Nava Tirupatis

Nava Tirupatis are 9 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu in Tamil Nadu on the bank of river Thamirabarani which are specially associated with Nammalvar and Garuda Seva festival. They are also Navagraha temples.

Significance: Nammalvar, considered as the greatest of the Alvar, was born in Alvar Thirunagari. Alvar Thirunagari is a Divya Desam and the last of the Nava Tirupati temples. Nammalvar sang pasurams dedicated to each of the Nava Tirupati temples which are each a Divya Desam. During the Garuda Seva festival in the month of Vaikasi (May - June), Utsavar Images of Lord Vishnu from all the Nava Tirupati temples are brought in Alvar Thirunagari in Garuda Vahanam. The Utsavar Image of Nammalvar is also brought out in a Anna Vahanam (Palanquin). Then the pasurams of Nammalvar dedicated to each of the 9 Divya Desam is recited. Thereafter the Utsavar Image of Nammalvar is taken through paddy fields to each of the Nava Tirupati Divya Desam and the pasurams of Nammalvar dedicated to each of the 9 Divya Desam is recited. Each of the nine temples is associated with a graha (planet) thus forming a group of Navagrahas.


1. Thiruvaikuntham - Vaikunthanathan or Kallapiran {Suriyan} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-91}

2. Thiruvaragunamangai - Vijayasana Perumal {Chandran} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-92}

3. Thirupuliankudi - Kaaysina Vendan or Bhoomipalar {Budhan} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-93}

4. Thirutholai Villimangalam (Irattai Tirupati) - Devapiran {Rahu} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-94}

5. Thirutholai Villimangalam (Irattai Tirupati) - Aravindalochanan {Ketu} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-94}

6. Thirukulandai (Perungulam) - Mayakuthan {Shani (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-95}

7. Thirukolur - Vaithamanidhi Perumal {Sevvai} {Birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-96}

8. Then Thiruperai - Makara Nedunkuzhaikkathan {Shukran} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-97}

9. Thirukurugur (Azhwar Thirunagari) - Adinathan {Guru} {Birthplace of Nammalvar} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu) {DD-98}