Tamil Nadu - Pilgrimages and Temples

Religious Traditions of Tamil Nadu:

- Moksha Puri → Kanchipuram
- All India Char Dham → Rameshwaram
- Shakti Peetha → Kanchipuram (Kanchi Shakti Peetha) - Suchindram (Anala Shakti Peetha) - Kanyakumari (Kanyashrama Shakti Peetha)
- Jyotirlinga → Rameshwaram (Rameshwara Jyotirlinga)
- Pancha Bhoota Sthalam → Kanchipuram (Prithivi Lingam) - Thiruvanaikaval (Jala Lingam) - Thiruvannamalai (Agni Lingam) - Chidambaram (Akasha Lingam)
- Paadal Petra Sthalam → Kanchipuram (Thirukachi Ekambam) - Thiruvanaikaval (Thiru Anaikka) - Thiruvannamalai (Thiru Annamalai) - Chidambaram (Koyil) - Rameshwaram (Rameshwaram) - Madurai (Thiru Aalavai) - Many others
- Swayam Vyakta Kshetra → Srirangam - Srimushnam - Thoyadri (Thiruneermalai) or Thotadri (Vanamamalai)
- Divya Desam → Srirangam (Bhuloka Vaikuntha) - Kanchipuram (Thirukachi Athigiri or Varadaraja Perumal) - Madurai (Thirumaliruncholai or and Azhagar Koyil) - Many others
- Pancha Ranga Kshetra → (1) Srirangapatna (Ranganatha Perumal) - (2) Srirangam (Ranganatha Perumal) - (3) Thirupper Nagar (Appakudatthan Perumal) - (4) Thirukudanthai (Sarangapani Perumal) or Vedaranyam (Ranganatha Perumal Perumal) - (5) Thiru Indaloor (Parimala Ranganatha Perumal)
- Arupadai Veedu → (1) Thirupparankundram - (2) Tiruchendur - (3) Palani - (4) Swamimalai - (5) Tiruttani - (6) Pazhamudircholai

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1.

Devi Tradition of Tamil Nadu:
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

• Kanchipuram → Devi abides in Kanchipuram as Kanchi Shakti Peetha.

• Suchindram → Devi abides in Suchindram as Anala Shakti Peetha.

• Kanyakumari → Devi abides in Kanyakumari as Kanyashrama Shakti Peetha.

• Madurai → Devi abides in Madurai as Devi Meenakshi.

• Thiruvanaikaval → Devi abides in Thiruvanaikaval as Devi Akhilandeshwari.

• Thiruvannamalai → Devi abides in Thiruvannamalai as Devi Unnamulai.

• Chidambaram → Devi abides in Chidambaram as Devi Shivakama Sundari.

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2.

Shiva Tradition of Tamil Nadu:
(Shiva Purana)
(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)
(Chidambara Mahatmya)
(Skanda Purana - Setu Mahatmya)

• Rameshwaram → Lord Shiva was worshipped by Sri Rama at Rameshwaram and Lord Shiva abides there as Rameshwara Jyotirlinga.

• Kanchipuram → Lord Shiva abides in Kanchipuram as Lord Ekambareshwara.

• Madurai → Lord Shiva abides in Madurai as Lord Sundareshwara.

• Thiruvanaikaval → Lord Shiva abides in Thiruvanaikaval as Lord Jambukeshwarar.

• Thiruvannamalai → Lord Shiva abides in Thiruvannamalai as Lord Arunachaleshwarar.

• Chidambaram → Lord Shiva abides in Chidambaram as Lord Nataraja.

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3.

Vishnu Tradition of Tamil Nadu:
(Sriranga Mahatmya)

• Srirangam → Lord Vishnu abides in Srirangam as Lord Ranganatha.

• Kanchipuram → Lord Vishnu abides in Kanchipuram as Lord Varadaraja.

• Madurai → Lord Vishnu abides in Madurai as Lord Azhagar.

• Lord Vishnu abides in various Divya Desams of Tamil Nadu in various other forms.

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4.

Rama Tradition of Tamil Nadu:

• Thirupullam Bhutangudi → Sri Rama abides in Thirupullam Bhutangudi Divya Desam as Sri Valvil Raman.

• Thiruvelliyankudi → Sri Rama abides in Thiruvelliyankudi Divya Desam as Sri Kolavilli Raman.

• Thiruputkuzhi → Sri Rama abides in Thiruputkuzhi Divya Desam as Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal.

• Thiruneermalai → Sri Rama abides in Thiruneermalai Divya Desam as Sri Neervanna Perumal.

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5.

Krishna Tradition of Tamil Nadu:

• Thirukavalampadi → Sri Krishna abides in Thirukavalampadi Divya Desam as Sri Gopalakrishnan.

• Thiruparthanpalli → Sri Krishna abides in Thiruparthanpalli Divya Desam as Sri Parthasarathy.

• Thiruparthanpalli → Sri Krishna abides in Thiruparthanpalli Divya Desam as Sri Parthasarathy.

• Thirupadagam → Sri Krishna abides in Thirupadagam Divya Desam as Sri Pandavadootar.

• Thiruvallikkeni → Sri Krishna abides in Thiruvallikkeni Divya Desam as Sri Parthasarathy.

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6.

Varaha Tradition of Tamil Nadu:

• Thiruvidanthai → Lord Varaha abides in Thiruvidanthai Divya Desam as Sri Lakshmi Varaha Perumal.

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7.

Vamana Tradition of Tamil Nadu:

• Sirkazhi → Lord Vamana abides in Sirkazhi Divya Desam as Lord Trivikrama.

• Thirukoyilur → Lord Vamana abides in Thirukoyilur Divya Desam as Lord Trivikrama.

• Thiru Ooragam → Lord Vamana abides in Thiru Ooragam Divya Desam as Lord Trivikrama.

• Thirukatkarai → Lord Vamana abides in Thirukatkarai Divya Desam as Lord Katkaraiappan.

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8.

Narasimha Tradition of Tamil Nadu:

• Thiruthanjai Mamani Koyil → Lord Narasimha abides in Thiruthanjai Mamani Koyil Divya Desam as Lord Narasimhan.

• Thiruvali Thirunagari → Lord Narasimha abides in Thiruvali Thirunagari Divya Desam as Lord Lakshmi Narasimhar.

• Thiruvelukkai → Lord Narasimha abides in Thiruvelukkai Divya Desam as Lord Azhagiya Singar.

• Thirukadigai → Lord Narasimha abides in Thirukadigai Divya Desam (Sholingur) as Lord Yoga Narasimhar.

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9.

Hayagriva Tradition of Tamil Nadu:

• Thiruvahindrapuram → Lord Hayagriva abides in Thiruvahindrapuram Divya Desam (who was worshipped by Sri Vedanta Desika).

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10.

Skanda Tradition of Tamil Nadu:

• Thirupparankundram → Sri Murugan abides in Thirupparankundram (Arupadai Veedu Sthalam) as Sri Subramanya Swamy.

• Tiruchendur → Sri Murugan abides in Tiruchendur (Arupadai Veedu Sthalam) as Sri Subramanya Swamy.

• Palani → Sri Murugan abides in Palani (Arupadai Veedu Sthalam) as Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy.

• Swamimalai → Sri Murugan abides in Swamimalai (Arupadai Veedu Sthalam) as Sri Swaminatha Swamy.

• Tiruttani → Sri Murugan abides in Tiruttani (Arupadai Veedu Sthalam) as Sri Subramanya Swamy.

• Pazhamudircholai → Sri Murugan abides in Pazhamudircholai (Arupadai Veedu Sthalam) as Sri Subramanya Swamy.

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11.

Sages and Tamil Nadu:

• Agastya (Various) → Sage Agastya migrated from the northern part of Bharatavarsha to the southern part. Many temples of Tamil Nadu are associated with sage Agastya.

• Vyaghrapada (Chidambaram) → Sage Vyaghrapada stayed in Thillai Vana (Chidambaram) and witnessed the Tandava dance of Lord Shiva along with the Devas.

• Patanjali (Chidambaram) → Sage Patanjali stayed in Thillai Vana (Chidambaram) and witnessed the Tandava dance of Lord Shiva along with the Devas.

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12.

Saints and Tamil Nadu:

• Alvars (5th - 9th Century) (Various) → Alvars were poet-saints of Tamil Nadu whose lives embodied ecstatic devotion towards Lord Vishnu.

• Nayanmars (5th - 9th Century) (Various) → Nayanmars were saints mostly from Tamil Nadu whose lives embodied deep devotion towards Lord Shiva.

• Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) (Kanchipuram) → Sri Adi Shankaracharya is said to have established a fifth monastery in Kanchipuram (apart from the four in Joshimath, Dwarka, Puri and Shringeri).

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13.

Sacred Geography of Tamil Nadu:

Mountains:
☗ Hastigiri Hill → Kanchipuram
☗ Arunachala Mountain → Thiruvannamalai
☗ Gandhamadana Parvat → Rameshwaram
☗ Thiruparankundram Hill → Thirupparankundram
☗ Palani Hills → Palani
☗ Pazhamudircholai Hill → Pazhamudircholai

Rivers:
▬ Vegavati flows → Kanchipuram
▬ Palar flows → Kanchipuram
▬ Vellar flows → Chidambaram
▬ Kaveri flows → Srirangam - Thiruvanaikaval - Suchindram - Swamimalai
▬ Kollidam flows → Srirangam - Suchindram
▬ Vaigai flows → Madurai

Seas:
☁ Rameshwaram Sea Shore → Rameshwaram
☁ Kanyakumari Sea Shore → Kanyakumari
☁ Tiruchendur Sea Shore → Tiruchendur

Lakes:
◼ Shiva-Ganga Teertha (Temple Tank) → Chidambaram
◼ Saravana Poigai (Temple Tank) → Thirupparankundram

Forests:
☸ Thillai Vana (Puranic) → Chidambaram

Islands:
◆ Kaveri - Kollidam Island

1. Pilgrimages and Temples of Devi: (Tamil Nadu)

-- Kanchipuram - Kanchi Shakti Peetha [Devi Kamakshi] (MP-5) (SP-28) - The Kankaala (Skeleton) of Devi had fallen

-- Kanyakumari - Kanyashrama Shakti Peetha [Devi Bhagavathy] (SP-24) - The Pristha (Back) of Devi had fallen

-- Suchindram - Anala Shakti Peetha [Devi Narayani] (SP-33) - The Urdhva Danta (Upper row of Teeth) of Devi had fallen

-- Madurai - Devi Meenakshi - Devi Meenakshi married Lord Sundareshwara


2. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Shiva: (Tamil Nadu)

-- Rameshwaram - Rameshwara Jyitirlinga (JL-11) (PP-6.8) - Sri Rama worshipped Lord Shiva

-- Thillai Vana (Chidambaram) - Natarajar (Akasha) (PBS-5) (PP-1.1) - Pancha Bhoota Sthalam; Lord Nataraja danced the Ananda Tandava

-- Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) - Arunachaleshwarar (Agni) (PBS-3) (PP-4.22) - Pancha Bhoota Sthalam; Lord Shiva manifested as infinite Taijasa Lingam

-- Thiruvanaikaval - Jambukeshwarar (Jala) (PBS-2) (PP-1.60) - Pancha Bhoota Sthalam; Devi Kamakshi performed penance in this place and got upadesha from Lord Shiva

-- Kanchipuram - Ekambareshwarar (Prithivi) (MP-5) (PBS-1) (PP-3.1) - Pancha Bhoota Sthalam; Devi Kamakshi performed penance under a Mango tree

-- Madurai - Sundareshwarar (PP-6.1) - Lord Sundareshwarar married Devi Meenakshi


4. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Vishnu: (Tamil Nadu)

-- Srirangam - Ranganatha Swamy (SVK-1) (DD-1) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra; Bhuloka Vaikuntham; Sri Ranga Vimanam got fixed here

-- Kanchipuram - Varadaraja Perumal (MP-5) (DD-43) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Kumbhakonam - Sarangapani Perumal (DD-12) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Thoyadri (Thiruneermalai) - Ranganatha Perumal (SVK-6) (DD-61) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra; A famous pilgrimage

-- Thotadri (Vanamamalai) - Thotadrinatha Perumal (SVK-6) (DD-90) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra; A famous pilgrimage


5. Pilgrimages and Temples of Sri Rama: (Tamil Nadu)

-- Rameshwaram - Sri Rama (ICD-3) - Char Dham; Sri Rama worshipped Lord Shiva

-- Thirupullam Bhutangudi - Valvil Raman (DD-10) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Thiruvelliyankudi - Kolavilli Raman (DD-22) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Thiruputkuzhi - Vijayaraghava Perumal (DD-57) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Thoyadri (Thiruneermalai) - Neervanna Perumal (DD-61) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Madhurantakam - Eri Katha Rama - A famous pilgrimage


6. Pilgrimages and Temples of Sri Krishna: (Tamil Nadu)

-- Thirukavalampadi - Gopalakrishna Perumal (DD-27) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Thiruparthanpalli - Parthasarathy Perumal (DD-39) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Thirupadagam - Pandavadoota Perumal (DD-48) - A famous pilgrimage

-- Thiruvallikkeni - Parthasarathy Perumal (DD-60) - A famous pilgrimage


7. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Varaha: (Tamil Nadu)

-- Srimushnam - Bhu Varaha Swamy (SVK-2) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra; Nithya Pushkarini was formed from the perspiration of Lord Varaha


8. Pilgrimages and Temples of Sri Murugan: (Tamil Nadu)

-- Thirupparankundram - Subramanya Swamy (ApV-1) - Sri Muruga married Devayanai after vanquishing demon Surapadman at Tiruchendur (Madurai district)

-- Tiruchendur - Subramanya Swamy (ApV-2) - Sri Muruga settled down, leaving Kailasha after a challenge with brother Ganesha (Thoothukudi district)

-- Palani - Dhandayuthapani Swamy (ApV-3) - Sri Muruga settled down, leaving Kailasha after a challenge with brother Ganesha (Dindigul district)

-- Swamimalai - Swaminatha Swamy (ApV-4) - Sri Muruga expounded the Pranava Mantra to Lord Shiva (Thanjavur district)

-- Tiruttani - Subramanya Swamy (ApV-5) - Sri Muruga married Devi Valli and led a calm and peaceful life (Tiruvallur district)

-- Pazhamudircholai - Subramanya Swamy (ApV-6) - Sri Muruga gave darshan to the devotees along with Devi Valli and Devayanai (Madurai district)

-- Siruvapuri - Bala Subramanya - A famous temple (Tiruvallur district)

-- Ratnagiri - Balamurugan - A famous temple associated with Balamurugan Adimai (Ranipet district)

-- Kumara Kottam - Subramanya Swamy - A famous temple associated with Kachiappa Sivachariyar (Kanchipuram district)

-- Vallakottai - Subramanya Swamy - A famous temple (Kanchipuram district)

-- Thiruporor - Kanda Swamy - A famous temple associated with Chidambara Swamigal (Chengalpattu district)

-- Mailam - Subramanya Swamy - A famous temple (Viluppuram district)

-- Chennimalai - Subramanya Swamy - A famous hill-temple associated with Punnakau Siddhar (Erode district)

-- Ettukudi - Subramanya Swamy - A famous temple (Nagapattinam district)

-- Sikkal - Singara Velar - A famous temple (Nagapattinam district)

-- Kumaran Kundru - Kalyana Subramanya Swamy - A famous hill-temple (Coimbatore district)

-- Marudamalai - Subramanya Swamy - A famous hill-temple on the Western Ghats associated with Pambatti Siddhar (Coimbatore district)

-- Sivanmalai - Subramanya Swamy - A famous hill-temple (Tiruppur district)

-- Uttukuli Kaithamalai - Vetri Velayudha Swamy - A famous hill-temple (Tiruppur district)

-- Vayalur - Subramanya Swamy - A famous temple (Tiruchirappalli district)

-- Viralimalai - Shanmuganathar - A famous hill-temple (Pudukottai district)

-- Valliyur - Subramanya Swamy - A famous temple (Tirunelveli district)

-- Vellimalai Kumara Kovil - Subramanya Swamy - A famous hill-temple (Kanyakumari district)