Pilgrimage to Srivaishnava 108 Divya Desams


Book Description

About the Book : Temples have always played an important role in the lives of Hindus in the country from times immemorial. Apart from providing spiritual solace, temples have also been repositories of art and architecture and been instrumental in community bonding. For the sake of identification and ease of worship, the formless God has been given many iconic forms, in fact thousands of them. A pilgrimage to these temples to worship these icons is a way of life for most Hindus. These iconic forms have been classified into various categories like Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti etc which are spread across the length and breadth of the country. While we have many shrines with history and antiquity behind them, there are many temples which are of recent origin. Temples have always been patronized by the kings and rulers of various regions and also by the general public. Among the more popular iconic forms of God is Lord Vishnu or Narayana who is worshipped at innumerable Srivaishnava temples all over the country. These Srivaishnava temples include the 108 Divya Desams which are shrines worshipped and glorified by the great saints like Azhwars whose hymns have been compiled into the Divyaprabandham. While some of these temples are well known and located in large towns, there are many which are located in remote places and not easily accessible. Interestingly, a vast majority of these shrines are located in South India with a few scattered across North and Western India. Many of these temples are small and do not have enough resources for their upkeep and maintenance. A few philanthropists and others have contributed for the renovation of many of these temples but much more is required to be done. The reason for initiating this series is to give a first-hand account of the author's visits to these shrines in a travelogue format with plenty of pictures so that our youngsters are drawn towards these temples. Once more pilgrims visit these places, the infrastructure there is bound to improve and with increased awareness, the contributions to these temples will also increase to take care of their maintenance. These 108 temples are located in several clusters and accordingly, it is proposed to cover all these temples in this series in 7 volumes. Volume One which was released earlier covered the Divya Desam shrine of Thiru Singavel Kundram at Ahobilam. Volume Two which is being released now covers 21 out of the 40 Divya Desam shrines in Chozha Naadu. It is hoped that this pictorial journey will create an interest amongst travellers to plan to visit the 108 Divya Desam. Chozha Naadu is a region in Tamil Nadu comprising several districts in the Kaveri river delta. It is bounded in the north by Thondai Naadu and in the south by Pandya Naadu. There are 40 Divyadesams in Chozha Naadu which can be accessed from the towns of Trichy, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sirkazhi and Chidambaram. This volume covers 21 out of the 40 Divya Desams in Chozha Naadu while the remaining shrines will be covered in the next volume. We start with the Divya Desam shrines in Trichy and then move on to the temples in Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Nagapattinam. All these shrines are easily approachable by road. As we travel from one temple to the next, the pictures taken at each temple along with the accompanying text will leave you with memories that can only be equalled by taking time out to go and visit each one of them. About the Author : The author, Jagadeesan Krishnan, an intrepid traveller and heritage enthusiast has visited many temples over the years. His desire to visit and worship the Lord at the Srivaishnava 108 Divya Desams took shape about three years back and since then, he has been fortunate to visit over 80 of these shrines and hopefully visit the remaining shrines very soon.




Travel & People


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I Love my travel machine, my bike! It brought me even closer to roads, nature, people, and adventure!




Accessions List, South Asia


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Body, History, Myth


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The first major exploration of the mural tradition in early modern South India An astonishing variety of murals greet visitors to the temples and palaces of southern India. Beautiful in execution and extensive in scope, murals painted on walls and ceilings adorn the most important spaces of early modern religious and political performance. Scene by scene, histories of holy sites, portraits that incorporate historical figures into mythic landscapes, and Tamil and Telugu inscriptions that evoke the imagined topographies of devotional poetry unfold before the mobile spectator. Body, History, Myth reconceives the relationship between art and devotion in South India by describing how the extraordinary sensory experience of a viewing body in motion unfurls a sacred narrative exquisitely designed to teach, impress, and inspire. Anna Lise Seastrand offers new insights into the arts of early modern southern India, bringing to life one of the most culturally vibrant yet least understood periods in Indian art. She shows how temple visitors become active participants in the paintings through their somatic engagement with visual stories and devotional landscapes. Seastrand highlights the significance of textuality in early modern South Asia by examining the status of professional scribes and the prominence given to authorship of religious literature and art. Her insights are presented alongside new translations of the texts that accompany mural paintings. Featuring a wealth of stunning images published here for the first time, Body, History, Myth provides a multidimensional reading of temple art that fundamentally reframes the artistic, intellectual, religious, and political histories of early modern India.




South Indian Shrines


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Viraha Bhakti


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The Lord Krsna abandoned his earthly mistresses who then spent their days of separation pining for his return. This powerful theme found expression not only in myth but also in the devotion and poetry of a religious culture that evolved in South India. From the fifth century A.D., the Tamils absorbed many elements from the classical traditions of the North, such as yoga, the temple worship and Krsna myths, and the results were unique blends of the two civilizations. Viraha-bhakti, as the author styles this type of Krsna religion, imbued the theme of separation with erotic and ecstatic features and evolved as one of the highlights of Indian religion and culture. The present work is a detailed study of the multifarious origins of Viraha-bhakti in South India and its developments up to the point at which it entered the pan-Indian scene. The study suggests a revision of the monolithic image of Indian religion implied in much scholarly literature. It differentiates a great variety of interacting traditions and milieux and demonstrates the dynamism of Indian culture. By identifying a specific type of religion and reflecting on its significance, the author attempts, at the same time, to go beyond purely textual and historical considerations. Thus the book will be of interest to any student of Indian religion and culture.




Hindu Pilgrimage


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The book discusses in detail Chaar Dhaam, Himalayan Chaar Dhaam, Sapt Puri, Dwadash Jyotirlingam, Panch Sarovar, Sapt Sarita, Divya Desam, Shakti Peetha, Yatras and also some of the famous temples in India. Enhanced with vivid and exclusive pictures, the book brings the places alive and inspires one to make a pilgrimage to these holy shrines. #v&spublishers




108 Srivaishnava Divyadesams


Book Description

A condensed guide to the 108 Srivaishnava Divydesams, giving details such as the names of Perumal, Thayar, Vimanam, Theertham, Vruksham, Prathyaksham, index of the verses sung by the Azhvars, travel information, features and a brief Sthala Puranam.