s attendants known as Bhuta Ganas who were residing at Kailash seeing this strange behavior of their Master were amused and started laughing. Enraged, Shiva cursed them to be born on Earth. To get rid of the Shiva’s curse Bootha Ganas did penance here and Lord Shiva forgave them. He asked the divine architect Anantha to build a pond and when Bootha Ganas bathed in it, they could wash away their sins. This pond is called ‘Anantha Saras’ and in accordance with the wishes of the Devas, the Lord built a city called ‘Bootha Puri’, now called Sriperumbudur.

According to another legend, King Ambarisha was on a hunting expedition, when he spotted a tiger attacking a cow. In order to save the cow, he killed the tiger, but the cow also died in the process. He was grief-stricken and then a heavenly voice, asked him to go to Sriperumbudur, bathe in ‘Anantha Saras’ and then pray to Lord Narayana who would forgive his sins. The King dutifully obeyed the instructions. Then Lord appeared before him and told him that Adi Sesha would be born in his lineage and so asked him to build a temple. True to the Lord's words, after many years, Adi Sesha was born to a devout Brahmin Vaishnavite couple, Asuri and Kesavacharya, in Sriperumbudur and was named Ramanuja.

Than Ukantha Thirumeni

Sriperumbudur is the birth place of Saint Ramanuja the great philosopher of Vaishnavism. It was the presence of Mahavishnu as Adhikesava Perumal here made Asuri Kesavacharya father of Ramanuja settle here. Ramanuja was born in the year 1017 AD on the 12th day of the month of Chithirai under the star Thiruvadirai. There are three main Ramanuja Idols which are referred and located as given below.
Thamar Ugantha Thirumeni (Image dear to devotees) at Melkotte/Thirunarayana Puram

Than Ugantha Thirumeni (Image sanctified by Ramanuja himself) at Sriperumbudur
Than Ana Thirumeni (Original boday of Saint Ramanuja still preserved) at Srirangam
The Ramanuja Vigraha was made when the Acharya was living and it is said Ramanuja hugged it and passed on all his powers to this Vigraha which is known as “Than Ugantha Thirumeni” i.e. the body touched by him. It is said when the Stapathi opened the eye of the vigraha with the chisel, blood came out of the eyes of the teacher, who was then residing far away at Srirangam. When asked why, the preceptor explained that it was because the idol was "himself". After the vigraha was sanctified, Ramanuja became weak and shuffled off his mortal coil in a fortnight. This is interpreted as his prana coming to abide in the vigraha at Sriperumbudur. The idol here is believed to be very powerful and worshipping it will confer all benefits, including Moksha. There is a strong belief and fact of course, that if we drink Thirumanjana (Abiseka) milk of Sri Ramanujacharya , all sickness will be cured. In fact, in Sriperumbudur, Ramanuja is addressed as "Swamy'. On the festival day, the idol is bejewelled, dressed in glittering robes and carrying a sword, indicating Ramanuja's status as the king of saints i.e. Yathi Raja.

Vishishtadvaita Philosophy profounded by Saint Ramanuja

The Vishistadvaita Philosophy is a sub-school of the Vedanta school of Hindu Philosophy. The other school of thoughts being Advaita and Dwaita. Vishistadvaita philosophy was propogated by Saint Ramanuja. Vishistadvaita i.e. Vishita + Advaita literally means Qualified Advaita Philosophy.

In Advaita philosophy the Soul (i.e. Atma) is identified with Brahman.
Dwaita stresses a strict distinction between the God and the individual souls. (Jiva).
In Vishitadvaita – Brahman alone exists but is characterized by multiplicity.
Bhakti Yoga is the sole means of liberation in Visishtadvaita. Through Bhakti (devotion), a Jiva ascends to the realm of the Lord, where it continues to delight in His service. Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga are natural outcomes of Bhakti, total surrender, as the devotee acquires the knowledge that the Lord is the inner self. A devotee realizes his own state as dependent on, and supported by, and being led by the Lord, who is the Master. One is to lead a life as an instrument of the Lord, offering all his thought, word, and deed to the feet of the Lord. One is to see the Lord in everything and everything in Him. This is the unity in diversity achieved through devotion.
Sri Vaishnavism

Ramanujacharya puts forth the view that both the Supreme Goddess Lakshmi and Supreme God Narayana together constitute Brahman - the Absolute. Sri Lakshmi is the female personification of Brahman and Narayana is the male personification of Brahman, but they are both inseparable, co-eternal, co-absolute and are always substantially one. Thus, in reference to these dual aspects of Brahman, the Supreme is referred to in the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya as Sriman Narayana.
Please visit the temple and get the blessings of Adikesava Perumal, Yathirajanathavalli and Ramanuja!

Bibliography/Reference

Temples of South India – Smt Ambujam Anantharaman Power of Guru – from the glorious life of Sri Ramanuja Acharya – Dr. G.R. Vijayakumar Ramanuja Vaibhavam - Sri Ananthapadmanabhaachariyar Sriperumbudur – Wikipedia Advaita/Dvaita/Vishitadvaita Philosophies - Wikipedia

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

108 DIVYA DESAM TEMPLES OF VISHNU

The Divya desams are 108 temples of Lord VISHNU that are regarded by Hindus as being of special holiness. 106 of them are in India, while 2 are believed to exist in the spiritual realm.

Hindus, especially in South India, hope to visit the 106 divya desams (temples) that are in the Indian subcontinent, and hopefully reach god's feet in the rest 2 of the 108 divya desams, namely Thiruparkadal (The Ocean of Milk, in which God resides) and Thiruparamapadham (at God's holy feet).

Around 2500 years ago, during what is known as the Bhakti movement, the Alwar saint poets of Tamilnadu, sang verses in praise of Vishnu, glorifying the deity enshrined in temples all over India. These verses as well as these temples are still a part of the cultural fabric of the region. 108 of these shrines and mythological abodes are collectively known as the Divya Desam shrines.

The Alwars:   An unbroken lineage of teachers, (the Acharyas) and a wealth of literature in Tamil and in Sanskrit form the backbone of the Sri Vaishnava religion. Twelve saint (poet) devotees - the great Alwars lived their lives dedicated to expressing their devotion to MahaVishnu - considered to be the supreme manifestation of Divinity in the Vaishnava system of beliefs..  These saints composed verses in chaste Tamil, and revitalized the religious spirit of the region, sparking off a renewal of devotional worship in what is generally referred to as the Bhakti movement. The first of the twelve, Peyalwar, Bhootattalwar and Poikaialwar lived in the first half of the first millennium CE.

Geographic distribution:40 of the shrines are located in the fertile Chola kingdom and 22 are in Tondainaadu - around Kanchipuram and Chennai. 2 are in Nadu Naadu (Tiruvahindrapuram and Tirukkovilur) and 18 are in Pandyanaadu. 13 of the shrines are in Malainaadu, of which 11 are in Kerala and 2 are in Kanyakumari district; therefore the total number of Divya Desams in Tamilnadu is 84. 11 Divyadesams are in Vada Naadu, or the northern lands - of which two, Tirupati and Ahobilam are in Andhra Pradesh. 7 of these 11 are in Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand (such as Mathura, Ayodhya, and Badrinath etc.). , 1 in Nepal and 1 in Gujarat. Two of the Divyadesams - Ksheerasaagaram and Vaikuntham are celestial abodes.

CHOLA NADU / TRICHY TEMPLES
  1. SRIRANGAM / TIRUVARANGAM / KOVIL - Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
  2. THIRUKKOZHI / URAYOOR, TRICHY -   Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple
  3. THIRUKKARAMBANUR / UTTAMAR KOVIL - Sri Purushothaman Perumal Temple
  4. THIRUVELLARAI / SHWETAGIRI / WHITE ROCK - Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple
  5. THIRUANBIL / ANBIL - Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple
  6. THIRUPPERNAGAR / KOYILADI / KOVILADI - Sri Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple
  7. TIRUKKANDIYUR / KANDIYOOR - Sri Hara Shapha Vimochana Perumal Temple
  8. THIRUKKUDALUR / SANGAMA KSHETRAM - Sri Aaduthurai Perumal Temple
  9. THIRUKAPISTHALAM / KAPISTHALAM / PAPANASAM - Sri Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple
  10. THIRUPULLAM BOOTHANKUDI / TYAGASAMUDRAM - Sri Valvil Ramar Perumal Temple
  11. THIRU ADANOOR / BHARGAVA KSHETRAM - Sri Aandu Alakkum Ayan Perumal Temple
  12. THIRUKKUNDANDHAI / KUMBAKONAM TOWN - Sri Sarangapani Perumal Temple
  13. THIRU VINNAGARAM / TIRUNAGESWARAM - Sri Oppiliappan Perumal Temple
  14. THIRU NARAYUR / NACHIYAR KOVIL - Sri Thirunarayoor Nambi Perumal Temple
  15. THIRU CHERAI / UDAIYAR KOVIL - Sri Saranathan Perumal Temple
  16. THIRU KANNAMANGAI / KRISHNA MANGALA KSHETRAM - Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple
  17. THIRU KANNAPURAM / NANNILAM - Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple
  18. THIRU KANNANKUDI - Sri Loganatha Perumal Temple
  19. THIRU NAAGAI - Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple, Nagapattinam
  20. THIRU THANJAI MAAMANI KOVIL - Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple, Tanjore
  21. THIRU NANDIPURA VINNAGARAM / NAADAN KOVIL - Sri Jaganatha Perumal Temple
  22. THIRU VELLIYANKUDI / BHARGAVAPURAM - Sri Kolavilli (Kolavalvilli) Ramar Perumal Temple
  23. THIRU VAZHUNDUR / AAMARUVIYAPPAN TEMPLE - Sri Devaadi Raja Perumal Temple
  24. THIRU SIRUPULIYUR / KOLLUMANGUDI - Sri Arulmaakadal Perumal Temple
  25. THIRU THALAICHANGA NANMADHIYAM - Sri Naan Madhiya Perumal Temple
  26. THIRUVINDALUR / THIRU INDALOOR - Sri Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple
  27. THIRU KAVALAMPADI / THIRUNANGUR - Sri Gopala Krishna Perumal Temple, Seergazhi
  28. THIRU KAZHISEERAMA VINNAGARAM - Sri Trivikrama Perumal Temple, Sirgazhi
  29. THIRU ARIMEYA VINNAGARAM - Sri Kuda Maadu Koothan Perumal Temple
  30. THIRU VANN PURUSHOTTAMAM - Sri Purushothama Perumal Temple
  31. THIRU SEM PON SEI - Sri Per Arulaalan Perumal Temple
  32. THIRU MANIMAADA KOVIL - Sri Narayana Perumal Temple
  33. THIRU VAIKUNTHA VINNAGARAM - Sri Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple
  34. THIRUVAALI & THIRUNAGARI - Sri Lakshmi Narashima Perumal Temple
  35. THIRU DEVANAR THOGAI - Sri Deiva Naayaga Perumal Temple
  36. THIRU THETRI AAMBALAM - Sri Senkanmaal Ranganatha Perumal Temple
  37. THIRU MANI KOODAM - Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple
  38. THIRU VELLAKKULAM / ANNAN KOVIL - Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
  39. THIRU PAARTHAN PALLI - Sri Thamaraiyal Kelvan Perumal Temple
  40. THIRU CHITRAKOOTAM - Sri Govindaraja Perumal Temple, Chidambaram
NADU NADU / CUDDALORE / T’ V MALAI TEMPLES
  1. THIRU VAHINDRAPURAM / THIRUVAYINDHAI - Sri Deyva Nayaga Perumal Temple
  2. THIRU KOVILOOR - Sri Trivikrama Perumal Temple
TONDAI NADU / KANCHI / CHENNAI TEMPLES
  1. THIRU KACHCHI / THIRU KANCHI - Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  2. THIRU ASHTABUJAM / ASHTABUYAGARAM - Sri Adikesava Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  3. THIRUTHANKA / THOOPUL - Sri Deepa Prakasha Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  4. THIRU VELUKKAI - Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  5. THIRU NEERAGAM / NEERAGATHAAN - Sri Jagadeeshwarar Temple, Kanchi
  6. THIRU PAADAKAM - Sri Pandava Dhoothar Temple, Kanchi
  7. THIRU NILATHINGAL THUNDAM - Sri Nilathingal Thundathan Temple, Kanchi
  8. THIRU OORAGAM / OORAGATHAAN - Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  9. THIRU VEKKA - Sri Yathothakaari Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  10. THIRU KAARAGAM - Sri Karunakara Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  11. THIRU KAAR VAANAM - Sri Thirukkaar Vaanar Temple, Kanchi
  12. THIRU KALVANOOR - Sri Adi Varaha Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  13. THIRU PAVALA VANNAM - Sri Pavala Vannar Temple, Kanchi
  14. THIRU PARAMESHWARA VINNAGARAM - Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple, Kanchi
  15. THIRU PUTKUZHI / JATAYU KSHETRAM - Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple
  16. THIRU NINDRAVOOR / TINNIYUR / THINNANUR - Sri Bhatavatsala Perumal Temple, Thinnanoor
  17. THIRU EVVULUR / THIRUVALLORE - Sri Veeraraghava Perumal Temple, Tiruvallore
  18. THIRU VELLIKENI / TRIPLICANE - Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai
  19. THIRU NEER MALAI / PALLAVARAM - Sri Neer Vanna Perumal Temple, Chennai
  20. THIRU VIDANTHAI / THIRU IDA VENTHAI - Sri NithyaKalyana Perumal Temple, Mahabalipuram
  21. THIRU KADAL MALAI - Sri StalaSayana Perumal Temple, Mahabalipuram
  22. THIRU KADIGAI / SHOLINGUR - Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple
VADA NADU / REST OF INDIA TEMPLES
  1. THIRUVAYODHI / AYODHYA - Sri Ram Temple, Ayodhya, UP
  2. THIRU NAIMISARANYAM - Sri Devaraja Perumal Temple
  3. THIRUPPIRUDHI / JOSHIMATH - Sri Paramapurusha Perumal Temple, Joshimutt
  4. THIRUKKANDAM / DEVAPRAYAG / KADINAGAR - Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple, Devaprayag
  5. THIRUVADARI ASHRAMAM / BADRINATH - Sri Badri Narayana Perumal Temple
  6. THIRU SALIGRAMAM / MUKTINATH, NEPAL - Sri Moorthy Perumal Temple
  7. THIRU VADAMADURAI / MATHURA - Sri Govardhana Perumal Temple, Brindavan
  8. THIRU VAAIPADI / AAYARPADI / GOKULAM - Sri Navamohana Krishna Perumal Temple
  9. THIRU DRAWARAKAI / DWARAKA - Sri Kalyana Narayana Perumal Temple
  10. THIRU SINGAVEL KUNDRAM / AHOBILAM - Sri Nava Narasimhar Temple, Ahobilam
  11. THIRUVENGADAM / TTD / TIRUMALA / TIRUPATI - Sri Venkateswara Swamivaru Temple / Srivari Temple
MALAI NADU / KERALA TEMPLES
  1. THIRU NAAVAI - Sri Naavai Mukunda Perumal Temple
  2. THIRU VITHUVAKODU / TIRUVIJIKODE / ANJUMURTHY KOIL - Sri Uyyavandha Perumal Temple
  3. THIRU KAATKARAI / TRIKAKKARA - Sri Kaatkarai Appa Perumal Temple
  4. THIRU MOOZHIKKALAM - Sri Moozhikkalathaan Perumal Temple
  5. THIRUVALLAVAAZH / TIRUVALLA - Sri Kolapira Vallaba Perumal Temple
  6. THIRU KADITHAANAM - SAHADEVA TEMPLE - Sri Athpudha/Amrita Narayana Perumal Temple
  7. THIRU CHENGKUNDROOR / CHENGANOOR - YUDHISHTIRA TEMPLE - Sri Imayavarappa Perumal Temple
  8. THIRU PULIYOOR / KUTTANAAD - BHIMA TEMPLE - Sri Maayapiran Perumal Temple
  9. THIRU VAARAN VILAI / ARANMULA - ARJUNA TEMPLE - Sri Kuralappan / Parthasarathy Perumal Temple
  10. THIRU VANVANDUR / TIRUVAMUNDUR - NAKULA TEMPLE - Sri Pambanaiapan/Kamalanathan Perumal Temple
  11. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM / TRIVANDRUM - Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple
PANDYA NADU / SOUTH TAMILNADU TEMPLES
  1. THIRU VATTAARU / THODUVETTI / KUZHITTURAI - Sri Adikesava Perumal Temple
  2. THIRU VANNAPARISAARAM / TIRUPATISAARAM - Sri Kuralappa Venkatachalapati Perumal Temple
  3. THIRUKKURUNGUDI / TIRUKARANGUDI - Sri Nindra/Azhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple
  4. THIRU CHERIVARAMANGAI / VANAMAAMALAI - Sri Thothatrinatha Perumal Temple, Nanguneri
  5. THIRU VAIKUNTAM / SRIVAIKUNTAM - NAVA TIRUPATI - 1 - Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal Temple
  6. THIRU VARAGUNAMANGAI / NATHTHAM - NAVA TIRUPATI - 2 - Sri Vijayaasana Perumal Temple
  7. THIRU PULINGUDI / PULINKUDI - NAVA TIPUPATI – 3 - Sri Kaaisina Vendha Perumal Temple
  8. THIRU TOLAIVILLIMANGALAM / RETTA TIRUPATI - NAVA TIRUPATI – 4 & 5 - Sri Aravindha Lochana Srinivasa Perumal Temple
  9. THIRU KULANDAI / PERUNKULAM - NAVA TIRUPATI – 6 - Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
  10. THIRU KOLOOR - NAVA TIRUPATI – 7 - Sri Vaitha Maanitha Perumal Temple
  11. THIRU PERAI / THEN TIRU PERAI - NAVA TIRUPATI – 8 - Sri Magara Nedungkuzhai Kadar Perumal Temple
  12. THIRU KURUGUR / AZHWAR TIRUNAGARI - NAVA TIRUPATI – 9 - Sri Aadhinatha Perumal Temple
  13. THIRUVILLIPUTTUR / SRIVILLIPUTTUR - Sri Andal Vatapatrasayee Perumal Temple
  14. THIRU THANKAAL - Sri Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple
  15. THIRU KOODAL - Sri Koodal Azhagar Perumal Temple, Madurai
  16. THIRU MAALIRUNSOLAI / AZHAGAR MALAI - Sri Kallazhagar Perumal Temple, Madurai
  17. THIRU MOGOOR - Sri Kaalamegha Perumal Temple
  18. THIRU KOTIYOOR - Sri Uraga Mellanayaan Perumal Temple
  19. THIRU PULLANI - Sri Kalyana Jagannatha Perumal Temple
  20. THIRU MAYAM - Sri Sathyagiri Natha Perumal Temple
VINNULAGAM / CELESTIAL ABODES
  1. THIRU PAAL KADAL / KSHEERA SAGARAM - Sri Ksheerapthi Nathan
  2. THIRU PARAMAPAADHAM / VAIKUNTAM - Sri Paramapadha Nathan
 To View photos: Use the links below.

108 Divya Desam Temples of Lord Vishnu

Divya Desams in Central Tamil Nadu!


#
Divya Desam
D3
D6
D7
D8
D9
D10
D11
D12
D13
D14
D15
D16
D17
D18
D19
D20
D21
D22
D23
D24
D25
D26
D27
D28
D29
D30
D31
D32
D33
D34
D35
D36
D37
D38
D39
D40
D41
D42
D43
D44
D76
D77

Divya Desams in Madras and S. Andhara






Divya Desams in Kerala & S. Tamil Nadu!



  
Divya Desams Uttar Pradesh



Divya Desam in Gujarat!


#
Divya Desam
D106

NOTE:

Blue letter ones are Hyperlink  to enable you to see deities photo.Copy and paste the entire line (eg: