108 Divya Desams - 108 Vishnu temples

Thiruvaranvilai

Other Name: Aaranmula
Town Name: Aaranmula
Reason for Name: It is said that Arjuna originally constructed the Temple at a place called Nilakkal. Perumal decided to move out of that place and came to the riverbanks as a brahmachari. The people there made a raft of six bamboos. Thus Aranmula (Aru = Six, Mula = Raft). Another story says that the name indicates Aarin Vilimbu (Edge of the river).
Nearest Major Town / City: Chenganur
Route: about 10 km east of Chenganur. Buses available.
Vimanam: Vaamana Vimanam
Pushkarani: Veda Vyasa Saras, Pamba Theertham
Sthala Vriksham: Vannia Tree
Festivals: Khandavadhanam in Margazhi (Where a forest is set fire to, to remember the fire in Khandavavanam. Onam, In Panguni, Goddess of Punnamthode is brought to Aaramula and the Perumal and the Goddess are seen together. During Karthikai, a ten – day festival is celebrated, where bamboo is cut and hoisted as the flag.
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Thirukkuralappan
Perumal Other Name: Parthasarathy
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Padmasani Nacchiyar


Thirumalirunjolai

Other Names: Azhagar Koil, Vrishabhadhri
Town Name: Thirumalirunjolai
Reason for Name: A large forest surrounds the Temple. The hills around this place look like cows and this hill looks like a bull or Rishabam, hence this is called Vrishabhadri. Since perumal lives in the forest, it is called Thirumalirunjolai.
Nearest Major Town / City: Madurai
Route: 19 km North West of Madurai Station on Thirumalirunjolai Road. City buses available.
Vimanam: Somasundara Vimanam
Pushkarani: Silambaru (Noopura Ganga)
Sthala Vriksham: Chandanam
Festivals: Chitra Pournami, Margazhi Thirunal, Panguni Utram, Adi Ammavasai and Adi Pournami for Karuppanna Swami
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Azhagar
Perumal Other Name: Kallazhagar, Maalankaarar
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Malai Arasar, Sundarajan
Hastam / Mudrai: Abhaya Hastam
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Kalyana Sundaravalli Nacchiyar and Sridevi


Thirukkottiyur

Other Names: Thirukoshtiyur, Dwayam Vilainda Thirupathi
Town Name: Thirukkottiyur
Reason for Name: Unable to tolerate the misrule of Hiranya, Shiva, Brahma, Devas and Rishis approach Perumal at Parkkadal. They decide to meet at Kadambamuni Ashram here secretly. As they came in groups, this place is called Thirukottiyur (Koshti, Kotti = Group).
Nearest Major Town / City: Thirupattur
Route: This place is about 7 km from Thirupattur. Buses available from there as well as from Madurai
Vimanam: Ashtanga Vimanam
Pushkarani: Thiruparkadal (Deva Pushkarani)
Sthala Vriksham: Purasam
Kshetram: Goshti Kshetram
Festivals: Masi Magam Teppam Festival
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Uraga Mellaneyan
Perumal Other Name: Stitha Narayanan
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Sowmya Narayanan, Madhavan
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Thirumamagal, Nilamamagal, Kulamamagal


Thirumeyyam

Other Name: Thirumayam
Town Name: Thirumeyyam
Reason for Name: Perumal represents truth and is called Meyyappan. Mei = Truth. Hence the place is called Thirumeyyam.
Nearest Major Town / City: Karaikudi / Pudhukkottai / Thiruppathur
Route: This place is about 32 km from Pudhukkottai and 7 km from Thiruppathur. Buses available from both places. The Temple is about 1.5 km from the Railway Station as well as the Bus Stand.
Vimanam: Satyagiri Vimanam / Soma Sundara Vimanam
Pushkarani: Kadamba Pushkarani, Satya Theertham (Pushkarani in Octagonal shape)
Sthala vriksham: Banyan Tree
Kshetram: Satya Kshetram, Pancha Satya Kshetram
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Satyagirinathan
Perumal Other Name: Satyamurthy
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Meyappan, Rajagopalan
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Uyyavandaal Nacchiyar, Ujjivana Thayar


Thirupullani

Other Name: Dharbasayanam
Town Name: Thirupullani
Reason for Name: When Rama came in search of Sita, He slept on Darbhai bed here for 7 days. Hence it is called Dharbasayanam. In Tamil it is Thirupullani (Pull = Grass + Anai = Bed: Thirupullani)
Nearest Major Town / City: Ramanathapuram
Route: 10 km from Ramanathapuram, Buses from Ramanathapuram to Keezhakarai pass through this place.
Vimanam: Kalyana Vimanam
Pushkarani: Hema, Chakra Theertham
Sthala Vriksham: Asvatham (Arasa Maram)
Kshetram: Pullaranya Kshetram, Saranagathi Kshetram, Ratnagara Kshetram
Festivals: Brahmotsavam, Pavithrotsavam, Pagal Pattu, Raa Paatu, Vaikunta Ekadasi
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Adi Jaganathan
Perumal Other Name: Deivacchilaiyar, Divyasapar
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Kalyana Jagannathan, Then Nindra Mizhan
Hastam / Mudrai: Abahya Hastam
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Kalyanavalli Nacchiyar and Padmasani Nacchiyar


Thirutthankal

Other Names: Sripuram, Thiruthangalur
Town Name: Thirutthankal
Reason for Name: Sridevi performed penance here to prove she was superior to Bhoomidevi and Neeladevi. As Sridevi resided here, this place is called Thirutthankal.
Nearest Major Town / City: Sivakasi – Virudhu Nagar
Route: 20 km from Viruthunagar. 3.5 km from Sivakasi. Buses and trains available from Madurai, Viruthunagar and Sivakasi.
Vimanam: Devachandra Vimanam, Soma Scanda Vimanam
Pushkarani: Papavinasa Pushkarani, Bashkara, Sanga, Arjuna, Padma Theertham.
Perumal Name (Moolavar): Ninra Narayanan
Perumal Other Name: Appan, Ninra Narayanan
Perumal Name (Utsavar): Thirutangalappan
Hastam / Mudrai: Abahya Hastam
Thayar Name (Moolavar): Annanayaki, Ananthanayaki, Amrithanayaki, and Jambavathi. Sengamala Thayar is a Thani Koil Nacchiyar.