Vishnu Kshetras
Lord Vishnu being one of the main Trinities, his temples are situated in most of the indian cities and villages, either as Vishnu temples or as any of his dasa avataras like Rama, Krishna etc.
Eight temples of Vishnu which are called Swayambu Kshetras of Vishnu or the Vishnu idol there is self-manifested. They are Naimisaranya, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Bhu Varaha Swamy temple, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Vanamamalai Perumal Temple in Tamil Nadu, Saligrama temple in Nepal, Pushkar and Badrinath Temple.
We are giving links and details of the ones mentioned in the scriptures and the well-known ones.
Given at the bottom is a list of 108 Vishnu Divya Desams as per the Tamil Azhvars or saints.
| Temple name | Location | Presiding deity | |
| 1. | Badrinath | Badrinath,Uttarakhand | Badrinarayana, Aravindhavalli |
| 2. | Dwarka | Dwarka, Gujarat | SriKrishna, Rukmini |
| 3. | Puri Jagannath | Puri, Orissa | Sri Krishna, Balaram, Sunhadra |
| 4. | Sri Krishna temple | Mathura, Uttar Pradesh | Sri Krishna and Radha |
| 5. | Naimisaranyam | Naimisharanya, UttarPradesh | Sri Devaraja, Sri Harilakshmi |
| 6. | Pundarikaksha | Thiruvellarai, Tamil Nadu | Sri Pundarikaksha, Pankaja Nayaki |
| 7. | Ranganathaswamy | Srirangam, Trichy, Tamil Nadu | Ranganathaswamy, Ranganayaki |
| 8. | Venkateswara (Balaji) | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh | Venkateswara, Alivelumanga |
| 9. | Ahobilam Narasimha | Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh | Narasimha, Amruthavalli |
| 10. | Narasimha Narasimha | Simhachalam, Andhra Pradesh | Narasimha, Chenchu Lakshmi |
| 11. | Sri Ram temple | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | Sri Ramachandra, Sita |
| 12. | Varadaraja Perumal | Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu | Varadaraja |
| 13. | Satyanarayan temple | Annavaram, AndhraPradesh | Satyanarayana |
| 14. | Chennakesava | Somanathapura, Karnataka | Chennakesava |
| 15. | Sri Kurmam | Sri Kurmam, Andhra Pradesh | Kurmavatara |
| 16. | Janapav Kuti, | JanapavKuti, Birth Parashuram | Parashuram |
| 17. | Mahurgad | Mahur, (Maha) His Gurukul | Parashuram |
| 18. | Chiplun | Chiplun (Maha), His Eternal home, | Parashuram |
| 19. | Bhadrachalam | Bhadrachalam, Andhra Pradesh | Sri Ram |
| 21. | Kaleram | Panchavati/Nasik, Maharastra | Sriram |
| 22. | Ram Ghat, Chitrakoot | Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh | Sriram |
| 23. | Gokul | Gokul, Uttar Pradesh | Sri Krishna |
| 24. | Yadagirigutta | Hyderabad | Narasimha |
Vishnu’s Divya desam Temples are the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars or saints. Several scriptures also mention about some of them. As the list is by Tamil saints, it is predominantly a Tamil Nadu based list with nearly 84 places being in Tamil Nadu! Some glaring omissions we noted are Puri Jagannath which is one of the famous Char Dhams, Simhachalam which is connected to the birth of Lord Narasimha and Bhu Varaha Swamy temple which is one of the famous 8 Swayambhu Kshetras!!
Out of these 108 temples in the Indian states – Tamil Nadu (84), Kerala (11), Uttar Pradesh (4), Uttarakhand (3), Andhra Pradesh (2) and Gujarat (1), and Nepal(1)- Muktinath. The two others are said to be outside the earthly realms.
The Divyadesams can be divided into 7 categories:
Thondai Naadu temples
Chozha Naadu temples
Nadu Naadu Temples
Pandiya Naadu Temples
Malayala Naadu temples
Vadu Naadu Temples
Vinnulaga Thiruppathigal
The idols of Lord Vishnu in these Divyadesams can be found in 3 positions:
• Sleeping Position – 27 Temples
• Sitting Position – 21 Temples
• Standing Position – 60 Temples
Out of these Lord Vishnu can be seen facing one of the four directions. So we have:
• East facing – 79 Temples
• West facing – 19 Temples
• North facing – 3 Temples
• South facing – 7 Temples
Following is the list of the 108 Divya Desams as per the Tamil Azhvars or saints. There are a couple of them about which there is some confusion so added them also.
List of 108 Divya Desams with Locations
Chozha Naadu (40 Temples)
- Sri Rangam (Thiruvarangam)
- Location: Srirangam, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkudanthai (Kumbakonam)
- Location: Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvaragamangai (Sri Vaikuntam)
- Location: Sri Vaikuntam, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthanjai Maamani Kovil (Thanjavur)
- Location: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunagai (Nagapattinam)
- Location: Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvinnagar (Oppiliappan)
- Location: Oppiliappan Koil, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruchitrakootam (Chidambaram)
- Location: Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukannapuram
- Location: Kannapuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukannamangai
- Location: Kannamangai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvazhundur
- Location: Thiruvazhundur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvidanthai
- Location: Thiruvidanthai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvekha (Thiruvekka)
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvaikuntavinnagaram (Thirunangur)
- Location: Thirunangur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkudanthai (Kumbakonam)
- Location: Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
- Thirucherai
- Location: Thirucherai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruchitrakootam (Chidambaram)
- Location: Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunagai (Nagapattinam)
- Location: Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukannapuram
- Location: Kannapuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukannamangai
- Location: Kannamangai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvazhundur
- Location: Thiruvazhundur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukannangudi
- Location: Kannangudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvellarai
- Location: Thiruvellarai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumeyyam
- Location: Thirumeyyam, Tamil Nadu
- Thirupadagam
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparameswara Vinnagaram
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthanka (Deepaprakasa Perumal)
- Location: Thiruthanka, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruputkuzhi
- Location: Thiruputkuzhi, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthanka (Deepaprakasa Perumal)
- Location: Thiruthanka, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunagai (Nagapattinam)
- Location: Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukannapuram
- Location: Kannapuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukannamangai
- Location: Kannamangai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvazhundur
- Location: Thiruvazhundur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkannangudi
- Location: Kannangudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunariyur
- Location: Thirunariyur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvellarai
- Location: Thiruvellarai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumeyyam
- Location: Thirumeyyam, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvellarai
- Location: Thiruvellarai, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumeyyam
- Location: Thirumeyyam, Tamil Nadu
- Thirupadagam
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparameswara Vinnagaram
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Pandiya Naadu (18 Temples)
- Thirukoshtiyur
- Location: Thirukoshtiyur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkurungudi
- Location: Thirukkurungudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumogur
- Location: Thirumogur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumeyyam
- Location: Thirumeyyam, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthankaal
- Location: Thiruthankaal, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparankundram
- Location: Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvilliputhur
- Location: Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkottiyur
- Location: Thirukkottiyur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumeyyam
- Location: Thirumeyyam, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparamkundram
- Location: Thiruparamkundram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthankaal
- Location: Thiruthankaal, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparankundram
- Location: Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvilliputhur
- Location: Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukoshtiyur
- Location: Thirukoshtiyur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirumeyyam
- Location: Thirumeyyam, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparamkundram
- Location: Thiruparamkundram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthankaal
- Location: Thiruthankaal, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruppullani
- Location: Thiruppullani, Tamil Nadu
Nadu Naadu (2 Temples)
- Thiruvahindrapuram
- Location: Thiruvahindrapuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunangur
- Location: Thirunangur, Tamil Nadu
Thondai Naadu (22 Temples)
- Thirukadalmallai
- Location: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvehka
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvallikeni (Triplicane)
- Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruneermalai
- Location: Thiruneermalai, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthanka
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkadigai (Sholinghur)
- Location: Sholinghur, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukkarakam
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukalvanur
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirupper Nagar
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirupadagam
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvallur
- Location: Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparamechura Vinnagaram
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thirunindravur
- Location: Thirunindravur, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvekha
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvelliyangudi
- Location: Thiruvelliyangudi, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthanka
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruthanka (Deepaprakasa Perumal)
- Location: Thiruthanka, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruvehka
- Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruparkadal
- Location: Thiruparkadal, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruputkuzhi
- Location: Thiruputkuzhi, Tamil Nadu
- Thiruputkuzhi
- Location: Thiruputkuzhi, Tamil Nadu
- Thirukoshtiyur
- Location: Thirukoshtiyur, Tamil Nadu
Malayala Naadu (13 Temples)
- Thiruvananthapuram (Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple)
- Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Thiruvithuvakkodu
- Location: Kerala
- Thiruvalla
- Location: Thiruvalla, Kerala
- Thirupuliyur
- Location: Thirupuliyur, Kerala
- Thiruchenkundroor
- Location: Thiruchenkundroor, Kerala
- Thiruvanvandoor
- Location: Thiruvanvandoor, Kerala
- Thirukkadithaanam
- Location: Thirukkadithaanam, Kerala
- Thirukkodithanam
- Location: Thirukkodithanam, Kerala
- Thiruvanjikkulam
- Location: Thiruvanjikkulam, Kerala
- Thirunavaya
- Location: Thirunavaya, Kerala
- Thiruvazhamkudi
- Location: Thiruvazhamkudi, Kerala
- Thiruvathavur
- Location: Thiruvathavur, Kerala
- Thirumoozhikkulam
- Location: Thirumoozhikkulam, Kerala
Vada Naadu (11 Temples)
- Thiruppiridhi (Badrinath)
- Location: Badrinath, Uttarakhand
- Thiruvataar (Devaprayag)
- Location: Devaprayag, Uttarakhand
- Thirukandam (Saligramam)
- Location: Saligramam, Nepal
- Thiruthal (Joshimath)
- Location: Joshimath, Uttarakhand
- Thiruppiridhi
- Location: Badrinath, Uttarakhand
- Thiruvataar
- Location: Devaprayag, Uttarakhand
- Thirukandam
- Location: Saligramam, Nepal
- Thiruthal
- Location: Joshimath, Uttarakhand
- Thiruvataar
- Location: Devaprayag, Uttarakhand
- Thirukandam
- Location: Saligramam, Nepal
- Thiruvataar
- Location: Devaprayag, Uttarakhand
Thirunadu (1 Temple)
- Thiruparkadal
- Location: Celestial ocean of milk
Parama Padam (1 Temple)
- Parama Padam
- Location: Celestial abode of Vishnu
Tiruparkadal (1 Temple)
- Tiruparkadal
- Location: Celestial ocean of milk
