Lord Krishna temple, Guruvayoor

About the temple

Guruvayur appan or Lord Krishna is the presiding deity of this very popular temple in South India. It is also known as booloka vaikundam implying heaven on earth. Narayaneeyam was composed at this temple by Melpathur Naryana Battathiri.

The devotee offer anything from flowers to tulabharam where the devotee donates sugar, rice, bananas and a lot other things equal to his weight. Devotees also perform annaprasanam here which refers to feeding a baby for the first time.

Praying at this temple is said to cure the body ailments of the devotees. A visit to the temple is considered to be complete only by visiting the mammiyur mahadevan temple that is about ½ km away. Those devotees who are unable to visit that temple pray from a particular corner in the guruvayurappan temple.

The main entrance to the temple is on the east side and the temple is open from 3 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon and again from 4 to 9 in the night.

The temple management manages an elephant sanctuary known as punnathur kotta 3 kms from the temple. Here there are about 55 elephants of the temple. There is also an ancient Shiva and Bhagvathy temple here.

How to reach

Guruvayur is just 29 kms from Thrissur in Kerala. Thrissur is connected with other important cities in India by train. Regular buses both private as well as Kerala state govt buses ply between Thrissur and Guruvayur.

Nearest station: Guruvayur, Trissur
Nearest Airport: Kochi (80 kms) and Calicut (100 kms)

International flights also operate from these two airports.

Sannadhis

Guruvayoor appan (Krishna)
Ganesha
Ayyappa
Edathedathy kavil bhagavathy

Pushkarni

The temple pond is called Rudratheertham.

Temples in proximity

Nava mukundan temple -Thirunavai, Uyyavantha perumal - Thiruvidvakodu

Search terms
Guruvayoor, guruvayur, guruvayur appan, guruvayoor appan, mammiyoor mahadevan, bhoo loka vaikundam, booloka vaikuntam, mammiyoor mahadeva

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Saranathan Temple, Tirucherai

Photo credit:Google
About the temple

The temple is one among the 108 divyadesams of Sri vaishnavas and is a part of the choza naadu divyadesams. The temple has two prakarams and a huge rajagopuram. Lord Saranathan is the presiding deity here along with his consorts Sreedevi, Bhoomidevi, Neeladevi, Mahalaxmi and Sara Nayaki thayar. There is a Hanuman temple and Ganesha temple near the pushkarni.

How to reach

The temple is located 15 kms from kumbakonam in tanjore district of Tamilnadu. Bus facilities are available from kumbakonam. The bus route of Kumbakonam-Tiruvarur stops here. But it would be ideal to hire a private vehicle or auto as three other temples on the same route can be covered in one day.

Nearest railway station: Kumbakonam

Sannadhis

Saranathan with sreedevi, bhoodevi, neeladevi, mahalaxmi and Saranayaki thayar
Yoga narsimhar
Rajagopala with rukmini and satyabhama
Tiruvenkatamudaiyaan
Lord rama with Sita, laxmanan
Manavalamamunigal
Alwars

Pushkarni and Vimanam

 The temple tank is known as Saara pushkarni and the vimanam is called saara vimanam.

Temple timings and Contact Details

The temple is open from 7am to 12 noon in the mornings and from 4 pm to 7 pm in the evenings.

The Priest Sri Ramudu Bhattar can be contacted at 9444004374

Search terms Tirucherai, Thirucherai, Saranathan, Saaranathan, Saranadhan, Saaranadhan.
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Sri Ranganatha temple, Srirangam

About the temple

 Divyadesams are those temples where the alwars have sung songs or pasurams in praise of the presiding deity. All of them together form the naal ayiram divya prabandam. Sri Ranganatha temple of Srirangam is the first among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and one of the oldest temples. It is a part of the choza naadu divyadesams. It is spread over an area of 156 acres and has 7 prakarams with 21 gopurams. There are huge walls surrounding the periya kovil. In the main sannadhi is Lord ranganatha in a reclining pose on the serpent bed. The utsavar in the main sannadhi is known as Namperumal. The temple is also called Booloka Vaikuntam. The seven streets in the 7 prakarams are called

1) Dharma Varman Thiruchuttru
2) Raja Mahendran thiruveedhi
3) Kulasekaran Thiruveedhi
4) Aalinaadan Thiruveedhi
5) Agalangan Thiruveedhi
6) Thiru vikraman thiruveedhi
7) Chitthirai Thiruveedhi

How to reach

Srirangam is close to Trichy in Tamilnadu. Lot of buses ply from trichy to srirangam. Staying facilities are also available at Srirangam. The temple is close to srirangam railway station. Trichy is well connected with important cities by train and road in India. The nearest airport is Trichy.

Specialty of the temple

All the alwars have sung pasurams in praise of Lord Ranganatha in Srirangam. In all there are 247 pasurams.

There are 12 kalasams on the raja gopuram, which is the biggest in Asia.

Srirangam is the birth place of Pillai Locachariyar, Periyanambigal and Battar Vadakuthiruveethi pillai

Srirangam is also the paramapadha sthalam of Ramanujar, Thuluka Naachiyaar, Kulasekara alwar, Soodikodutha Naachi Aandal, Thondaradipodi Alwar and Thirupaan Alwar

Ramanuja’s tirumeni is still present in the sannadhi and is being preserved with a special type of oil.

Vedanta Desikar composed the Paduka sahasram in praise of the Lord Ranganatha’s feet in this temple.

Sannadhis

Lord Ranganatha
Ranganayaki thayar
Veli Andal
Chakratalvar
Amritha Kalasa Garuda
Aalavanthar
Periyazhvar
Naathamunigal
Vedantha Desikar
Manavalamamunigal
Thirupaan alwar
Thiruvaranga perumlarayar
Periya Garudan
Danvanthari
Nammazhwar
Thondaradipodi alwar
Metty Azhagiyasinger
Sriranga Nachiyar
Alwars
Acharyas

Pushkarni and Vimanam

The temple pushkarnis are known as chandira pushkarni, Cauveri, Kollidam and Vedacchurangam. The vimanam is called Pranavaakruthi vimanam.
Search terms.
Srirangam, Ranganatha, Bhooloka vaikundam, boolaka vaikundam, bhoolokha vaikundam, boolokha vaikundam, bhooloka vaikuntam, booloka vaikuntam, bhoolokha vaikuntam, boolokha vaikuntam, bhooloka vaikuntham

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Sri Ranganatha Temple, Madhyarangam

About the temple

There are three rangam alongside the river Kaveri – Adhi Rangam is the Srirangapatna temple near Mysore, Anthima rangam is Srirangam in Tamilnadu and Madhyarangam temple in Karnataka close to Gagan chukki and Bhari chukki falls.
Apart from the utsavar idols we can find santhana Krishna and chakrathalwar also in the main sannadhi of the lord. In this temple, Thayar has a separate sannadhi.


How to reach

Madhyarangam is around 120 kms from Bangalore. After reaching maddur on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway, take left if travelling from Bangalore and right if travelling from Mysore side to join the Maddur Kollegal road. The same route applies to the famous Shivanasamudram Falls and Satyagala temple. Take a left from Sathyagalam Hand Post to reach the temple. The temple is just opposite this gopuram.


Sannadhis

Sri Ranganatha
Sri Ranganayaki thayar
Takshan
Ramanujacharya
Namalwar
Swami Desikan
Alwars

Search terms

Madhyarangam, madyarangam, ranganatha temple.
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Oppiliappan Temple, Tiruvinnagaram

About the temple

Oppiliappan koil is among the 108 divyadesams of srivaishnavas. The lord is called oppiliappan meaning uppu illatha appan since he is one without salt. All the prasadam here is prepared without salt.

The lord here is present in five forms – ponnappan, maniappan, muttappan, vinnagarappan and ennappan.

The lord is 8 ft tall with bhoomidevi on the right and markandeya maharishi on the left. “Maam ekam saranam vruja’ is written on the left hand of the lord.

Lord never leaves the temple without bhoomidevi thayar since he had promised markandeya maharishi that he would never leave his daughter bhoomidevi thayar alone while asking her hand in marriage.

The lord is also known as lord Venkateshwara’s brother and so those devotees who are unable to visit tirupati to fulfill their promises can do so here.


How to reach

The temple is located at Thirunageshwaram post, close to Kumbakonam in tanjore district of Tamilnadu. Buses, autos and private vehicles are available to reach Oppiliappan temple from kumbakonam. Staying facilities are available at oppiliappan temple as well as kumbakonam.

Nearest railway station: Kumbakonam

Pushkarni and Vimanam

The temple tank is called Ahoraatra pushkarni. As compared to other pushkarnis, the devotees can take a dip in this pushkarni even at night.

The vimanam is known as sudhdananda vimanam

Temple timings and Contact Details

The temple is open from 6 am to 1 pm in the morning and from 4 pm to 9 pm in the evenings.

The priest to be contacted is Sri Kannan Bhattar (9486568159)

Temples in proximity

Thirunaraiyur Nachiyar koil, Thirunandipura Jagannathan temple,  Thirucherai Saranathan temple

Search terms Uppiliappan, Oppiliappan, tiruvinnagaram, thiruvinnagaram, tiruvinagaram, thiruvinagaram, cholanaadu, choza naadu, 108 divyadesams

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Nachiyar temple, Thirunaraiyur

About the temple and specialities

Lord Naraiyur nambi and nachiyar thayar preside here in a wedding posture. Special importance is given to thayar in this temple and always the first privilege to given to nachiyar. The prasadam is also first offered to the goddess only and nachiyar leads the procession in hamsa vahanam.

There is a statue of garuda here in a separate sannadhi. During Garuda sevai, the number of people required to carry garuda through each of the five prakarams of the temple keeps doubling from 4 to 128 people. Again while coming inside the temple, the weight keeps decreasing and the number of persons carrying keeps reducing by half to final 4 who carry it into the sannadhi. Worshipping Kal Garuda is said to free devotees from naga dosha and bless childless couples.

It is the only temple among the 108 divyadesams of srivaishnavas where God Naraiyur nambi has the conch and charka in front of his face.

Also, only in this temple, there are idols of the presiding deities of the 108 divyadesams of Srivaishnavas.

Another specialty of the temple is only in this divyadesam, there is brahma in standing posture inside the temple.

How to reach

The nearest town is Kumbakonam, 10 kms away. Buses from kumbakonam to tiruvarur stop at nachiyar koil. Since there are three more divyadesams on this route, it would be ideal to hire a private car or auto.

Nearest railway station: Kumbakonam

Sannadhis

Naraiyur Nambi
Vanjulavalli thayar (same sannadhi as the lord)
Kal Garuda
Yoga Narasimha
Hanuman
Sri Ram
Chakrapani

Pushkarni and Vimanam

The temple tank I known as Mani mukthi nadhi theertham while the vimanam is named after the lord as “Srinivasa Vimaanam”

Temple timings and Contact Details

The temple is open from 6.30 am to 12.30 pm in the mornings and from 4.30 pm to 8.30pm in the evenings.

Contact person is Sri Gopinathan Bhattar (9443597388).

Temples in proximity

Thirunandipura Vinnagaram koil, Thiruvinnagaram Sri Oppiliappan temple,  Thirucherai Saranathan temple
Search terms Nacchiyar koil, nachiyar koil, kovil, garuda, kal garuda, thirunaraiyur, tirunaraiyur, naraiyur, 108 divyadesam, choza naadu divyadesam, chola naadu divyadesam, chola nattu divyadesam

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Jagannathan perumal temple, Tirunandipura Vinnagaram

About the temple

The presiding deity of this temple is Jagannatha perumal. It is one among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under the chozanaadu divyadesams. The place is said to have got its name as Nandipura vinnagaram as nandi is believed to have done penance at this place to get blessings from Lord Vishnu. The temple is similar to the one at Puri and hence is also popular as Dakshin Jagannath.

How to reach

The place is close to Kumbakonam situated in the Tanjore district of Tamilnadu state. One can take a bus to Korukkai from Kumbakonam to reach the temple. However, since the frequency is very less, it would be ideal to hire a private vehicle as one can cover the other divyadesams on the same route easily. Autos are also available for travel to these places.

Nearest railhead : Kumbakonam railway station

Pushkarni and Vimanam

The pushkarni is called nandi theertham since nandhi is believed to have done penance here.

The vimanam here is known as Mandara vimanam.

Sannadhis

Vinnagara perumal
Sri Jagannathan (Nadanadhan)
Senbagavalli Thaayar

Temple Timings and Contact Details

The temple is open from 6.30 am to 12 noon in the mornings and from 4 pm to 8 pm in the evenings.

Contact person name is Sri. Suresh Bhattachar (9943442100)

Temples in proximity

Thirunaraiyur Nachiyar koil, Thiruvinnagaram Sri Oppiliappan temple,  Thirucherai Saranathan temple
Search terms Tirunandipuravinnagaram, thirunandipura, tirunandhipura, thirunandhipura, naadan temple, Nathan temple, Choza naadu divyadesam, chola naadu, temples near kumbakonam

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