A Divya Desam or Vaishnava Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Azhwars (saints). ”Divya” means “divine” and “Desam” suggests “place of abode” (temple). Among them 11 are in Kerala. Of the 13 Malai Nadu Divya Desam shrines, two are in the distinct of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu: 01. Thirupatisaram Kuralappa Perumal Temple,. 02. Thiruvattar Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple, and the rest are in Kerala state:
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| Kerla: Pancha Pandava temples (dedicated to Sri Vishnu),atmanirvana.com |
01. Thiruvananthapuram Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
02. Thiruvalla Sree Vallabha Temple
03. Thiruchitat Maha Vishnu Temple
04. Thiruppuliyoor Maha Vishnu Temple
05. Thiruvaranmula Sree Parthasaradhi Temple
06. Thiruvanvandoor Maha Vishnu Temple
07. Thrikkodithanam Maha Vishnu Temple
08. Thrikkakara Vamana Moorthy Temple
09. Thirumoozhikkalam Lakshmana Perumal Temple
10. Thirumittakkod Anchumoorthy Mangalam Temple
11. Thirunavaya Nava Mukunda Temple
The12 Azhwars who lived during the 5th-8th centuries AD, glorified 108 Vishnu shrines called Divya desam shrines and their devotional hymns on God Vishnu in chaste Tamil are compiled as a collective religious work called Nalayira Divya Prabandham containing 4000 verses extolling the virtues of God Vishnu and 108 shrines are revered in their work. The striking aspect is that they hail from different castes. Thondaradi Azhwar, Mathurakavi Azhwar, Peria azhwar and his daughter Andal were from Brahmin community and the rest were from other communities. Divyadesam is often referred to as Tamil Vada. In all Vaishnavite temples, the priests following Thenkalai or Vadakalai sects Smprathayam) chant the Divyadesam songs regularly as part of Puja protocol and during temple festivals.
Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and the last two are believed to be outside the Earthly realms. They are spread across India covering many states like Tamil Nadu (85), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (2), Gujarat (1), Uttar Pradesh (4), Uttarakhand (3). The only Divaya Desam shrine in Nepal is Muktinath- Saligramam. The foremost Divyadesam shrine is Sri Ranganathar temple at Srirangam near Tiruchi and it is the largest functional temple in the world. The temple covers an area of 155 acres (63 ha) with 81 shrines, 21 towers, 39 pavilions and several water tanks. The earliest structure dated back to 817 CE. This post covers four Vishnu shrines.
01. Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple, Kerala :
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| Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple, Kerala, Justdial.com |
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| Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple en.wikipedia.org |
This temple at Tirunavaya, Mallapuram dist is on the banks of the Bharatappuzha (River Ponnani), and th main deity is Navamukundan (Narayana-Vishnu). For daily puj and festivals the water is drawn from the near-by river as this shrine has neither pond or water well for temple needs. The three temples dedicated to Brahma - Siva temples (Cherutirunavaya) across the river Ponnani is often referred to as Trimurthi Sangama. It is popular place for offering tharpanam (thithi) for the ''pithrus'' - forefathers.
Here, the temple has a separate grabagriha (srikovil/sanctum) and differs from other temples where the god's consort Goddess lakshmi gives dhashan together with the lord. Yet another interesting fact is here Mahamaham is celebrated every 12 years and the tradition has been around since the 8th century. In Tamil Nadu the temple town of Kumbakonam (thanjavur dist.) is the venue of Mahamaham every 12 years.
It is quite unfortunate the temple faced the fury of Tipu Sultan of Mysore and his army during his raid in Kerala in the later part of the 18th century and later in 1921 during the Mappila Rebellion by the Muslims. The present temple built in Kerala style is being managed by Samutiri of Kozhikode (Zamorin of Calicut) as the managing trustee under the govt. controlled Malabar Devaswom Board,
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02. Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Kshethram:
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| Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy temple, Kerala. findmessages.com |
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| Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Kshethram en.wikipedia.org |
Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple close to Ernakulam is dedicated to Lord Vamana/Vishnu. an avatar of Sri Vishnu. Being the origin of the most famous 10-day long Onam festival (month of August and September) of Kerala, this temple is the venue of the grand Onam feast in which people surpassing religion and casts participate in it with great interest. Further, Thrikkakara is believed to have been the abode of the King Mahabali. It is a colorful festival and during festivities the performing arts of Kerala such as Kathakili are showcased by live performances. when this place came under the control of the English company nd Marthanda Varma from the Kochi kingdom, the onam festival continued without a break under the leadership of the Maharaja of Travancore by the local rulers (naduvazhis). It continued till India became free from the British rule. Since 861 common Era, this festival has been around according to temple records.
Believed to have been established by God Parasurama, in this temple set in a picturesque place the deity is dedicated to God Vamana, an incarnation of Vishnu. There is a main deity of Sri Vishnu in the temple. The idol of Vamana ( a Brahmin dwarf) is depicted as preparing to place his right foot on the head of Mahabali. On the walls of the inner temple complex walls there is a series of thousands of lamps called Chuttuvilakku ('surrounding lamps)'. On estival dys these oil lamps are light. There are two temple ponds; one is the Kapilatheertham close to the temple and only temple priests can use them. The other being on the North side outside the temple walls. It is for the Aaraattu temple ritual - ceremonial bath of the idol during Onam festival and, etc. There are three large mantaps/halls for performing dances, weddings and holding Onam feast. During the 10 long Onam festival, each day, the idol is colorfully decorated in the form of one of the ''Ten Avatars of Vishnu'',
The other major festivals celebrated here are Vishnu, Makara Sankranti, Navarathri and Saraswati Puja.
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03. Thirumoozhikulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal temple, Kerala:
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| Thirumoozhikulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal temple ,Kerala,en.wikipedia.org |
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| Lakshmana Swamy temple,Thiru Moozhi Kkulam,Kerala, wikipedia |
Thirumoozhikulam Sree Lakshmanaperumal temple in Thirumoozhikalam (Moozhikkulam) of Ernakulam district is unique shrine where the main deity is Sri Lakshmana, the second brother of God Rama (Vishnu incarnate) ShriVaishnava Azhwars especially Nammalvar and Thirumangai Azhwar glorified this temple in their devotional Tamil hymns (holy Nalareera Prabhdamam). Built in a serne picturesque place with greenery in the Srikovil the main deity is Sri Lakshmana Perumal.holds the main sanctum dedicated to Lakshmana Perumal. Managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, the main10- day annual festival falls in the Malayalam month of Medam (April/May).
One of the 13 Malai Naatu (Kerala/Chera) Divya Desams the temple is associated with the epic Ramayana. The legend. has it when Sri Rama and Lakshmana were in exile as ordered by their father king Dasaratha, their brother Bharata, quite upset over his unexpected succession to the throne of Ayodhya, came to the forest to see his brothers. Upon seeing Bharata in their place, Lakshmana thought Bharata would create mischief and decided to attack him. Later realizing his mistake and Bharat'a abundant respect for Sri Rama Lakshmana felt ashamed. Both Bhahata and Lakshmana together worshipped at Tirumoozhikkalam. The name Tirumoozhikalam has its origin in this incident- "tiru-mozhi-kalam" meaning ''place where sweet words were uttered''.
Another legend has it that during the great deluge (Pralayam) - at the end of the Dvapara Yuga, town Dvaraka was covered by the sea and the four idols of Sree Rarma, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrughna which Lord Sree Krishna worshipped, were also submerged in the sea. Centurie late the idols were washed ashore near Thriprayar. The local fishermen found the idols and handed over them to the ruler Vakkay Kaimal Naduvazhi.The ruler also had a strange dream that night about the idols on near the beach.. Vakkay Kaimal, The ruler had the idols installed reverentially in four temples as directed in the dream; Rama at Thriprayar, Bharata at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam and Shathrughna at Payammal.
In this part of Kerala the belief has been that if a devotee undertakes the pilgrimage and visits all the four shrines on the same day itself in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam (15 July to 15 August) - the Ramayana Masam, he will attain salvation and be free from sins committed so far. Devotees in thousands undertake this holy pilgrimage, with religious fervor.and it is popularly known as "Nalambalam Yatra" - a holy trip to four temples (Nalambalam).. Further in this place at the request of sage Harita God Vishnu to establish in the Kali Yuga (in whic people would commit all kinds of sins) Varnashrama Dharma, uttered the sacred words,; hence this place came to be known as as Thirumoozhikalam.
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04. Sreevallabha Temple, Thirunalla, Kerala:
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| Sreevallabha Temple , Thiruvalla, Kerala, rgyan.com |
Sreevallabha Temple, located close to Ramapuram and just 2.5 km from Thiruvalla railway (Pathanmthitta district) station and roughly 2 km from KSRTC bus stand, is one of the oldest Hindu temples in India. Dedicated to Sri Vishnu who is known as Sreevallabhan, this Divayadesam shrine is steeped in history. The Vaishnavite Azhwars (saints) Nammalvar of the 5th century AD and Thirumangai Azhwar of the 9th century AD had glorified this temple in their works in the Tamil Canon Nalaayera Thivyaprabhandam. The 10 the century AD devotional work of Sreevallabha Ksethra Mahathmyam glorified this temple. A unique distinction of this temple is that Kathakali dance is performed daily as a ritualistic offering to the almighty. Kathakali Puja is at 10 pm to 1 am at night. It is the only Hindu temple in India where the largest number of Kathakali performances are staged every year. Lots of devotees come to this temple to get blessed by the deity. This temple at Thiruvalla known for its orthodoxy and strict adherence to temple temple Sastras, creates distinctive ambiance, enhancing the divinity and sanctity of the place of worship..
This Vallabha shetram is mentioned in Garuda and Matsya Puranas. Inscriptions in the temple suggest that the temple for Sudarshana Chakra, an important part of Sri Vishnu temples was installed way back in 2998 BCE. Historians point out that Sreedevi Antherjanam of Sankramangalathu Illam (a Namboodri family) built the temple for Sudarshana Chakra and in 59 BCE Queen Cherumthevi (wife of King Cheraman Perumal) renovated and expanded the temple for the benefits of local people. In no other temples one can worship both lord Vishnu and lord Sudarsana together under the same roof.
This place of worship by AD 1100 was once an important center for education and spiritual knowledge. Sri Vallabhan temple maintained a Vedic school with more than 1200 students (Vidhyarthis) and as many as 150 teachers (Adyabika). Courses in Vedanta, Ayurveda, Jyotisha, Kalaripayattu etc., were offered to the students. The temple also managed an Ayurvedic hospital to treat 100 patients at a time. Obviously this ancient center of education played no less role in the growth and development of education and culture native to Kerala. Here, Sri Vishnu incarnated as Brahmachari Vallabhan at the request of sage Durvasa and Khandakarnan.to eliminate demon Thokalaasuran. who terrorized the people and the saintly. In this temple that follows altogether different puja protocol, etc., for a pretty long period. it is said, the deity in the Srikovil was once worshipped by Goddess Lakshmi and Sri Krishna. in 59 BCE. When the temple was managed by Pathillathil Pottimar (Brahmins of ten families), between 1752-1753, the ruler of Travancore Marthanda Varma assisted by his dewan Ramayyan Dalawa not only took over the control of the temple from the Pottimar but also thousands of acres of land owned by the temple, It is said, dewan Ramayyan Dalawa, who was close to the ruler, looted the whole temple assets and transferred them to Thiruvananthapuram.. Since 1968 women and also elephants have been allowed to enter the temple. However, women were allowed only during Thiruvathira of Dhanu month and Vishnu of Medam till then. Apparently, from the present generation point of view, it was a male bastion .50 years ago.
http://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2016/05/famous-shri-vallabha-temple-thiruvalla.html
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