Then Thiruperai, Nava tirupathy, Thirunelveli.

1. Then Thiruperai:
   
   
   
   One of 108 Divyadesam and one of NavaTirupathy.
   
   The place is important for Sukra graham.
   The place is about 7 kms distance to Azwar Thiru Nagari on River Thamirabarani.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is an outer mandapam with sculpture to pillars. We cross Dwajasthambam and have the darshan of Garudazwar in a small sanctum, which is a little away to the side, facing main deity in sanctum.
   
   
   Main Deity “Magra nedung kuzhai nadhar”, in veer asanam posture.(sitting with his left leg folded). “Kuzai kadha valli Thayar” and “Thiruperai Nachiar” are seen in different separate sanctums. We see Brugu Muni and Markendayer to either side in front of main deity inside the sanctum.
   
   
   
   Urchavar here is known as “Nigaril mugil vannan” with “Sridevi and Bhoodevi”. Teertham is Sukra pushkarani.
   
   
   Purana: Once when Hiranyakshiban kidnapped Bhoodevi and Perumal rescued her from the asura, after a fight with him Vishnu blessed her and placed her on his lap. Bhoomadevi felt happy and was in trance.
   
   
   Meantime Sridevi was looking out for Lord Vishnu, and she found Bhoodevi and Vishnu together and felt jealousy. She asked “Doorvasa Muni” to help her in getting back Lord Vishnu to her place.
   
   
   
   Doorvasar came to the place where Lord Vishnu was and since Bhoodevi was in trance and did not respect Muni. Bhoodevi was cursed by muni, and she asked for a way to get rid of it to him.
   
   
   
   She was asked to penance here in "Then Thiruperai" reciting “Narayana Manthram”. After long years of penance one day she saw huge Kundalam in the shape of a fish. As she offers everything to Lord Vishnu, she offered the Kundalam also to him which he wore and stayed back in the place and was known as “Nedung kuzhai nadhan”. He gave Lakshmi
   
   
   
   Devi’s features to her, and hence the place is known as Thiruperai.
   Once Samudra rajan, did not respect Varunan, so, he lost his kingdom and his weapon Pasam. Asuras came to fight with Varunan; he was unable to fight against them.
   
   
   
   Deva guru asked him to penance at "Then Thiruperai", and get back his weapon and kingdom which he lost. Varuna did as he was told. He was blessed by Lord, who poured water in his hand which turned out to be Pasam, (weapon) which was given to Varunan.
   
   
   He is known as “Mugil vannan” from then on.

Thiru Meyyam temple , Pudhukottai district.

1. Thiru Meyyam:
   
   
   
   This is a cave temple about 20 kms from Pudhukottai.
   This temple is one of 108 Divya Desam.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Pudhukottai District is the only district where we find lot of cave temples in Asia. All the temples were mostly to pallava regime. Here we find temple for Lord Vishnu and a temple for Lord Siva is seen, in the same mountain in two different caves.
   
   
   
   
   Here the mountain itself is considered as Vishnu and Siva, which is one more example for Siva and Vishnu are one and the same.The temple was built by Narashima Pallavan. The temple is older than Sri Rangam temple and hence it is known as Adi Rangam.
   
   
   
   Main deity is Sathyagiri nadhan in standing posture, and his consort Senbagavalli or Uyavandha Nachiayar. Utsavar is known as Meyappar. Jack fruit tree is sthala vruksham of the temple. As we go around we see Chakkratzwar, Andal, Krishna, Lakshmi, and Narashimar sanctums.
   
   
   
   Inside the cave here we see Anantha sayanam of Vishnu Moorthy, carved to the mountain rock. Here we find Perumal in relaxing posture which is about 30’ length and this is supposed to be the lengthier idol in Asia.
   
   
   
   
   He is relaxing on 5 headed snake known as Adiseshan, and at the back to the rock we see Garuda, Chitrguptan, Markandeyar, Brahma, Devas, Rishi, Kinnaras, and rakshasas Madhu, kaitabar. Bhooma devi is seen sitting under the leg, Lakshmi Devi on his chest with his left hand holding her close to him, and the right hand on Adiseshan in the form of patting him.
   
   
   
   Purana says Madhu, Kaitabar came to attack Vishnu, Bhoodevi and Sridevi were afraid of asuras and we see Bhoodevi hiding under his leg and Sridevi to the chest. Adiseshan in anger spelled out poison air and defeated them. This incidence is also carved beautifully in the cave temple.

Kallaperumal, Nilathunda Perumal, Thiruvekka and Thiru Thangal. Kancheepuram Town

1. Kalla Perumal:
   
   This is one of the Divya Desa perumal inside Kamakshi temple
   
   
   Inside the main sanctum we see Kalla perumal, Soundra lakshmi and Arupa lakshmi. The kumkum prasadam should be first put in front of Arupa lakshmi and then we should take it from there. After worshipping Kamakshi when we come out in front we see Annapoorani.
   
   
   When we go around the temple in front of the pond we see vishnu in different temple in three posture sitting, standing and sleeping.
   
   
   
2. Nilathunda perumal:
   
   
   This is One of 108 important Divya Desam temple.
   
   
   Main deity: Neelathunda perumal standing posture with sapthagnaga.
   
   
   The deity is seen to north east side of Ekambereswarar within the temple premises
   
   
   Importance: At the time of churnning of occan to get nectar, the God of occan Vishnu’s body became warm and to cool himself he does penance here and the moon rays from Siva’s head falls on vishnu.
   
   
   
3. Thiruvekka:
   
   
   This temple is known as Yadodhakari, one of 108 Divyadesam. Near Rangaswamy tank small kanchipurm.
   
   
   
   Main deity: Sonnavannam seidha perumal in sleeping posture and his consort known as Kamalavalli thayar in different sanctum. Teertham is Poighai teertham.
   
   
   Importance: Saraswathi river started flowing as vegavathi river to disturb the yagam performed by Brahma. Vishnu came to rescue, on the request Brahma to stop the river flowing down.
   
   Vishnu laid down on Adiseshan to stop the flow of river. Vegavathi stopped due to shyness and hence the name Vecca.
   
   
   Poighai Azhwar took birth in a lotus flower represnting panchajanyam. Thirumishai Azhwar left the place in search of Karrikannan and he asked Vishnu of this place to join him.
   
   Vishnu rolled Adisesha took him in his hand and followed him. Once Vishnu left the place the whole town faced problem, the king realised his mistake of sending them away and he begged Azhwar to forgive and return back Knchi.
   
   
   Azhwar was pleased and he asked Vishnu to follow him once again and reside in same place. Since Vishnu did as he was asked by Azhwar the name Sonnavannam seitha perumal. In this place the rarity is Vishnu has placed his head to south side.
   
   
   
4. Tiru Thangal:
   
   
   this is 0ne of 108 Vishnu temples known as Vilakoli perumal. The temple is to west of Ashtabuyakaram temple.
   
   
   Main deity: Deepa prakasar and his consort Maragdha valli thayar. Teertham is Saraswthi teertham.
   
   
   Importance: Without informing Saraswathi, Brahma started performing yagam in a nandavanam which was cool and hence, the place is known as Thanga.
   
   She was not happy about this and requested asura named mayanalam to help her in disturbing the precedings of yagam. Asura made the world dark by his powers. Brahma inturn sought the help of Vishnu to perform his yagam without interuption.
   
   Vishnu came to his resque with a lamp in his hand and hence the name Deepaprakasar.
   
   

[Vishnu temples][Divya Desam]