My experience of visiting 108 Divya Desams at Statue of Equality, Muchintal on the evening of 26th May 2026 was truly unforgettable. The idyllic view of 108 Divya Desams under one roof at the Statue of Equality, Muchintal was miraculous. Honestly, for a devotee, it was an intensely divine spiritual feeling. While I was moving through the temples, the great old Tamil song about Divya Desams was ringing in my mind.
Vainava Divya Desha Sthalame Nutri Etti Galum: Sri Matha Ramanujaya Namayana Pothre Paningidumu.
The divine ambience embarked us on a new journey. The exceptional architecture and impressive sculptural skills contributed to the temples’ uniqueness.
Significance of 108 Divya Desams
In the 6th century, 12 Alwars, deep devotees of Lord Vishnu, visited sacred shrines, sang songs, and prayed to Vishnu. At that moment, Perumal Vishnu showed up wherever they offered prayers with Pasurams. The sacred places the Alwars traveled to were the 108 Divya Desams. These were dedicated to Perumal Vishnu and spread around India and Nepal. It is not easy to visit all 108 temples in a short time, but H.H Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji made it possible to visit them at the Muchinthal Asram. Visiting all these wonderful temples in one go was an astonishing experience. I had a spectacular time exploring them, and I wish every devotee should visit them.
Divine Temples
The magnificent temples are structured in four essential Mandapams, or row segments. The foremost is the Rangamandapam, comprising 1 to 26 temples where the deities are sported in various postures. The second mandapam is the Goshti Mandapam, with temples from 27 to 54 with captivating mandirs. Next is the Anantha Mandapam, which includes enchanting temples from 55 to 82. The hindmost is the Vaikunta Mandapam, consisting of inspiring temples from 83 to 108. There is a goshala, a prasadam counter, and Homa shalas in between the row segments. In the goshala, one can feed the cows with grass/bran or perform Gopuja. Prasadam is available in various varieties and at affordable prices. The homa shalas are just exceptional. Above all, disciplined security guards guide us everywhere.
Enshrined Sacred Murthis
During the Alwars’ bhakti travels, Ranganadha Swami appeared to them in various forms and inspired them. In some temples, he was in a sleeping posture; in some, he was in a sitting posture; and in some other temples, he was in a standing posture. All the divine figures are elegantly bedecked with stunning jewelry, capturing the eye, showcasing their grandeur, and reflecting their spiritual significance. Importantly, no Murthi was left unattended by Priest or Pujari. Along with them, some facilitators stay tuned to explain what we ask. Further, there are a few hoardings and information display charts to help devotees find their way and know about the importance of certain deities, such as Hayagreeva. There is a digital display in front of every temple that presents relevant slokas. Either we can recite the slokas, or the pujaris can make us recite.
Solace from Hardships
Lighting a ghee lamp, Unjal seva, special puja for timely marriage, puja for children, couple reunion, and Srinivasa puja are some heartwarming, little, and inexpensive procedures that help devotees come out of worldly difficulties. The saying goes that even the Brahmahathya sin will go away by visiting Divya Desams. Not only one kind of sin, but also other sins like bewitchment, neurological problems, sarpa dosha, mental illness, incurable diseases, and black magic issues will be settled by visiting certain temples of Divya Desams. People also believe it is good to visit some temples for a good harvest during the season and for Pitru tharpanam. It is safe to say that Lord Vishnu offers devotees a divine shield of salvation in every way because Perumal’s bed, Adisheshu, is the symbol of protecting force.
What I like the most
Srirangam, the Adi Rangam among Pancharangams, is the kovil for Srivaishnavites, where the perumal is in an inclined position. The Veera Narasimha Swami sculpture stands out as the most beautiful of all. Sirivilliputhur is one of the dream destinations of must-visit temples for any Srivaishnavite. Celestial Divya Desams are ever-stunning and surpass all others. Sri Gopalakrishna Perumal, Pullambudam Gudi, Ashtabhuja Perumal, and Purushothama Perumal are seen as favorites. Seeing Govindaraja Perumal reminded me of my visit to Chidambaram Govindaraja Temple in 2001. The interesting part is that by the end of visiting all Divya Desams, we will know the names of all Tayars / Ammans. The temple walls and canopy are in onyx black and ashen black glinting stone. The clean, pleasant, green surroundings of the Statue of Equality generate holy energy and lead us on a spiritual journey.
Every Srivaishnava follower dreams of visiting 108 Divya Desams in one’s lifetime, but it is possible for a small number of people. I have been to the Statue of Equality a couple of times, but I haven’t had a chance to see these temples. Then I realized visiting Divya Desams at Muchintal is also a divine blessing. Now, I understand how meaningful the visit is, as it is leaving an everlasting impression in my heart. I can’t say this is a replica of the 108 Divya Desams, but I do feel it is a golden opportunity for many to visit all Divya Desams in one place. The visit to the 108 Divya Desams introduces devotees to a spiritual world. Unlike the other temple visits, the Divya Desams visit allows us to carry and use mobile phones on the premises. I can still recall the divine Murthis and watch them whenever I want, and that brings me comfort.
by
Dr.Kodamasimham Bhagya Prabhashini
W/o. Dr.K.Venugopalacharyulu
Koheda,R.R. Dt.
