DIVYADESAMSIN KERALA
Out of 108 Divya desams, 11 Divya Desams located in Kerala, also known asthe
"Malai Nadu" Divya Desams. Many are believed to have beenconsecrated by the
Pandava brothers and are located near the Pamba River.
My note- Other than KeralaDivyadesams some more interesting information are
added in this posting.
The 13 Kerala DivyaDesams
1 Sree PadmanabhaswamyTemple, Thiruvananthapuram.
Located in Kerala's capital, this temple is among the mostfamous of all Divya
Desams. The deity, Padmanabhaswamy (a form of Vishnu), isshown in the
Ananthasayanam posture of eternal sleep on the serpent Adisheshan.
2 Thirumoozhikkulam Sri Lakshmana Perumal Temple-Near Angamally,
Ernakulam District.
Dedicated to Lakshmana, the brother of Lord Rama. It is oneof the four temples
comprising the Nalambalam pilgrimage circuit.
3 Thirunavaya Sree Nava Mukunda Temple, MalappuramDistrict, near
Tirur. Tirur - Kuttippuram Rd
This ancient temple is situated on the banks of theBharathappuzha River.
Devotees often visit here to perform rituals for theirancestors.
4 Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple- Shoranur, Cheruthuruthi -
KoottanadRd
Known as the "Anjumoorthy Temple" because it houses five deities.The temple is
located on the banks of the Bharathappuzha and was consecrated bythe Pandava
Arjuna.
5 Thrikkakkara Vamana Moorthy Temple-Edappally - Pukkattupady Rd,
ErnakulamDistrict.
This temple is dedicated to Vamana, the fifth avatar ofVishnu. The legend of
King Mahabali's encounter with Vamana is associated withthis place.
6 Sree Vallabha Temple, Thiruvalla.
Situated on the banks of the Manimala River, this temple isdedicated to Sri
Vallabha, a form of Vishnu. It is known for its impressivearchitecture.
7 Thiruchenkundroor (Imayavarappan) Temple, Chengannur
This temple was consecrated by the Pandava Yudhishthira toatone for a lie he
told during the Kurukshetra war.
8 Thripuliyoor Mahavishnu Temple. Near Chengannur, Alleppy
District.
Built by the Pandava Bhima, this temple is dedicated toMayapiran (Vishnu). Its
spaciousness is said to be a reflection of Bhima'slarge stature. Themethod of
worship in Divya Desam temples follows the principles of the SriVaishnava
tradition, adhering to the Vaishnava Agamas. The worshipincludes daily rituals
performed by temple priests and the singing of hymnscomposed by the Alvar
saints.
9 ThrikodithanamMahavishnu Temple, Changanassery: This temple in the Kottayam
district is associated withSahadeva, one of the Pandava brothers.
10 Thiru AranmulaParthasarathy Temple, Aranmula: Located on the banks of the
Pampa river in Pathanamthittadistrict, this is another of the five Pandava
temples, built by Arjuna.
11 Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple,,Thiruvanvandoor: near Chengannur
Part of the"Pancha Pandava Kshetrams," this temple is said to have been built
byNakula.
Synthesis of Saiva andVaishnava traditions
Some Kerala temples demonstrate a unique blend of traditions.The Sree Vallabha
Temple at Thiruvalla, another Divya Desam, gives out vibhuti (sacred ash) as
prasadham, which is generallyassociated with Shaiva temples. This is done to
emphasize the unity of Shivaand Vishnu, a central message in the temple's
legend.
Similarly, theThrikkakkara Vamana Moorthy Temple has separate shrines for Lord
Vamana (Vishnu) and Lord Shiva, requiring devotees to visit the Shiva shrine
first.
The priests at the Puliyoor Mahavishnu Temple (also knownas Sri Mayapiran
Thirukkovil) in Kerala are Vaishnavaite Brahmins, who followthe Tenkalai
Iyengar tradition. These priests are responsible for performing the daily and
festivalrituals at the temple.
Important details about the priests and the templetraditions:
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, or holy abodes ofVishnu, glorified
in the Tamil Nalayira Divya Prabandham.
The priests follow theVaikanasa Agama, a specific set of rules and traditions
for conducting templerituals.
The temple is now underthe administrative control of the Travancore Devaswom
Board, but thetraditional priestly practices are maintained
Why Guruvayoortemple is not a Divya desam?
Guruvayoor temple is not a Divya Desam because it was not sung about in the
hymns of the Alvars, which is the primarycriterion for a temple to be
designated a Divya Desam.
The list of 108 Divya Desams consists specifically of templespraised in the
ancient Tamil hymns called the {Divya Prabandham}. While Guruvayoor is a very
sacred and important temple, its exclusionfrom the list is based on this
specific scriptural tradition of the {SriVaishnava} tradition.
Alvars' Hymns: The 108 Divya Desams are the specific templescelebrated in the
Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 verses composed bythe 12 Alvars.
Historical Significance: The Guruvayoor temple, thoughancient and revered, is
not featured in these specific hymns.
Other Sacred Temples:
Many other temples, while extremely sacred, are notdesignated as Divya Desams
for the same reason. These are sometimes categorizedas {Abhimana Kshethras}or
"beloved temples". The rituals and protocols in Divya Desamtemples are based on
the Vaishnava Agamas, which detail the procedures fortemple worship.
Vaishnava Agamas andsectarian practices in Tamilnadu temples
The rituals and protocols in Divya Desam temples are based onthe Vaishnava
Agamas, which detail the procedures for temple worship.
Pancharatra andVaikhanasa: The primarysources for Divya Desam worship are the
Pancharatra and Vaikhanasa Agamas,which are considered authoritative within the
Sri Vaishnava tradition.
Vadakalai andThenkalai traditions:The specific mode of worship can vary based
on whether the temple follows theVadakalai or Thenkalai tradition. While both
sects revere the same deities,their liturgical practices differ, with Vadakalai
placing moreemphasis on Sanskrit scriptures and Thenkalai on the Tamil hymns of
the Alvars.
Daily worship (puja)
The daily worship, or puja, in Divya Desam temples is ahighly structured
affair, with rituals performed multiple times a day.
Six-part ritual: Daily rituals are typically performed sixtimes a day, with
three steps in each session.
Alangaram: Decoration of the deity.
Neivethanam: Offering of food.
Deepa aradanai: Waving of lamps.
Musical accompaniments: The rituals are accompanied bytraditional instruments
like the nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil(percussion instrument), along
with the chanting of religious texts.
Importance of theDivya Prabandham
A central element of worship is the recitation and singing ofthe Naalayira
Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed bythe 12 Alvar
poet-saints.
Alvar hymns: The Divya Desam temples are those consecrated bythe hymns of the
Alvars, and the recitation of these hymns is an essentialspiritual practice
that is performed daily in many temples.
Major festivals
Divya Desam temples host major festivals, which involveelaborate rituals and
attract large numbers of devotees.
Brahmotsavam: A significant 10-day annual festival celebratedwith great
splendor, marking the marriage of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
Vaikunta Ekadasi: Celebrated in December-January, thisfestival features the
opening of a special gateway, or Vaikunta Dwaram,believed to grant liberation
to those who pass through it.
Rituals for devotees
Pilgrims and devotees visiting Divya Desam temples followspecific protocols for
worship.
Prostration: Devotees prostrate before the bali peetham(sacrificial altar) and
the dhwaja sthambam (flag mast) upon entering thetemple.
Circumambulation: Worshippers typically circumambulate thetemple's main shrine
and inner corridors (prakarams).
Symbolic significance: Temple worship is believed to purifythe five senses.
Seeing the deity, hearing the chants and bells, smelling theflowers, tasting
the prasadam (food offering), and feeling the holy ash andpaste are all seen as
ways to connect with the divine.
Worship in KeralaDivya desams
In the Kerala Divya Desams, the priests are typicallyNambuthiri Brahmins who
follow a unique system of worship called KeralaTantram. Unlike the Vaishnava
Agama traditions primarily followedin Tamil Nadu, the Kerala method emphasizes
Tantric rituals, and temple priestsare known as Tantris.
The priestly traditionin Kerala
Nambuthiri Brahmins: The Nambuthiris, one of the prominentBrahmin castes in
Kerala, have historically served as the main temple priests.This is because
they are considered the traditional custodians of the Vedicreligion and Hindu
codes in the state.
Tantric authority (Tantri): In addition to the daily priests(pujaris or
shanti), each temple has a designated Tantri. The Tantri is thehighest
authority on the temple's rituals and provides guidance for majorrites,
installations, and festivals. The position is often hereditary and heldby
specific Nambuthiri families.
Temple customs: The worship protocol in Kerala temples,even Vaishnava ones,
differs significantly from the rest of South India. This distinctive style,
calledKerala Tantram, focuses on specific rituals, mantras, and mudras. In
sometemples, only the chief priest (melshanti) is permitted to enter the
sanctumsanctorum
Why Tulu embranthiriesperform pooja in Padmanbha swamy temple at
Thiruvanathapuram
The exclusive priestly role of Tulu Embrantiries at thePadmanabhaswamy Temple
is rootedin a centuries-old founding legend that sanctified the position for a
TuluBrahmin hermit and his lineage.
The founding legend
Divakaramuni's discovery: The origin story of the templeinvolves a Tulu Brahmin
ascetic named Divakaramuni. According to the ancientscripture Ananthasayana
Mahatmya, Lord Vishnu appeared to him as a mischievousyoung boy.
The child's disappearance: The boy, after a period ofresidence with the hermit,
vanished when he was treated with disrespect. Beforedisappearing, the boy
revealed his true identity as Lord Vishnu and told thehermit to come to the
"Ananthakaadu" to see him again.
Consecration of the deity:Divakaramuni eventually found the sacred place and,
with the help of the king, established the temple andconsecrated the deity in
its current form. This founding event established the Tulu Brahminlineage's
special right to serve as priests.
The continuation of the tradition
Hereditary position: This lineage continues to this day, withthe chief priests,
or"Nambies," of the temple belonging to specific families ofTulu Brahmins who
live on either side of the Chandragiri River.
Strict rules: The tradition is strictly followed, and thechief priests rotate
in their duties. Once appointed, the priests must adhereto an extremely ascetic
lifestyle within the temple complex during theirtenure.
Distinction from other priests: It is important to note thatthe Tulu
Embrantiries are different from the Nambudiri Brahmins, who are thetraditional
priestly community in most other temples in Kerala. The specific role for the
TuluEmbrantiries in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a result of its unique
foundinglegend and historical custom
Malayala nadu divyadesams
In general, Divyadesams in Kerala, known as Malayala NaaduDivya Desams, are
traditionally served by Namboothiri priests, following theTantra rituals of the
state. However, this is not a universal rule for all 108Divya Desams, as many
are located outside of Kerala.
Saivite priests inVaishnava temples
A major exception to this general rule is found in theNilathingal Thundam
Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, where the priests are Saivite,
notVaishnavite.
Here's a breakdown of thespecific priestly traditions:
Malayala Naadu Divya Desams (Kerala): In this region,Namboothiri Brahmins
traditionally serve as priests. However, recentdevelopments in Kerala have
expanded the pool of priests beyond NamboothiriBrahmins. The Travancore
Devaswom Board, for example, hasappointed non-Brahmins to the priesthood in
temples it manages.
Nilathingal ThundamPerumal Temple (Tamil Nadu):
This temple is located inside the Ekambareshwarar Shivatemple complex.
Becauseof this unique location, the rituals are performed by Saivite priests,
unlikemost Vaishnavite temples.
Other Divya Desams: With 83 of the Divya Desams located inTamil Nadu, many have
priests from other Brahmin communities, such as thosefrom the Iyengar
tradition, who follow the Pancharatra or Vaikhanasa Agamatraditions.
Badrinath Temple(Uttarakhand): For example, the priests of this Divya Desam in
the North are traditionally Namboothiris,as established by the Adi Shankara, a
tradition that continues to this date.
All the above informationare compiled by Google search/AI mode and compiled. R.
Gopalakrishnan16-10-2025.
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