108 Vishnu Temples | 108 Divya Desam Temples | Vishnu Temples

In Hinduism, Maha Vishnu is the most worshipped and most powerful God. And the Grace of Lord Vishnu is spread throughout the country (from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari). There are various temples dedicated to Maha Vishnu also called Sthalams. The 108 Vishnu Temples are also called as 108 Divya Desam Temples where the term “Divya” means “premium” and the term “Desam” means “place” (temple).

Among 108 Vishnu Temples known as 108 Divya Desam Temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and the other two are believed to be outside the Earthly realms. Rest two Vishnu Temples (the most Srivaishnavites would like to visit on attaining the Moksha, to liberate themselves from rebirth) is known as Thiruparkadal & Sri Vaikuntham - Which are the Abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu. It is believed that Tirupalkaddal is the ocean of milk & Paramadham is the Srivaikuntam where Lord Narayana/ Lord Maha VishnuLord Maha Vishnu presides.

In India, the 108 Vishnu Temples 108 Divya Desam Temples are spread over states of Tamil Nadu (85), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (2), Gujarat (1), Uttar Pradesh (4), Uttarakhand (3). The Muktinath Vishnu Temple is the only Divya Desam Temple which is located in Saligramam Nepal. In these 108 Divyadesams, You can see the Lord Vishnu facing one of the four directions: east, north, south & west. On this basis, the 108 Divya Desam Temples (108 Vishnu Temples) are classified as-

Facing towards East direction – 79 Divya Desams
Lord Vishnu facing towards West direction – 19 Divya Desams
Maha Vishnu facing towards North direction – 3 Divya Desams
Facing towards South direction – 7 Divya Desams

The idols/ Murti of Lord Vishnu/ Maha Vishnu in 108 Vishnu Temples/ 108 Divya Desam Temples can be found in 3 positions i.e.
Kidantha Thirukkolam (Sleeping Position) – 27 Divya Desams
Veetrirundha Thirukkolam (Sitting Position) – 21 Divya Desams
Nindra Thirukkolam (Standing Position) – 60 Divya Desams

All the 108 Vishnu Temples / 108 Divya Desam Temples / Divyadesams can be divided into 7 categories which are-
Thondai Naadu temples
Chozha Naadu temples
Nadu Naadu Temples
Pandiya Naadu Temples
Malayala Naadu temples
Vadu Naadu Temples
Vinnulaga Thiruppathigal

Divya Desams in Thondai naadu (Madras, Kanchi areas)

1. Kachchi, Aththigiri (Kanchipuram, Kancheevaram, Kanjeevaram)
2. Ashtapuyakaram (Kanchi)
3. ThiruththaNkaa
4. ThiruvELukkai
5. Thiru neerakam
6. Thiruppadakam
7. Thiru nilaath thungaL thuNdam
8. Thiru Urakam
9. Thiru Veqkaa
10. Thirukkarakam
11. Thirukkaarvaanam
12. ThirukkaLvanUr
13. ThiruppavaLa vaNNam
14. Thirup ParamEsvara viNNagaram
15. Thirup putkuzhi
16. Thiru ninRavur
17. ThiruvaLLur (Thiru Evvullur)
18. ThiruvallikkENi (Thiru AllikkeNi)
19. Thiruneermalai
20. Thiru Idavendhai
21. Thirukkadal Mallai
22. Sholinghur (Thiruk Kadigai, Sozhasimhapuram)

Divya Desam Temples in Chozha naadu (Present Tanjavour, Trichy districts)

23. Srirangam (Aranga Maanagar, Thiruvarangam)
24. Thirukkozhi
25. Thirukkarambanur
26. Thiru veLLaRai
27. Anbil
28. Thirupper Nagar
29. ThirukkaNdiyur
30. Thirukkodalur (Thirukkoodalur)
31. Kapisthalam
32. PullambUthangkudi
33. Adhanur
34. Kumbakonam (Thirukkudanthai)
35. Oppili Appan koil
36. Naachchiyaar koil
37. ThiruchchErai
38. ThirukkaNNamangai
39. ThirukkaNNapuram
40. ThirukkaNNangkudi
41. Nagaippattinam
42. Thanjai MaamaNik koil
43. Thiru Nandhipura viNNagaram
44. VeLLiyangkudi
45. Therazhunthur
46. SiRu puliyur
47. Thalaichchangkadu
48. IndhaLur
49. KaavaLam paadi
50. Seerkaazhi
51. Arimeya viNNagaram
52. VaN purushoththamam
53. Thiru semponsey koil
54. Thiru maNi maadak koil
55. Vaikundha viNNagaram
56. Thiru vaali Thiru nagari
57. Thiru Thevanaar thogai
58. Thiru theRRiyambalam
59. Thiru maNik koodam
60. Annan koil
61. Parththan palli
62. Chidambaram

Divya desams in Nadu naadu (Near Cuddalore)

63. Thiruvahendrapuram (Thiruvaheendipuram)
64. Thirukkovalur

Divya desams in Paandiya Naadu (Madurai, Srivillipuththur, Thirunelveli areas)

65. Thiruk Karungkudi
66. Vanamaamalai
67. SriVaikundam
68. VaraguNa mangai
69. Thirup PuLingkudi
70. Thiruth Tholaivilli Mangalam
71. ThiurkkuLandhai
72. ThirukkOLUr
73. Then ThiruppErai
74. Azhvar Thirunagari
75. Srivillipuththur
76. ThiruththaNkaal
77. ThirukkUdal
78. Thirumaalirum sOlai (Thirumaaliruncholai)
79. ThirumOkUr
80. ThirukkOshtiyur
81. ThiruppullaaNi
82. Thiru meyyam

Divya desams in Malai/ Malayala Naadu (Kerala)

83. Thiru naavaay
84. Thiru viththuvakkOdu
85. Thiruk kaatkarai
86. Thiru mUzhikkaLam
87. Thiru vallavaazh
88. Thiruk kadiththaanam
89. Thiruch chengkunRanur
90. Thiruppuliyur
91. ThiruvaaRan viLai
92. Thiru van Vandur
93. Thiru anantha puram
94. Thiruvattaru
95. Thiru vaN paricharam

Divya desams in Vada naadu (North India)

96. AyOdhdhi
97. NaimicharaNyam
98. Thiruppiruthi
99. ThirukkaNdam kadinagar
100. Badrinath
101. SaaLaggraamam
102. Mathura
103. Ayppadi
104. Dwaraka
105. Ahobilam
106. Thiru vEngadam (Sapthagiri, Thirumala, Tirumalai, Thirupathi)

Divya Desams in out of this world

107. Thirup paaRkadal
108. Paramapadham