108 Divya Desams - 108 Vishnu temples

Thiruneermalai

Town Name: Thiruneermalai
Reason for Name: See TN 18-A
Nearest Major Town / City: Chennai
Route: 25 km from Chennai Central RS. Travel towards south on GST Road up to Pallaavaram. At Pallavaram turn west and travel about 5 km to reach the Temple.
Vimanam: Sriranga Vimanam
Pushkarani: Manikarnika Pushkarani, Kshera Pushkarani, Swarna Pushkarani, Sitha Pushkarani and Karunya Pushkarani Ksetram: Swayam Vyaktha Kshetram, Thoyadri Kshetram, Kandararanya Kshetram
Festivals: Brahmotsavam in Chitirai, Kalyana Utsavam in Panguni (Renganathan) & Neervanan (Masi) Vanabhojanam in Karthikai.
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Renganathan
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Azhagia Manavalan
Hastam / Mudrai: Abhaya Hastam
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Ranganayaki
Thayar Name (Utsavar): Ranganayak


Thiruvidavendai

Other Names: Nithya Kalyanapuri,Sripuri,Varahapuri,Vamanapuri (Now known as Thiruvadandai)
Town Name: Thiruvadandai
Reason for Name: Bali, after helping asuras defeat devas, performed penance here invoking Lord Vishnu. The Perumal blessed him with the Dharshan of Varaha. Kavala Maharishi married the daughter of Kuni Kaharishi. He had 360 daughters with Mahalakshmi’s amsam. The worried Rishi prayed to Lord Varaha at Vamakapuri. The Perumal pleased appeared as a Brahmachari and married one maiden a day for next 360 days. On the last day, the Perumal made all the 360 maidens into one and placed her on his left lap. As the Perumal has Mahalakshmi on his left (Edam), this place is called Thiru Edanthai. Thiru Eda Edakai became Thiruvidavidandai.
Nearest Major Town / City: Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
Route: 38 km from Chennai or about 17 km from Mahabalipuram on East Coast Road. Buses are available.
Vimanam: Kalyana Vimanam
Pushkarani: Kalyana, Varaha Pushkarani
Sthala Vriksham: Punnai
Kshetram: Varaha Ksetram
Festivals: Chithirai Brahmotsavam, Masi Magam, Thai Kannu, Parivettai, Avani Garudasevai, Adi Pooram Gajendran Moksham, Srijayanthi, Navarathiri, Deepavali, Karthikai Deepam, Vaikasi Vasanthosthavam.
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Lakshmi Adi Varaha Perumal
Perumal Other Name: Gnanapiran
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Nithya Kalyana Perumal
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Komalavalli Thayar, Akilavalli Thayar
Thayar Name (Utsavar): Komalavalli Thayar


Thirukadalmalai

Other Name: Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
Town Name: Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
Reason for Name: Narasimha Pallava I was known as Mamallan and hence the name. Mamallapuram has been corrupted to Mahabalipuram
Nearest Major Town / City: Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
Route: About 55 km from Chennai and 17 km from Thiruvidavendai. Buses from Chennai available.
Vimanam: Ananta Vimanam Gagankrithi Vimanam
Pushkarani: Pundareeka Maharishi Pushkarani
Sthala Vriksham: Punnai
Kshetram: Artha Sethu Ksetram
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Stalasayana Perumal
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Sthalasayanathuraivaar (Ulagu Uyya Nindran)
Hastam / Mudrai: Aghwana Mudrai
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Nilamangai Nacchiyar
Thayar Name (Utsavar): Nilamangai Nacchiyar


Thiruvallikkeni

Town Name: Chennai
Nearest Major Town / City: Chennai
Route: Part of Chennai, Buses and suburban Trains take you to the Temple.
Vimanam: Aananda Vimanam, Pranava Vimanam, Pushpaka Vimanam, Shesha Vimanam, and Dhyviga Vimanam
Pushkarani: Indiran, Soma, Agni, Meena, Vishnu Pushkaranis surrounded Kairavini Saras
Sthala Vriksham: Tulasi
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Venkatakrishnan
Perumal Namer (Utsavar): Parthasarathi
Hastam / Mudrai: Right hand Gana Mudrai, pointing to His feet.


Sholingur

Other Name: Thirukkadigai
Town Name: Sholingur
Reason for Name: Viswamithra obtained the title of brhamarishi, when he worshipped Lord Narasimha for a Kadigai (24 Minutes or Nazhi). It is also said that Narasimha gave Moksha to Prahaladh and to the Saptharishis in a Kadigai. A Chola King is believed to have established the Temple. Hence it was called Chola Simhapuram, which became Sholingur
Nearest Major Town / City: Arakkonam, Chitoor
Route: 30 km from Arakkonam or 14 km from Sholingur RS. It is conventiently reached from Chennai by car, or one can go up to Arakkonam by train from Chennai and take a taxi from Arakkonam. Can travel from Walaja to Sholingur by road. 30 km east of Chitoor, connected by a good road.
Vimanam: Simga Koshtaakriti Vimanam, Hemakoti Vimanam
Pushkarani: Amirtha Pushkarani, Thakan Kulam, Pandava Theertham
Festivals: Narasimha Jayanthi, Hanumath Jayanthi
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Yoga Narasimhan
Perumal Other Name: Akkara Kani (Sweet Fruit), Mikkan, Thakkan, Pukkan, Illamkumaran, Bhaktochithan
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Bakthavatsal Perumal
Hastam / Mudrai: Yoga Mudrai
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Amrithavalli Nacchiyar
Thayar Name (Utsavar): Sudhavalli


Thirupathi

Other Name: Thirumalai
Town Name: Thirupathi
Reason for Name: Since Perumal lives here, it is called Thirupathi. Since the hills are considered to be holly, they are called Thirumalai.
Nearest Major Town / City: Thirupathi
Route: Thirumalai is about 16 km from Thirupathi on top of hill. There are 5 routes to go to Thirupathi. Two from Alipiri – by walk and by road, one each (Walk) from Chandragiri, Mamandorai RS and Nagapatala Side.
Vimanam: Ananda Nilayam Vimanam
Pushkarani: Swami Pushkarani + 14 other Theertham
Kshetram: Adi Varaha Kshetram, Svayam Vyaktha Kshetrams
Festivals: Brahmotsavam during Purattasi at Thirupathi and Karthikai at Thiruchanoor
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Srinivasan
Perumal Other Name: Venkatesan, Venkatachalapathi, Balaji
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Bhoga Srinivasan, Kalyana Venkateshan, Sri Raman, Ugra Srinivasan, Krishna, Malai Kuniya Nindra Perumal, Koluvu Srinivasan
Hastam / Mudrai: Varaha Hastam (Right Hand) and left hand on the thigh.
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Alarmelmanga Thayar
Thayar Name (Utsavar): Padmavathi Thayar