Tamil Nadu boasts some of India’s most revered temples. One important part of Tamil Nadu for pilgrimage is the Pandya Nadu region, where there are many holy temples of Lord Vishnu.

The Pandya Nadu Divya Desams: There are a total of 18 holy temples of Lord Vishnu that have been praised by the Alvar Saints. These temples can be found throughout southern Tamil Nadu offering a great spiritual experience with beautiful Dravidian architecture and traditional practices.

There is lots to see including the famous Andal Temple in Srivilliputhur and the Navathirupathi temples along the Thamirabarani River. Here is a guide to the Pandya Nadu Divya Desams, what they mean and where to go.

What are the Pandya Nadu Divya Desams?

The Divya Desams are 108 holy temples of Lord Vishnu that have been praised by the twelve Alvar Saints. They have written hymns about these temples in Tamil and these have been collected together into the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.

Traditionally these temples are split up by region. The Pandya Nadu refers to the southern region of Tamil Nadu and historically the Pandya Kingdom. Within the region there are 18 Divya Desams.

These can be found in Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi. Visiting these temples will give you a spiritual experience to connect with the spiritual culture of Tamil Nadu.

18 Pandya Nadu Divya Desams and What They Represent

Each of these temples will have a main deity, traditional practices and important spiritual meaning. Below is a list of the holy temples traditionally found on the Pandya Nadu Divya Desam.

Srivilliputhur – Sri Vatapatrasayi Perumal Temple

Location: Virudhunagar

One of the most famous of the Divya Desams is Srivilliputhur. It is associated closely with Andal, a highly respected female Alvar Saint. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vatapatrasayi Perumal. It is an important temple due to Andal’s hymns and the impressive temple tower.

Thiruthangal – Ninra Narayana Perumal Temple

Location: Sivakasi

This ancient temple is dedicated to Ninra Narayana Perumal who is the standing form of Lord Vishnu. Visitors come to this holy shrine to receive the blessings of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.

Thirukkoodal – Koodal Azhagar Temple

Location: Madurai

This is an important Vishnu temple found in the centre of Madurai. It is known for its unique architecture. The main deity worshipped here is Koodal Azhagar. He is worshipped in 3 different positions – sitting, standing and lying down. Due to it being in the historic temple city of Madurai it is an important stop on any pilgrimage.

Thirumaliruncholai – Kallazhagar Temple

Location: Azhagar Kovil (Near Madurai)

This temple is located amongst the beautiful Alagar Hills. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Kallazhagar.

It is famous for the Chithirai Festival. During this festival the processional deity will move towards Madurai. The peaceful scenery and beautiful nature means it is a memorable pilgrimage.

Thirupparankunram – Pandya Nallur Perumal Temple

Location: Thirupparankunram (Madurai)

Traditionally this temple is included in the Pandya Nadu list of Divya Desams. The Perumal shrine is associated with the holy culture. It is a great place to visit whilst on a pilgrimage to Madurai.

Thirukkurungudi – Azhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple

Location: Thirukkurungudi (Tirunelveli)

This temple is located close to the Western Ghats. It is a highly respected temple dedicated to Lord Nambi.

It is associated with 5 different forms of Nambi. The peaceful nature and rich Vaishnavite culture makes it an important stop.

Thiru Vaikuntam – Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal Temple

Location: Srivaikuntam (Thoothukudi)

This is one of the famous Navathirupathi temples. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Vaikuntanatha.

It is also associated with the name Kallapiran. The temple is known for its traditional architecture. It is one of the main stops for any devotee on a Navathirupathi pilgrimage.

Thiruvaragunamangai – Vijayasana Perumal Temple

Location: Natham (Near Srivaikuntam)

This sacred temple is dedicated to Vijayasana Perumal. It is part of Navathirupathi. It is associated with the hymns by Nammazhwar. The peaceful location and traditional worship makes it a meaningful stop on the Thamirabarani temple circuit.

Thiruppuliyangudi – Kaisina Vendhan Perumal Temple

Location: Thiruppuliyangudi (Thoothukudi)

This temple is dedicated to Kaisina Vendhan Perumal. It is another important temple in Navathirupathi. One of the unique aspects of this temple is the lying form of the main deity. It is visited by devotees on their pilgrimage to the holy Vishnu temples of the Thamirabarani.

Thirutholaivillimangalam – Irattai Tirupati

Location: Tholaivillimangalam (Near Srivaikuntam)

This is a popular temple known as Irattai Tirupati. There are 2 temples that are closely connected:

• Devapiran Temple – Dedicated to Lord Devapiran.
• Aravindalochanar Temple – Dedicated to Lord Aravindalochanar.

Traditionally these 2 temples are counted as one Divya Desam. It is an important stop on Navathirupathi.

Thirukulandai – Mayakoothan Perumal Temple

Location: Perungulam (Thoothukudi)

This temple is located in Perungulam. It is dedicated to Mayakoothan Perumal. It is known for having a unique main deity.

Thirukkolur – Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple

Location: Thirukkolur (Thoothukudi)

This is an important Divya Desam. It is associated with the idea of divine protection. Traditionally it is connected to the story of Kubera. Devotees come to receive the blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Thenthirupperai – Makara Nedunguzhaikathar Temple

Location: Thenthirupperai (Thoothukudi)

This temple is dedicated to Makara Nedunguzhaikathar Perumal. It is one of the 9 Navathirupathi temples.

The name of the main deity is associated with the holy temple culture around the discovery of divine ear rings in the shape of makaras. It is an important stop for any Vaishnavite pilgrims.

Thirukkurugur – Azhwar Thirunagari Temple

Location: Azhwar Thirunagari (Tirunelveli)

This is a very special temple in the world of Sri Vaishnavism. It is where Nammazhwar was born, one of the most respected Alvar Saints.

The temple is dedicated to Aathinathan Perumal (or Aathippiran). The sacred Tamarind tree is associated with Nammazhwar. This is one of the most important temples to visit for any follower of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

Thiruppullani – Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple

Location: Thiruppullani (Near Ramanathapuram)

This is a temple associated with the Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Rama worshipped here and did penance before crossing the ocean to Lanka. The temple is dedicated to Adi Jagannatha Perumal.

Thirumogur – Kalamega Perumal Temple

Location: Thirumogur (Near Madurai)

This is an ancient Vishnu temple. It is associated with the Mohini form of Lord Vishnu. It holds great importance due to its connection to the story of the Amrita being distributed. It is a popular stop near Madurai due to its historical and religious importance.

Thirukkoshtiyur – Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple

Location: Thirukkoshtiyur (Sivaganga)

This is an important Sri Vaishnava temple. It is associated with Sri Ramanujacharya. Traditionally Ramanujacharya gave the sacred Ashtakshara mantra to people of all backgrounds from the top of the temple. This shows the importance of knowing about spiritual knowledge. The multi-layered temple and its religious history makes it a meaningful stop.

Thirumeyyam – Sathyagiri Nathar Perumal Temple

Location: Thirumeyyam (Pudukkottai)

This is a historic rock cut temple complex. The Vishnu shrine is dedicated to Sathyagiri Nathar Perumal who is worshipped in the form of lying down. The temple is valued for its ancient architecture, sculptures and connection to religious history.

What makes the Navathirupathi Divya Desams unique?

The Navathirupathi are 9 sacred temples of Divya Desam. They are located along the Thamirabarani River in the Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi regions.

They are highly associated with Nammazhwar and his hymns praising the holy temples of Lord Vishnu.

One of the interesting things about the Navathirupathi is that they are associated with one of the 9 celestial bodies (Navagrahas). They are often visited by devotees on their spiritual journey.

The 9 temples are:

• Srivaikuntam
• Natham
• Thiruppuliyangudi
• Tholaivillimangalam (two temples)
• Perungulam
• Thenthirupperai
• Thirukkolur
• Azhwar Thirunagari

Tip: Although there are 9 temples to visit they are traditionally counted as one Divya Desam due to there being 2 temples in Tholaivillimangalam. This is why there are 18 Divya Desams in the Pandya Nadu tradition.

Best time to Visit Pandya Nadu Divya Desams

The best time to visit the Pandya Nadu Divya Desams would generally be between October and March.

Some good times to visit:

• Vaikuntha Ekadashi – An important time for devotees of Lord Vishnu
• Margazhi – A spiritually important month in Tamil. Associated with Andal’s Tiruppavai
• Brahmotsavam – Many of the Divya Desam temples hold their annual festivals
• Chithirai Festival – The famous festival in Madurai is associated with Kallazhagar’s journey from Azhagar Kovil

The dates for the festivals can vary each year so it is best to check with the respective temple.

How to plan your Pandya Nadu Divya Desam pilgrimage

As there are several temples to visit it is important to plan your trip.

• Plan your route: Group the temples together by region. Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Nanguneri and Thamirabarani can be grouped

• Give yourself time for darshan: Don’t rush to visit the temples. Give yourself time to do darshan, travel around and queue

• Check temple times: Some of the temples may open at different times. Some will close in the afternoon

• Have comfortable transport: Having a suitable vehicle will make it easier to travel between the temples

• Pack suitable clothing: Pack comfortable traditional/modest clothing, comfortable shoes for walking and water. Ensure you follow the dress code and traditions of the temples

• Choose a planned pilgrimage: Having a planned itinerary will make it easier to arrange accommodation, transport and visiting the temples

Pandya Nadu Divya Desams with Travel Times

A pilgrimage to Pandya Nadu will give you the chance to experience the spiritual culture of Tamil Nadu. You will be able to visit the historic temple towns.

• If you want an easy way to visit these holy temples then Travel Times offer a 5 Days / 4 Nights Pandya Nadu Divya Desam Yatra.

You will visit some important pilgrimage sites throughout Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Nanguneri and Thirumaliruncholai.

Highlights include:

• Visit the sacred Pandya Nadu Divya Desams
• Visit historic Vishnu temples
• 4 nights accommodation (AC)
• Local transport (AC)
• Breakfast provided
• Plan your 5 day pilgrimage

This is a great option if you are travelling with family, on a group pilgrimage or have been wanting to go on a spiritual journey. It will make it easy to visit the holy temples of Pandya Nadu.

View the tour here: Pandya Nadu Divya Desam Yatra – Travel Times

Start your Spiritual Journey Through Pandya Nadu

The Pandya Nadu Divya Desams are not only ancient temples but they also represent hundreds of years of devotion, poetry by the Alvar Saints and the rich spiritual culture of Tamil Nadu.

Each stop will have a meaningful experience whether you are visiting where Andal was born, the sacred Navathirupathi temples or the historic temples around Madurai. Ensure your next pilgrimage is a memorable experience by planning a meaningful journey.

Plan your Pandya Nadu Divya Desam Yatra with Travel Times to experience the divine culture of South India.

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