Srilliviputtur
Historical background
The importance of the place, sthala, is an important feature of Tamil culture. The association of determinate sites with specific deities and mythic events laid the ground for the later development of devotional poetry.
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The expression “singing of a place” refers to the impassioned verses of the poet-saints, the Shaiva nayanmars and their Vaishnava counterpart, the alvars (7th to 9th cent.), who wandered through the Tamil land singing the praise of an aspect of either Shiva or Vishnu worshipped at a specific place.
Most of the sites celebrated by these poets survive to this day, and shrines still exist in the locations ascribed to them in the songs. From c the 14th century onwards, along with the hymns of the poet-saints, the narratives of the sthalapuranas, the legends connected with a specific site/temple, became an important part of Tamil religious and literary culture. This efflorescence of sacred literature inspired the artists and the visual rendering of individual shrines and murtis (images) became one of the main themes of South Indian painting.
The 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams are the 108 Vishnu temples, sung in the hymns of the alvars. The majority of them are in today’s Tamil Nadu. Outside the Tamil region, Kerala hosts the highest numbers of them. Some are in Andhra Pradesh and further afield in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand. Two are beyond the earthly realm: Tiruparkkadal, the Ocean of Milk, and Vaikuntha, Vishnu’s abode.
The 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams have been a popular theme from the 16th– 17th century onwards. Murals depicting all of them are still extant, albeit in a parlous state, in some temples e.g. the Varadarajaswamy temple at Kanchipuram, the Kallapiran temple at Srivaikuntham, and the Adinathaswamy at Alvar Tirunagari, the last two mentioned are both in Tirunelveli dst. This tradition is still alive today: contemporary versions of the divyadeshams adorn the walls of the prakara of Vaishnava temples, such as the Kudal Alagar temple in Madurai and the Andal temple in Srivilliputtur. In each vignette, the temple, the mula murti (fixed image enshrined in the temple’s sanctuary) and/or utsava murti (processional image) as well as the personalities mentioned in the pertinent sthalapurana are identified by labels. This arrangement enables the devotee to make a virtual pilgrimage and pay homage to all the various aspects of Vishnu revered in all the 108 divyadeshams, by visiting only one of them.
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: Sri Krishna of Udupi.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. The two divyadeshams which are in heaven. 1) Vaikuntha.The transcendent aspect of Vishnu, Parampadam Paravasudeva seated on Shesha, flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi on his left, and Nila Devi on his right, surrounded by celestials and devotees. 2) Tirupparkkadal Vishnu reclining on Shesha, floating on the Milk Ocean, with his three consorts at his feet and Brahma emerging from the lotus issuing from his navel. His emanations, the vyuhas, are shown in the foreground along with Narada and Tumburu on the left, the four Sanatkumaras (the mind-born sons of Brahma) and Garuda on the right, along with other celestials. It is from here that Vishnu descends to earth in different avataras. 3) Matsya avatara.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: From left: Matsya avatara; Kurma avatara; Varaha avatara; Narasimha avatara; Vamana avatara.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: Vamana avatara; Parashurama avatara; Rama avatara; Balarama avatara; Krishna avatara.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: Krishna avatara; Kalki avatara; Vishnuchitta, i.e. Andal’s adoptive father also known as Periyalvar. Beginning of the set depicting the 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams: Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams: 1) Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam reclining on Shesha. Behind him is Vibhishana. In the foreground are the festival images of the deity: Alagiyamanavala and the consort goddesses. 2) Srinivasa of Tirumala, standing. On the right, the festival images of the deity flanked by Alarmelumangai Thayar and Padmavati Thayar. 3) Sri Varadaraja Perumal of Kanchipuram, standing. On the right, the festival images of the deity flanked by his consorts. 4) Tirunarayana of Melukote standing, and Bibi Nacchiyar seated at his feet.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1)Tirunarayana of Melukote standing and Bibi Nacchiyar seated at his feet; 2) Ramanuja (Udayavar) holding the image of Sellappillai. 3) Sri Vatapatrashayi Perumal of Srivilliputtur reclining on Shesha; Brahma emerges from the lotus issuing from Vatapatrashayi’s navel. In the left upper corner is Varaha and in the right, the temple tank. Above the image of the deity: a group of thirteen celestials among them are the personified weapons of Vishnu, the Sun and the Moon. Behind the god are Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. In the foreground, from left: Garuda, Markandeya maharishi, the festival images of the deity and his consorts, Bhrigu maharishi and Periyalvar. 4) Sri Nindranarayana of Tiruttangal flanked by his consorts: Sridevi (Annanayaki) and Nila Devi (Anantanayaki) are on the right and Bhu Devi (Amritanayaki) and Jambavati are on the left. In the right corner is the Papavinasa tank and the tiger refers to King Chandraketu who, because of a curse, was born as a tiger and obtained salvation here. In the upper left corner are the goddess in a separate shrine, and near it, Garuda.
Location: Tamil Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Kallalagar of Tirumalirunjolai (Alagar Koyil) standing, flanked by Komalavalli Nacchiyar and Sridevi; 2) Kudalalagar of Madurai, seated, flanked by Maduravalli Nacchiyar and Marakatavalli Nacchiyar; 3) Kalamegha Perumal of Tirumokur standing, flanked by Tirumokurvalli Nacchiyar and Meghavalli Nachiyar; 4) Sri Tadavaraimel (?) of Tirumeyyam (Tirumayam) reclining on Shesha, with his consort standing at his feet.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Satyagirinatha of Tirumeyyam (Tirumayam) standing; 2) Sri Saumya Narayana of Tirukoshtiyur reclining on Shesha, with his consorts seated at his feet; Brahma emerges from the lotus issuing from Saumya Narayana’s navel; Ramanuja and Krishna quelling Kaliya are shown respectively in the left and right turrets crowning the building; 3) Sri Kalyanajagannatha (Adi Jagannatha) of Tirupullani (Darbhashayanam) seated, flanked by his consort. In the right hand corner, Rama sleeps on the mat of darbha grass before building the causeway to Lanka.
Location: Tamil NaduTemple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Srivaikunthanatha of Srivaikuntham, standing. In the left upper corner, the goddess Vaikunthavalli. 2) Sri Vijayasana Perumal of Varagunamangai (one of the Navatirupati), seated flanked by his consorts; 3) Sri Kaisinavendan of Tiruppulingudi (one of the Navatirupati) reclining on Shesha with his consorts at his feet; Brahma emerges from the lotus issuing from Kaisinavendan’s navel. 4) Sri Devarpiran of TiruTolaivillimangalam (one of the Navatirupati) standing.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams.1) Aravindalochanan of TiruTolaivillimangalam (one of the Navatirupati) seated on the coils of the serpent Shesha, flanked by his consorts. 2) Sri Mayakkuttan of Tirukkulandai (Perunkulam, one of the Navatirupati) standing. On the bottom left is the goddess. 3) Sri Vaittamanidhi Perumal of Tirukkolur reclining on Shesha; Brahma emerges from the lotus issuing from Vaittamanidhi’s navel. Standing on the right: Kubera and Madurakavi alvar. In the upper right corner is the goddess. The nine containers in the foreground symbolise the Navanidhis, the nine treasures belonging to Kubera.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Makaranedungulaikadan of TenTiru Perai seated on Sheha and flanked by his consorts; 2) Sri Adinatha Perumal, of Tirukkurugur (Alvar Tirunagari) standing, flanked by his consorts. Above them are two smaller shrines dedicated to Adinatha’s consorts. On the extreme left is the Varaha shrine. 3) The main scene depicts Satkopan (Nammalvar) seated beneath the tamarind tree, in whose branches is an image of Sri Ranganatha. He is flanked on the left, by Tiruvaimolipillai, and Madurakavi, and, on the right, by Nathamuni and Manavalamamuni.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Deyvanayakan of Chettrutamarai Vanamamalai (Nanguneri) seated on Shesha, flanked by his consorts, celestials – Surya and Chandra among them – and ascetics. The goddess Lakshmi is shown in the upper left corner. 2) Sri Vaishnavanampi of Trukkurungudi standing, flanked by his consorts and, on the right, by Tirumangai alvar. Emperumanar (Ramanuja) and Bhairava are on the extreme left and right, respectively 3)The next five vignettes on the right depict shrines in this area dedicated to further aspects of Vishnu: Irundanambi seated on a throne flanked by his consorts; Tirupparkatalnambi standing and his devotee Nambaduvan (bottom row). Kitantanambi, reclinging on Shesha with his consorts at his feet; Brahma emerges from the lotus issuing from Kitantanambi’s navel. Malaimelnambi standing flanked by his consorts (top row).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Anantapadmanabha of Tiruvananthapuram, reclining on Shesha, with Garuda standing at his feet and his weapons in the background. Brahma emerges from the lotus issuing from Anantapadmanabha’s navel. On the foreground are (from left) seated Shiva, Sri Hari Lakshmi Thayar, an ascetic and a devotee. 2) Sri Tiruvalimarbal of Tiruvanparisaram seated, flanked by his consorts. On the left is Udayanankai (mother of Nammalvar), on the right Kari Rajan (Nammalvar’s father). In the upper corner left: the Lakshmi tirtham and on the right, the Nammalvar shrine.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Adikeshava Perumal of Tiruvattaru reclining on Shesha, with his consort seated behind him. Brahma emerges from the lotus issuing from Adikeshava Perumal’s navel. Chandra and Markandeya stand at his feet. 2) Sri Imayavaramban of Tiruchenkunrur (Chengannur) standing. On the left, the goddess and, on the right, Shiva performing penance. 3) Sri Mayappiran of Tiruppuliyur standing; On the left: Porkodi Nacchiyar, on the right, the Sapta rishis.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Pambaneyappan of Tiruvanvandur (Tiruvanmundur); On the left, the goddess, behind her is Narada and, on the right, Markandeya. 2) Sri Kolappiran of Thiruvalla standing, flanked by Selva Tirukolundu Nacchiyar on the left, and by Ghantakarna (?) on the right. 3) Sri Arbutha Narayana of Tirukkadittanam standing, flanked by Karpakavalli Nacchiyar on the left, and by Rukmangatha Raja on the right. 4) Sri Tirukkuralappan of Tiruvaranvilai (Aranmula) standing, flanked by Padmasani Nacchiyar on the left, and by Brahma on the right.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Appan of Tirukatkarai (Tirukatkarra) standing, flanked on the left by Perunselva Nacchiyar, and by Kapila muni, on the right. 2) Sri Tirumulikkalattan of Tirumulikalam standing, flanked on the left by Maturaveni Nacchiyar and by Harita muni on the right. 3) Sri Uyyava Perumal (Uyyavanda Perumal) of Tiruvittuvakkodu standing flanked, on the left by the goddess and king Ambarisha (?), and by Kulashekhara Perumal on the right.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Narayana of Tirunavai standing, flanked by Malarmangai Nacchiyar, on the left, and Gajendra on the right. 2) Sri Alagiyamanavala of Tiru Uraiyur (Woraiyur) standing, flanked by the Kaveri River on the left, and by Tiruppan alvar and Dharma Varma Raja on the right. 3) Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal of Tiruvellarai, standing, flanked by Pankayachelvi Nacchiyar on the left, and by Sri Uyyakkontan (Veyakkondan acharya) and Enkalalvan acharya on the right. The most important tirhas -shown at the top- are (from left): Divyapushkarini, Pushkala tirtha; Kusha tirtha; Chakra tirtha.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal of Tiruvellarai, flanked by Pankayacchelvi Nacchiyar on the left and by Sri Uyyakkontan(Veyakkondan acharya) and Enkalalvan acharya on the right. The most important tirhas -shown at the top- are (from left): Divyapushkarini, Pushkala tirtha; Kusha tirtha; Chakra tirtha. 2) Sri Purushottama ofTirukarambanur (Uthamar Koyil) reclining on Shesha, and from left to right: Kadamba maharishi, Purvadevi Nacchiyar, Sanakatigal (Sanatkumaras, the four mind-born sons of Brahma), Tirumangai Mannan, Bhikshatana, and top right, Brahma in a shrine. King Janaka (?) is depicted at the feet of the deity.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. Sri Tiruvadivalagiya Nambi of Anbil (Tiru Anbil) reclining on Shesha. In the foreground: The goddess, and standing behind the god are Valmiki (?) and Brahma.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, west wall
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