Chennai-Mahabalipuram Divyadesams
The Divya Desams are the 108 Vishnu temples glorified in the poems of the contemporary Vaishnava Alvars of Tamil Nadu, India. Divya means "premium" and Desam indicates "place" (temple). This itinerary takes you to all the famous Vishnu temples in Chennai and Mahabalipuram. Out of these Tiruneermalai is Swayam Vyaktha Kshetram, Thiru Vallikeni is famous for the Lord, Sri Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple is famous for the Wedding Festival of the Lord, Sholingur is famous for the Lord Yoga Narashimar.
Package Includes
Cab
Sthalapuranam
Itinerary Temples
- Sri Neervanna Perumal Temple, Thiru Neermalai
- Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Thiru Vallikeni
- Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple, Thiru Kadalmalai
- Sri Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple, Thiru Ida Venthai (Tiruvedanthai)
- Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, ThirukKadigai (Sholingur)
Full Itinerary
Morning
Sri Neervanna Perumal Temple, Thiru Neermalai
- Thiruneermalai Neervanna Perumal appears in four postures.
- This is a hill temple.
- There are two temples, one at the top of the hill and other in the foothills.
- The presiding deity of the temple in the foothills is Neervanna Perumal in standing posture.
- Ranganatha is the presiding deity uphills.
- As per a legend, Thirumangai Azhwar was held up in the top of the mountain for six months as the place was surrounded by water. Thirumangai Azhwar has glorified the temple highlighting the unique aspect of the temple where Vishnu is seen in four different poses of Standing (Neervanna Perumal), Lying (Sri Ranganathar), Sitting (Narasimha) and walking (Trivikrama).
- As per Hindu legend, sage Valmiki, after composing the epic Ramayana, worshipped Ranganatha at the top of the hill. When he came downhills, he wanted to have a view of Rama, who appeared for the devotee. Lakshmi appeared as Sita, Adi Seshan appeared as Lakshmana, Vishnu's shankha as Bharatha, sudarshana chakra as Shatrughan and Garuda in the form of Hanuman.
- Devotees bathe in the tank for health and cure from illness and for a clear mind and worship Perumal.
- Devotees also seek child boon by placing cradles in a tree and for removal of obstacles in marriage efforts.
- Eight Vishnu temples in India are considered very important praised as Swayam Vyaktha Kshetras of which this Tiruneermalai temple is one.
Morning
Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Thiru Vallikeni
- The Parthasarathy Temple has five of the incarnations or avatars of Vishnu: Narasimhar, Ramar, Varadaraja, Ranganathar and Krishna.
- The temple is one of the oldest structures in Chennai.
- Presiding deity is 9 feet tall. This is the only Vishnu temple where Perumal appears with a moustache of a Sarathi – conducting Arjuna’s Rath in the Kurukshetra battle field. He also appears with His family.
- Lord Krishna-Parthasarathy received the arrows on Himself shot by Bhishma to protect Arjuna while managing his rath in the battlefield. These scars are visible in Lord’s face even now. Based on this history, Perumal is praised as Parthasarathy – driver of Partha-Arjuna.
- People pray to Lord Narasimha in the temple for good education and wisdom. They also pray to Perumal seeking wedding and child boon.
Evening
Sri Sthala Sayana Perumal Temple, Thiru Kadalmalai
- Sthalasayana Perumal Temple is at Mahabalipuram.
- Perumal in His teaching posture, is holding His Hand on the chest, called Upadesa Mudra.
- Devotees pray for the removal of obstacles in their wedding proposals.
- It is the belief of the devotees that worshipping Sthala Sayana Perumal means worshipping Perumal in His Vaikundam itself directly.
- As per Hindu legend, once sage Pundarika was performing penance worshipping Vishnu at this place. He collected Tamarasa flowers and submitted it to view Vishnu in Ksirabdhi Natha form, his posture in Tirupaarkadal. He collected 1,008 flowers and in his intensity, he scooped out water also in full. Vishnu came in disguise in the form of sage and asked him for food. The sage went to acquire food for the old man, but while returning he found that Vishnu remained in the place. Since Vishnu stayed in this place, he was called Sthalasayana Perumal.
Evening
Sri Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple, Thiru Ida Venthai (Tiruvedanthai)
- Lord Perumal appears majestically in His standing form facing east.
- Lord Perumal in the temple appears with one foot on earth, the other on the heads of Adisesha and his wife and having Akhilavalli Thayar on His left lap and graces as Lord Varaha Murthy.Mother made a single woman fusing together 360 virgins, hence praised as Akhilavalli Nachiar.
- Of the celebrated 108 Divya Desas of Lord Vishnu, this is the only temple, where the Wedding Festival is celebrated throughout the year – all the 365 days of the year.
- Women facing delays in their wedding are advised to pray to Mother in the temple.
- This is the place of prayer suggested to those affected with evil looks (dhrushti dosha), adverse aspects of serpent planets Rahu and Kethu and those facing delays in marriage.
- Pilgrims visit for the blessings of Lord Nithyakalyana Perumal. Those who want to get married offer two garlands. After Puja, the priest gives back one of the garlands. The person wears that garland and does Pradakshinam around the Temple. Later they bring the Garland home. This pooja blesses one to have early and happy married life. After Marriage as a thanksgiving gesture, the couple revisit the Temple and offer flower garlands to the Lord. They carefully bring the old garland from Home and offer them to the Sthala Vriksham-Punnai Maram in the backside of the Temple.
Evening
Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, ThirukKadigai (Sholingur)
- Thirukkadigai or Sholingapuram (Vishnu) who is worshipped as Lakshmi Narasimhar and his consort Lakshmi as Thirumamagal.
- There are three separate shrines of Vishnu in the form of Narsimha, Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Hanuman (Anjaneya).This sthalam is also named as "Kadigachalam".
- All Utsavams are conducted to Sri Bhakthavatsalar of the temple at the foot-hill temple.
- Special Poojas for Thayaar on every friday are done. In Kaarthigai month and in sundays, special poojas for Aajaneyar is done.
- As per Hindu legend, a demon king named Hiranyakasipu was troubling the Devas (celestial deities). He obtained limitless powers from Brahma that no human can kill him, neither could he be killed in morning, noon or night nor in air, water or ground. During the last heated argument between the father and the son, Hiranyakasipu asked if Vishnu was present everywhere and went on to break a pillar with his weapon seeking to see Vishnu in it. Vishnu, pleased by the devotion of Prahalada, took the avatar of Narasimha and came out of the opening in the pillar. Narasimha avatar was a lion faced human and slayed Hiranyakasipu on an evening time in a doorway, which was neither land nor air.
- Breakfast for 2 persons.
- Transportation in AC Etios/Dzire cabs.
- Hotel accommodation based on type of package (standard/deluxe/premium) chosen. The price mentioned in this package is for family of two members sharing a single room. For extra person, please place a separate request with us.
- Room type is Standard A/C Room in 2 star hotel.
- Toll charges and driver's allowance.
- Upon booking confirmation, the sthalapuranam of temples mentioned in the itinerary will be sent through email.
- No extra charges for one child below the age of five.
- Package does not include lunch and dinner.
- The pickup and drop point information will be provided to the customer before booking. It is customer's responsibility to reach the pickup point of the trip at specified time. On request basis, GoSthala will arrange pickup from customers place of choice at any applicable nominal charges.
- All other expenses (temple entry ticket charges, parking charges, etc.) that are not specified in the package inclusions.
- Any loss/expenses incurred by unforeseen circumstances e.g. flight delays/cancellations, road blockages, vehicle breakdown, strikes, etc.
- Expense of personal nature such as laundry, etc.
- Any applicable service tax charges.
- Transportation provided will be as per itinerary only (not at disposal).
- The package price is indicative and based on seasonal demands the price is subject to change and will be informed prior booking.
- The package does not include guide services where not mentioned. Guide services can be availed from us at an additional cost.
- Payment method as follows: 25% payment on confirmation; 50% payment before starting the trip; Balance payment before end of the trip.
- 15% of package cost will be charged as penalty on canceling, 31 or more days before departure.
- 35% of package cost will be charged as penalty on cancellation between 22 to 30 days before departure.
- 50% of package cost will be charged as penalty on cancellation between 15 to 21 days before departure.
- 100% of package cost will be charged as penalty on cancelling, 15 days before departure.
