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Adbhuta Narayana Temple, Thirukadithanam
One of the five Pandava temples around Chengannur, said to have been built by Sahadeva.
Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thirupullani
A Divya Desam near Rameswaram where Rama is said to have lain on darbha grass for three days, praying to the ocean to let his army cross to Lanka.
Adikesava Perumal Temple, Thiruvattar
A Kerala-style Vishnu temple in Kanyakumari district, where a 22-foot image of Vishnu reclines on the serpent Adishesha. It is regarded as the elder brother of the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, which it closely resembles.
Adinatha Perumal Temple, Alwarthirunagari
The birthplace of Nammalvar, the greatest of the Alvar poets, on the Thamirabarani river. The tamarind tree under which he is said to have sat in silence for sixteen years still grows in the temple. It is the chief of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples nearby.
Ahobilam Narasimha Temples
A group of nine Narasimha shrines in the Nallamala forest of Andhra Pradesh, where Vishnu is said to have burst from a pillar as the man-lion to save the boy Prahlada. It is the seat of the Ahobila Matha.
Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram
A Chola temple of the 12th century, built by Rajaraja II, smaller than Thanjavur but crowded with fine carving. Its front hall is shaped like a chariot drawn by horses, with stone wheels. It is part of the UNESCO site 'Great Living Chola Temples'.
Amaruviappan Temple, Therazhundur
A Divya Desam where Vishnu stands as a cowherd with a cow and calf beside him. The village is the birthplace of Kambar, author of the Tamil Ramayana.
Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple
A Krishna temple built by the rulers of Chembakassery, where the deity holds a whip and conch like Parthasarathy, Arjuna's charioteer. It is famous for its palpayasam, a rice and milk pudding that Guruvayurappan is believed to come and taste each day, and it sheltered the Guruvayur image during Tipu Sultan's invasion.
Andal Temple, Srivilliputhur
The birthplace of Andal, the only woman among the twelve Alvars, who wrote the Thiruppavai and is said to have married Vishnu. The temple has two parts: her shrine, and the shrine of Vishnu lying on a banyan leaf. Its gopuram, about 59 m high, appears on the emblem of the Tamil Nadu government.
Andalakkum Aiyan Temple, Thiruaadhanoor
A small Divya Desam near Swamimalai where Vishnu is shown holding a grain measure and a palm leaf. It is linked with Thirumangai Alvar's temple-building at Srirangam.
Appakudathaan Perumal Temple, Koviladi
One of the five Pancharanga shrines of reclining Vishnu along the Kaveri. Vishnu here holds a pot of appam, a sweet cake, and the temple is said to be where Nammalvar sang his last hymn.
Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
A Divya Desam on the Pamba river where Krishna is worshipped as Parthasarathy, Arjuna's charioteer, in a six-foot image said to be the tallest of Krishna in Kerala. It is the home of the Aranmula snake-boat race, the Vallasadya feast and the metal Aranmula mirror.
Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai
One of the largest temples in India, at the foot of Arunachala hill, where Shiva is worshipped as fire (Agni Lingam). Each year at Karthigai Deepam a great flame is lit on the hilltop. Pilgrims walk the 14 km path around the hill, and the sage Ramana Maharshi lived here.
Ashtabhuja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
A Kanchipuram Divya Desam where Vishnu has eight arms, each holding a weapon. It belongs to the cycle of stories about Brahma's sacrifice and Saraswati's anger.
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
A shrine of the goddess Bhagavathy, identified with Bhadrakali and with Kannaki of the Tamil epic Silappatikaram. It is famous for the Attukal Pongala, when millions of women cook a sweet rice offering in the streets of Thiruvananthapuram, recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest gathering of women.
Aundha Nagnath Temple
A 13th-century Seuna Yadava temple in Hemadpanti style, considered by many to be the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga named in Adi Shankara's Jyotirlinga hymn. Damaged by Sultanate invasions, its upper part was rebuilt later, traditionally by Ahilyabai Holkar.
Azhagiya Manavalan Temple, Uraiyur
The Divya Desam of Uraiyur, the early Chola capital, sacred to Kamalavalli, a Chola princess said to have married Ranganatha of Srirangam. It is the birthplace of Thiruppan Alvar.
Azhagiya Singar Temple, Thiruvelukkai
A Kanchipuram Divya Desam of Narasimha, called 'the beautiful lion'. Its name comes from vel irukkai, 'the place where he chose to stay'.
Badrinath Temple
A temple to Vishnu as Badrinarayan on the Alaknanda river at about 3,100 m, one of the Char Dham and a Divya Desam. It is open in summer only, and its chief priest (Rawal) is by tradition a Namboodiri Brahmin from Kerala.
Baidyanath Temple
The temple of Baba Baidyanath in Deoghar, Jharkhand, widely regarded as the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga, with 21 other temples in its compound. In the month of Shravan, millions of pilgrims (kanwariyas) carry Ganga water about 100 km on foot from Sultanganj to offer here. Parli Vaijnath in Maharashtra also claims this Jyotirlinga.
Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Thirukannamangai
One of the five Pancha Krishna shrines, where Vishnu and Lakshmi are said to have married. A beehive in the goddess's shrine is believed to be the gods themselves, come to watch.
Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Thiruninravur
A Divya Desam on the western edge of Chennai, where Lakshmi is said to have stood ('ninra') and stayed, giving the town its name.
Bhimakali Temple
The family temple of the Bushahr rulers at Sarahan, a striking example of Himachal's Kath-Kuni style of layered timber and stone with pagoda-like roofs. It is revered locally as a Shakti Peetha.
Bhimashankar Temple
A Jyotirlinga temple high in the Sahyadri hills at the source of the Bhima river, inside the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. Its assembly hall and spire were built by Nana Phadnavis in the 18th century. Some other sites, including one in Assam, also claim to be the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga.
Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharama
A great Shiva temple of the Godavari delta, one of the five Pancharamas, where the goddess Manikyamba is worshipped as one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. Tradition places Daksha's fateful sacrifice here, the event that began the story of the Shakti Peethas.
Bhojeshwar Temple
An unfinished 11th-century Shiva temple of the Paramara king Bhoja, with one of the largest stone lingas in India. Construction drawings engraved on nearby rocks and the earthen ramp used to lift stones survive, so the site shows how medieval temples were built.
Biraja Temple, Jajpur
The temple of Biraja (Viraja), a two-armed form of Durga killing Mahishasura, at Jajpur in Odisha. Jajpur is the Viraja Kshetra of the Puranas, counted among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, and its well is the Nabhi Gaya where rites for ancestors are performed.
Brihadisvara Temple
Built by the Chola emperor Rajaraja I and consecrated in 1010 CE, this granite temple to Shiva has a vimana about 66 m high and is one of the largest temples of its age. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Great Living Chola Temples'.
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
The great Shiva temple of the city that Rajendra I built as his capital after his armies reached the Ganges. Its vimana, about 55 m high with gently curving sides, is a counterpart to his father's temple at Thanjavur. It is part of the UNESCO site 'Great Living Chola Temples'.
Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysuru
The hilltop temple of Chamundeshwari, the goddess who killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura, from whom Mysuru takes its name. She is the family deity of the Wodeyar kings and the 'Nada Devi' of Karnataka, at the heart of the Mysuru Dasara.
Chennakeshava Temple, Belur
A masterpiece of Hoysala sculpture on the Yagachi river, commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE. Its soapstone surfaces carry thousands of figures, including the famous bracket figures of dancers (madanikas). It is part of the UNESCO site 'Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas' (2023).
Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple
A goddess temple near Kochi where the deity, a self-manifested laterite stone, is worshipped as Rajarajeswari together with Vishnu. A lower shrine, the Keezhkkavu, holds Bhadrakali in her fierce form, and many people with mental distress come here hoping for relief.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
A nine-spired (navaratna) temple of Kali as Bhavatarini on the Hooghly river, built by Rani Rashmoni in 1855. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa served here as priest, making it the birthplace of a spiritual movement that went worldwide through Swami Vivekananda.
Deepaprakasar Temple, Thoopul
A Kanchipuram Divya Desam where Vishnu appeared as a great light. The neighbourhood, Thoopul, is the birthplace of the teacher Vedanta Desika in 1268.
Deivanayaka Perumal Temple, Thirunangur
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. Its name means 'where the gods gathered'.
Devanathaswamy Temple, Thiruvahindrapuram
The temple of Vishnu as Devanatha, 'lord of the gods', on the Gadilam river near Cuddalore. The Sri Vaishnava teacher Vedanta Desika lived here for many years, and a hill shrine above holds Hayagriva, the horse-headed god of learning.
Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani
The hilltop temple of Murugan as a young renunciant holding only a staff, the third of his six abodes (Arupadai Veedu). Its image is said to be made of nine poisonous herbs and minerals by the siddha Bhogar. It is among the most visited temples in South India.
Dilwara Temples
A group of five Shvetambara Jain temples at Mount Abu, famous for some of the finest marble carving in India. The two oldest, Vimal Vasahi (1031) and Luna Vasahi (1230), were built by ministers of the Chaulukya and Vaghela rulers of Gujarat.
Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka
The temple of Krishna as king of Dwarka, on the western shore of Gujarat. It is one of the four Char Dham and one of the seven sacred cities, and its tall spire flies a flag that is changed several times a day.
Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram
The largest temple in Kanchipuram, where Shiva is worshipped as a linga of earth (Prithvi Lingam), one of the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams. An ancient mango tree in its courtyard marks where Parvati is said to have worshipped him and won him in marriage.
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
One of Kerala's major Shiva temples, rebuilt in 1542, with a copper-roofed sanctum and a celebrated mural of Shiva's Pradosha dance. It owns the Ezharaponnana, seven and a half gold-plated elephants shown to devotees once a year at midnight during the festival.
Gajendra Varadha Perumal Temple, Kapisthalam
A Divya Desam on the Kaveri where Vishnu is said to have saved the elephant king Gajendra from a crocodile. It is one of the Pancha Krishnaranya shrines.
Gokul (Thiruvaipadi)
The cowherd village across the Yamuna where Krishna grew up in the house of Nanda and Yashoda. The Alvars sang of it as Thiruvaipadi, the holy settlement of the cowherds.
Gopalakrishna Temple, Thirukkavalampadi
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. Krishna is said to have rested here with Satyabhama after bringing the parijata tree from heaven.
Grishneshwar Temple
The smallest of the Jyotirlinga temples, at Verul next to the Ellora Caves. Destroyed under the Delhi Sultanate and again during the Mughal-Maratha wars, it was restored by Maloji Bhosale, Shivaji's grandfather, and rebuilt in its present form by the Holkars in the 18th century.
Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple
One of Kerala's most visited temples, dedicated to Krishna as Guruvayurappan, a four-armed Vishnu form. It is central to Kerala devotional literature, the Narayaneeyam and Jnanappana, and was the site of the 1931-32 Guruvayur Satyagraha for temple entry.
Harasaabavimochana Perumal Temple, Thirukandiyur
A Divya Desam near Thiruvaiyaru whose name means 'the lord who freed Hara from his curse'. It stands close to the Shiva temple where Brahma's head is said to have been cut off.
Harsiddhi Temple, Ujjain
The goddess temple near Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, known for two tall lamp pillars that blaze with lamps during Navaratri. It is commonly identified with the Ujjain seat among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, though some traditions give that place to Gadkalika.
Imayavarappan Temple, Thiruchengunrur
One of the five Pandava temples around Chengannur, said to have been built by Yudhishthira.
Irattai Tirupati, Thirutholaivillimangalam
One of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples on the Thamirabarani river, linked with Rahu and Ketu, one for each of the twin temples.
Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Nathan Kovil
A Divya Desam near Kumbakonam where Shiva's bull Nandi is said to have worshipped Vishnu to be freed from a curse.
Jagathrakshaka Perumal Temple, Thirukoodalur
A Divya Desam on the Kaveri where Vishnu, as Varaha, is said to have rescued the earth. Its name Koodalur, 'meeting place', recalls the gods who gathered here.
Jageshwar Temples
A valley of more than 100 stone temples in a deodar forest in Kumaon, built between the 7th and 14th centuries and protected by the ASI. Some traditions identify Jageshwar with Darukavana, the deodar forest of the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga story.
Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval
The water temple of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, on Srirangam island near Tiruchirappalli. Its linga sits over an underground spring and is always partly under water. The goddess Akhilandeswari, said to have been calmed by Adi Shankara, is the temple's other great focus.
Jogulamba Temple, Alampur
The goddess temple at Alampur, beside the Chalukya-era Navabrahma temples, where Jogulamba is shown seated on a corpse with a scorpion, frog and lizard on her head. Destroyed in 1390, it was rebuilt on its old site in 2005 and the original image reinstalled.
Jor Bangla Temple (Keshta Raya)
A brick temple of 1655 in the Malla capital Bishnupur, shaped as two joined Bengali thatched huts (jor-bangla) and covered in terracotta panels of the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Krishna's life. It is an ASI monument.
Jwalamukhi Temple, Kangra
A temple with no image, where the goddess is worshipped as natural gas flames burning from fissures in the rock. Counted among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas as the seat where Sati's tongue fell, it has a gilded dome and silver doors from the Sikh period.
Kailasa Temple, Ellora (Cave 16)
The largest monolithic rock-cut temple in the world, carved downward out of a single basalt hill in the 8th century under the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. It represents Mount Kailasa, Shiva's home, and is part of the Ellora Caves UNESCO site with Buddhist and Jain caves.
Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram
The oldest structural temple in Kanchipuram, built in sandstone by the Pallava king Rajasimha around 700-728. Its walls are lined with small shrines and lively sculptures of Shiva in many forms, and it set the pattern for later Tamil temples.
Kaisina Vendhan Temple, Thirupuliangudi
One of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples on the Thamirabarani river, linked with Mercury (Budha).
Kalamegha Perumal Temple, Thirumogur
A Divya Desam near Madurai linked with Vishnu's form as Mohini, the enchantress who shared out the nectar of immortality. Its sixteen-armed image of the discus Sudarshana is famous.
Kallalagar Temple, Alagar Kovil
The temple of Vishnu as Kallalagar, 'the beautiful one', at the foot of the wooded Alagar hills near Madurai. Each Chithirai, Kallalagar travels to Madurai for his sister Meenakshi's wedding and enters the Vaigai river before a vast crowd.
Kamakhya Temple
One of the most important Shakti Peethas and a major centre of Tantra, on Nilachal hill above the Brahmaputra. The goddess is worshipped as a yoni-shaped stone in a cave, kept wet by a spring. It was rebuilt in 1565 by the Koch king Nara Narayan after destruction earlier in the century.
Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram
The great goddess temple of Kanchipuram, where Kamakshi sits in yogic posture holding a noose, goad, sugarcane bow and flower arrows, with a Sri Chakra before her. It is counted among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas and is closely tied to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple
The largest and finest of the Khajuraho temples, a Chandela masterpiece of about 1030 CE. Its central spire about 31 m high is surrounded by 84 smaller spires, and its walls carry some 870 sculptures. It is intact but no longer in regular worship, and is part of a UNESCO site.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore
The best-known Shiva temple of Chennai, in the old quarter of Mylapore. Its name recalls Parvati, who worshipped Shiva here in the form of a peahen. The 37 m eastern tower faces a large temple tank, and its Arupathu Moovar festival is the city's great procession.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, in the heart of Varanasi (Kashi), the city of Shiva. Earlier temples were destroyed in the 12th, 15th and 17th centuries; the present temple was built by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780 next to the Gyanvapi Mosque, which stands on the site of the temple demolished in 1669.
Kedarnath Temple
A Jyotirlinga temple at about 3,583 m in the Garhwal Himalaya, open only from about April-May to November. It is part of the Chota Char Dham and Panch Kedar. The stone temple survived the 2013 Uttarakhand floods that devastated the town.
Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple
One of Kerala's oldest goddess shrines, in the old Chera capital near Muziris. The fierce eight-armed Bhadrakali, also identified with Kannaki, is head of 64 Bhadrakali shrines of Malabar. Its Bharani festival, with the Kavu Theendal rush of oracles, is among the most intense in Kerala.
Kolavilli Ramar Temple, Thiruvelliyangudi
A Divya Desam where the planet Venus (Shukra) is said to have regained his lost eye. Devotees pray here for relief from Shukra's ill effects.
Konark Sun Temple
A 13th-century Sun temple of the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I, built as a colossal stone chariot of Surya with 24 carved wheels drawn by seven horses. The main tower has collapsed; the surviving assembly hall (jagamohana) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Koodal Azhagar Temple, Madurai
The main Vishnu temple in the heart of Madurai. Its three-storeyed vimana shows Vishnu seated, standing and reclining, one above the other. Here Periyalvar is said to have sung the Thiruppallandu, the blessing that opens the Divya Prabandham.
Kudamadukoothan Temple, Thirunangur
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. The god is named after Krishna's dance with pots.
Kumari Amman Temple, Kanyakumari
The temple of the virgin goddess Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India, where three seas meet. She stands with a rosary, waiting for Shiva who never came to marry her. Some traditions count it among the Shakti Peethas.
Lakshmana Perumal Temple, Thirumoozhikkulam
A riverside temple dedicated to Lakshmana, one of the four Nalambalam temples of Rama and his brothers visited in a single day during the monsoon month of Karkidakam.
Lakshmi Narasimha and Vedarajan Temples, Thiruvali-Thirunagari
A pair of temples counted as one Divya Desam, at the home of Thirumangai Alvar. The Alvar, once a chieftain, is said to have turned to God here through his love for Kumudavalli.
Lalita Devi Temple, Prayagraj
The goddess temple at Meerapur in Prayagraj, near the meeting of the Ganga and Yamuna, regarded as the Prayag Shakti Peetha where Sati's fingers fell. The Ashtadasha hymn calls the goddess here Madhaveshwari; the nearby Alopi Devi temple also claims the seat.
Lingaraja Temple
The largest temple of Bhubaneswar, the 'temple city', dedicated to Harihara, a joint form of Shiva and Vishnu. Its spire is about 55 m high, and it is the mature masterpiece of the Kalinga style.
Loganatha Perumal Temple, Thirukannangudi
One of the five Pancha Krishna shrines, near Nagapattinam, linked with stories of Thirumangai Alvar.
Mahabodhi Temple
The temple marks the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the holiest site in Buddhism. Its present 55 m brick tower dates from the Gupta period, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, in the ancient city of Ujjain (Avantika). Its south-facing linga and pre-dawn Bhasma Aarti are unique. Destroyed by Iltutmish in 1234-35, it was rebuilt under Maratha rule in the 18th century, and the Mahakal Lok corridor opened in 2022.
Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur
The temple of Mahalakshmi, known locally as Ambabai, in the old city of Karaveer (Kolhapur). Her gemstone image wears a crown with a five-hooded serpent. It is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas and one of Maharashtra's 'three and a half' Shakti Peethas.
Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar Temple, Thentirupperai
One of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples on the Thamirabarani river, linked with Venus (Shukra).
Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam
A hilltop temple above the Krishna river where Shiva is worshipped as Mallikarjuna and the goddess as Bhramaramba. It is unusual in being both one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the Shakti Peethas, and inscriptions show it was already a sacred site in the 2nd century.
Mangla Gauri Temple, Gaya
A hilltop goddess temple in Gaya, the city of ancestral rites, where Sati is worshipped as Mangala Gauri. It is counted among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas as the seat where Sati's breast fell, and is mentioned in the Vayu, Padma and Agni Puranas.
Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple
Kerala's best-known serpent temple, set in a sacred grove at Haripad with over 100,000 snake images along its paths. It is run by the Mannarasala Illam family, and its matriarch, the Amma, leads worship, a rare tradition of a woman as chief priest. Childless couples come to pray here.
Martand Sun Temple
Built by the Karkota king Lalitaditya Muktapida in the 8th century, this Sun temple on a plateau above the Kashmir valley was the grandest example of Kashmiri temple architecture. It was destroyed in the early 15th century under Sultan Sikandar Shah Miri, and its ruins are an ASI monument.
Mata Vaishno Devi Temple
A cave shrine of the goddess in the Trikuta hills, reached by a trek of about 12-13 km from Katra. The goddess is worshipped as three natural rock forms (pindis) of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. It is one of India's most visited pilgrimages.
Mayakoothan Temple, Thirukulandai
One of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples on the Thamirabarani river, linked with Saturn (Sani).
Mayappiran Temple, Thiruppuliyur
One of the five Pandava temples around Chengannur, said to have been built by Bhima.
Meenakshi Amman Temple
The temple of Meenakshi (Parvati) and Sundareswarar (Shiva) stands at the centre of Madurai, which was laid out around it. Damaged during the Delhi Sultanate raids of the early 14th century, it was rebuilt by the Madurai Nayakas into the vast complex of 14 gopurams seen today.
Muktinath Temple
A Vishnu shrine at about 3,700 metres in the Mustang district of Nepal, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. In the Divya Desam tradition it stands for Saligramam, the land of the Kali Gandaki, whose fossil stones are worshipped as Vishnu.
Nachiyar Kovil, Thirunaraiyur
A temple where the goddess takes first place: in procession Vanjulavalli walks ahead of Vishnu. Its stone Garuda is famous for seeming to grow heavier as it is carried out of the temple.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
A Jyotirlinga temple on the Saurashtra coast about 16 km from Dwarka, with an underground sanctum and a 25 m seated statue of Shiva. Tradition places the Darukavana forest of the Shiva Purana story here, although Aundha Nagnath in Maharashtra and Jageshwar in Uttarakhand also claim this Jyotirlinga.
Naimisharanya
The sacred forest on the Gomti where, in the Puranas, the sage Suta recited the epics and Puranas to the assembled rishis. In the Divya Desam tradition Vishnu is present here as the forest itself.
Nambi Temple, Thirukurungudi
A Divya Desam at the foot of the Western Ghats, famous for the story of Nampaduvan, a singer of low birth who kept his promise to a demon, retold each year on Kaisika Ekadasi.
Nanmathiya Perumal Temple, Thalaichanga Nanmathiyam
A Divya Desam near the old port of Poompuhar where the Moon (Chandra) is said to have been cured of a wasting curse.
Narasimha Temple, Joshimath
The Narasimha temple of Joshimath, the town where the Badrinath image spends the winter. It is the usual identification of the Divya Desam Thiruppiruthi, though some place that shrine elsewhere in the Himalaya.
Narayana Perumal Temple (Manimadakoil), Thirunangur
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. It is the chief of the eleven, where the joint Garuda Sevai begins.
Navamukunda Temple, Thirunavaya
A temple on the Bharathapuzha river, where the great Mamankam festival was held every twelve years under the Zamorins of Kozhikode until 1755.
Neervannar Temple, Thiruneermalai
A hill temple near Chennai with Vishnu in four forms: standing at the foot of the hill as Neervannar, and on the hilltop reclining as Ranganatha, seated as Narasimha and striding as Trivikrama.
Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli
A twin temple in the heart of Tirunelveli, one for Shiva as Nellaiappar and one for the goddess Kanthimathi, joined by a long hall. It is famous for its musical stone pillars and for the Copper Hall of Nataraja, one of his five dance halls.
Ninra Narayana Perumal Temple, Thiruthangal
A hill temple near Sivakasi, linked with the love story of Usha and Aniruddha, Krishna's grandson.
Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple, Thiruvidanthai
A Divya Desam on the coast south of Chennai where Vishnu as Varaha holds the goddess on his arm. He is called Nithyakalyana, 'the one married every day', and many come here praying for marriage.
Omkareshwar Temple
A Jyotirlinga temple on Mandhata island in the Narmada, which tradition says is shaped like the sacred syllable Om. Built by the Paramaras, damaged in later invasions and rebuilt by the Holkar queens in the 18th century, it is paired with the Mamleshwar temple on the river's south bank.
Oppiliappan Temple, Thirunageswaram
The temple of Oppiliappan, 'the lord without equal', near Kumbakonam. He is regarded as the elder brother of Venkateswara of Tirumala, and vows made to Tirumala may be fulfilled here. Offerings are cooked without salt.
Pallikonda Ranganatha Temple, Thirunangur
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. It is the only reclining image among the eleven.
Pambanaiappan Temple, Thiruvanvandoor
One of the five Pandava temples around Chengannur, said to have been built by Nakula.
Pandavadhoothar Temple, Kanchipuram
A Kanchipuram Divya Desam where Krishna sits as the messenger of the Pandavas. Its seated image, about 7.5 m high, is one of the largest in the region.
Parimala Ranganatha Temple, Thiruindalur
One of the five Pancharanga shrines of reclining Ranganatha along the Kaveri, at Mayiladuthurai, where the Moon worshipped Vishnu.
Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane
One of the oldest temples in Chennai, where Vishnu is worshipped as Krishna the charioteer of Arjuna, with a moustache and the marks of Bhishma's arrows on his face. It holds shrines to five forms of Vishnu and was sung by three Alvars.
Pavalavannar Temple, Kanchipuram
A Kanchipuram Divya Desam of Vishnu 'the colour of coral'. Facing it is the shrine of Pachai Vannar, Vishnu 'the colour of emerald', and pilgrims visit both.
Perarulalan Temple, Thirunangur
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. The god's name means 'the one of great grace'; Rama is said to have worshipped here.
Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai
A hill temple on a white rock, believed to be older than Srirangam. It has two entrances used in alternate halves of the year, and a Pallava-era stepped well shaped like a swastika.
Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram
The shrine of Puruhutika Devi inside the Kukkuteswara Shiva temple at Pithapuram, where Shiva is worshipped as a rooster-shaped linga. The town is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, the Pada Gaya of the three Gaya sites, and the birthplace of Sripada Sri Vallabha.
Purushottama Perumal Temple, Thirunangur
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. Vishnu here is the supreme person, Purushottama.
Raghunath Temple, Devaprayag
The Rama temple above the confluence at Devaprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet to become the Ganga. Periyalvar sang of it as Kandam, the city on the Ganga.
Ramanathaswamy Temple
A Jyotirlinga temple on Pamban Island, where tradition says Rama worshipped Shiva. It is one of the Char Dham and is famous for its pillared corridors, the longest of any Hindu temple in India, and its 22 holy wells (theerthams).
Ramappa Temple
A Kakatiya Shiva temple of 1213 CE, built by the general Recharla Rudra and known by the name of its sculptor, Ramappa. Its shikhara uses light, porous bricks, and its dancer brackets are celebrated. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
Renuka Devi Temple, Mahur
A hilltop temple at Mahur where Renuka, mother of Parashurama, is worshipped as Ekaveera. Only her head is enshrined. Mahur is one of Maharashtra's 'three and a half' Shakti Peethas and is also sacred to Dattatreya.
Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
A hill shrine of Ayyappa in the Western Ghats, open only in set seasons. Pilgrims keep a 41-day vow, carry the irumudi bundle and climb the 18 sacred steps. Its peak attendance in the Mandala-Makaravilakku season is counted in millions.
Salasayana Perumal Temple, Thirusirupuliyur
A Divya Desam where Vishnu reclines in a small form, revealed to the tiger-footed sage Vyaghrapada.
Sangameswara Temple (relocated)
A Chalukya-era Shiva temple that stood at Kudaveli, where the Tungabhadra meets the Krishna. When the Srisailam dam reservoir was to flood the site, it was taken apart stone by stone and rebuilt near Alampur, which is also home to the Jogulamba Shakti Peetha and the Navabrahma temples.
Saranatha Perumal Temple, Thirucherai
A Divya Desam near Kumbakonam where the river goddess Kaveri is said to have worshipped Vishnu. It is called the Panchasara Kshetram, 'place of the five essences'.
Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam
The largest Vishnu temple in the temple town of Kumbakonam, where Vishnu reclines as Sarangapani, 'holder of the bow Saranga'. Its inner shrine is built as a chariot drawn by horses and elephants, and its eleven-tiered tower is about 50 m high.
Sathyamurthy Perumal Temple, Thirumayam
A Divya Desam at the foot of Thirumayam fort with one of the largest rock-cut reclining Vishnu images in India, carved into the living rock around the 8th century.
Sharada Peeth
The ruined temple of the goddess Sharada in the Neelum valley, once one of the great centres of learning in South Asia and the source of the Sharada script. Counted among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, it has been beyond reach of most Indian pilgrims since 1947.
Shore Temple
One of the earliest structural (built, not rock-cut) stone temples of South India, standing on the Bay of Bengal. It holds two Shiva shrines and a reclining Vishnu between them, and is part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (UNESCO).
Shree Jagannath Temple
The temple of Jagannath, 'lord of the universe', with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, all in wooden form, on the coast at Puri. One of the Char Dham, it is famous for the Rath Yatra and for its kitchen, which feeds tens of thousands daily with Mahaprasad.
Shri Krishna Janmasthan, Mathura
The shrine at the place in Mathura where Krishna is believed to have been born in Kamsa's prison. Its temples were destroyed and rebuilt several times, and the site beside the Shahi Idgah is the subject of pending court cases.
Shri Mangueshi Temple
The family deity of many Gaud Saraswat Brahmins, Mangesh (Shiva) was moved in the 1560s from Kushasthali (Cortalim) in Portuguese-ruled Salcete to Mangeshi in Ponda, beyond Portuguese control, when temples were being destroyed. The present temple, with its seven-storey lamp tower, dates from the 18th century.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir
A new temple to Rama at the site held by Hindus to be his birthplace, built after the Supreme Court's 2019 judgment in the Ayodhya title dispute. The site had held the Babri Masjid (1528) until its demolition in 1992. The Nagara-style temple was designed by the Sompura family and consecrated in January 2024.
Shri Vaijnath Temple, Parli
A Hemadpanti-style Shiva temple at Parli in Beed district, which many in Maharashtra regard as the true Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga, a claim shared with Deoghar in Jharkhand. Its spire rises about 75-80 feet above a brass-plated eastern door.
Somnath Temple
The first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on the Saurashtra coast. Sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 and attacked repeatedly afterwards, it was rebuilt each time; the present temple was raised after Independence on the initiative of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and consecrated in 1951.
Soundararaja Perumal Temple, Nagapattinam
The Divya Desam of the old port of Nagapattinam, where Vishnu is called the beautiful king. The serpent Adishesha and the child-devotee Dhruva are said to have worshipped here.
Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple, Thirukoshtiyur
The temple from whose tower Ramanuja is said to have proclaimed the sacred mantra to everyone, after his teacher had taught it to him under a vow of secrecy. Its multi-storey vimana shows Vishnu in four postures.
Sowriraja Perumal Temple, Thirukannapuram
One of the five Pancha Krishna shrines, praised by five Alvars. The god's name, Sowriraja, recalls a legend in which Vishnu grew a lock of hair to save a priest's honour.
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The temple of Vishnu as Padmanabha, reclining on the serpent Ananta, gives Thiruvananthapuram (city of Ananta) its name. It blends Kerala and Tamil Dravida styles, and was the state temple of Travancore. The opening of its vaults in 2011 revealed one of the largest known temple treasures.
Sreevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla
One of the oldest and largest temples of central Kerala, where Kathakali is performed almost every night as an offering to the god.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
On an island between the Kaveri and Kollidam rivers, this temple of the reclining Vishnu, Ranganatha, is the first of the 108 Divya Desams and among the largest functioning Hindu temple complexes in the world, with seven concentric enclosures. It was the home of the philosopher Ramanuja.
Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala
The hill temple of Venkateswara on the seventh of the Seshachalam hills is one of the most visited religious sites in the world. It is run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), known for its hair-tonsure offerings, hundi and the Tirupati laddu.
Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Thiruvellakulam
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. The god is called Annan, the elder brother of Venkateswara of Tirumala, and the temple is the birthplace of Kumudavalli, wife of Thirumangai Alvar.
Sthalasayana Perumal Temple, Mamallapuram
The Divya Desam of Mamallapuram, where Vishnu lies on the bare ground rather than on his serpent. Bhoothath Alvar, one of the first three Alvars, was born here.
Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur
The seashore temple of Murugan at Tiruchendur, the second of his six abodes, where he is said to have defeated the demon Surapadman. The Soorasamharam enacted on the beach during Kanda Sashti draws vast crowds.
Sun Temple, Modhera
A Sun temple built under Bhima I of the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty in 1026-27 CE, just after Mahmud of Ghazni's raid on Gujarat. It has a sanctum hall, an assembly hall and a great stepped tank (Surya Kund). Its spire is lost and it is no longer in worship.
Thadalan Temple, Sirkazhi
A Divya Desam in Sirkazhi, where Vishnu is shown as Trivikrama measuring the worlds. It is remembered for the meeting of Thirumangai Alvar and the Shaiva saint Sambandar.
Thamaraiyal Kelvan Temple, Thiruparthanpalli
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. Arjuna (Partha) is said to have worshipped here, giving the place its name.
Thanjai Mamani Kovil, Thanjavur
A group of three Vishnu shrines on the Vennar river at Thanjavur, counted together as one Divya Desam. Here Vishnu as Narasimha is said to have killed the demon Thanjan, who gave the city its name.
Thillai Nataraja Temple
The temple of Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, representing space (akasha). Its gopurams carry the 108 karanas, dance poses of the Natya Shastra. It also houses the Vaishnava Govindaraja shrine.
Thirunelli Maha Vishnu Temple
A forest temple of Vishnu in the Brahmagiri hills of Wayanad, about 900 m above sea level. Water reaches it through a stone aqueduct, and pilgrims come to perform rites for their ancestors in the Papanasini stream, which has earned it the name Kashi of the South.
Thiruvazhmarban Temple, Thiruppathisaram
A Divya Desam near Nagercoil in the Kerala style, connected with Nammalvar's mother, who was born here.
Thyagarajaswamy Temple, Tiruvarur
A vast temple complex in the Kaveri delta, dedicated to Shiva as Thyagaraja, the form of Shiva seated with Uma and Skanda. Its chariot is the largest in Tamil Nadu, and the town was the birthplace of all three great composers of Carnatic music.
Trimbakeshwar Temple
A Jyotirlinga temple near the source of the Godavari, whose linga has three small faces for Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The earlier temple was destroyed under Aurangzeb, and the present black-basalt temple was built by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao in the 18th century.
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
A Kanchipuram temple that holds four Divya Desams in one compound: Thiruooragam, Thiruneeragam, Thirukaragam and Thirukarvaanam. Its huge image of Trivikrama, measuring the worlds, is one of the largest Vishnu images in Tamil Nadu.
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Tirukkovilur
The temple of Vishnu as Trivikrama, measuring the worlds with his leg raised high. Here, tradition says, the first three Alvars met on a rainy night in a narrow passage and began the hymns of the Divya Prabandham.
Uthamar Kovil, Thirukarambanur
A rare temple where Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma are all worshipped with their consorts. Here Shiva is said to have been freed from the skull of Brahma that stuck to his hand.
Uyyavantha Perumal Temple, Thiruvithuvakodu
A Divya Desam on the Bharathapuzha in Palakkad district, sung by the Kerala king-saint Kulasekara Alvar. It holds five images of Vishnu said to have been installed by the Pandavas.
Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur
A walled temple complex of about nine acres on the hillock at the heart of Thrissur, with shrines to Shiva, Shankaranarayana and Rama. Its Shiva linga lies hidden under a mound of ghee built up over centuries of offerings, and the Thrissur Pooram is held around it. It is a protected national monument and won a UNESCO Asia-Pacific conservation award in 2015.
Vadivazhagiya Nambi Temple, Anbil
A Divya Desam on the Kollidam river near Lalgudi, where Vishnu is called 'the handsome lord'. The village is known for the 10th-century Anbil copper plates of the Chola king Sundara Chola.
Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
An ancient Shiva temple, worshipped as Dakshinamurthy in the morning, Kiratamurthy at noon and Shakti Panchakshari in the evening, with Kerala's only oval sanctum. The roads around it were the scene of the Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924-25, a landmark struggle against untouchability.
Vaikunta Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
An 8th-century Pallava temple built by Nandivarman II, with three shrines stacked one above another. Its cloister walls carry sculpted panels of Pallava royal history, a rare record in stone.
Vaikuntanatha Perumal Temple, Thirunangur
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. Vishnu here is seated as the lord of Vaikuntha, his heaven.
Vaikuntanathan Temple, Srivaikuntam
One of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples on the Thamirabarani river, linked with the Sun.
Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple, Thirukolur
One of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples on the Thamirabarani river, linked with Mars (Sevvai).
Valvil Ramar Temple, Thirupullabhoothangudi
A rare temple where Rama is shown reclining, after performing the funeral rites of the vulture Jatayu who died defending Sita.
Vamanamoorthy Temple, Thrikkakara
The Vamana temple near Kochi that is the traditional home of Onam. Here, it is said, Vishnu as the dwarf Vamana sent the beloved king Mahabali to the underworld, and Mahabali returns each year at Onam to visit his people.
Vanamamalai Perumal Temple, Nanguneri
A Divya Desam at Nanguneri where the god is anointed daily with oil that is stored in a well and taken by devotees as medicine. It is the seat of the Vanamamalai Mutt, one of the main Sri Vaishnava monasteries.
Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Thirumanikoodam
One of the eleven Divya Desams of Thirunangur near Sirkazhi. The Moon is also said to have worshipped here.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
The great Vishnu temple of Kanchipuram, where Vishnu is worshipped as Varadaraja, 'king of boon-givers'. An ancient image of fig wood, the Athi Varadar, lies under the temple tank and is brought out for worship only once in 40 years. With Srirangam and Tirumala it is one of the three holiest Sri Vaishnava shrines.
Veeraraghava Perumal Temple, Tiruvallur
The temple that gave Tiruvallur its name, where Vishnu asked his host 'Where shall I lie down?' (evvul?). Pilgrims come on new-moon days to bathe in its tank and pray for healing.
Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple, Thiruputkuzhi
A Divya Desam near Kanchipuram where Rama is said to have performed the funeral rites of the vulture Jatayu. The young Ramanuja studied here under his first teacher, Yadavaprakasa.
Vijayasana Perumal Temple, Thiruvaragunamangai
One of the Nava Tirupati, nine Vishnu temples on the Thamirabarani river, linked with the Moon.
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
A living Shiva temple in the middle of the ruined Vijayanagara capital. It kept its worship after the city was sacked in 1565 and is the focus of the Hampi UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
The largest temple at Pattadakal, built by Queen Lokamahadevi to celebrate her husband Vikramaditya II's victory over the Pallavas at Kanchipuram. It is a key monument of the UNESCO site where northern and southern temple styles stand side by side.
Vishalakshi Temple, Varanasi
The goddess temple at Mir Ghat in Varanasi, near Kashi Vishwanath, regarded as the Shakti Peetha where Sati's earring fell. The present temple, with a small Dravidian gateway and Tamil inscriptions, was completed in 1893 by the Nattukottai Nagarathars of Tamil Nadu.
Yathothkari Perumal Temple, Thiruvekka
A Kanchipuram Divya Desam where Vishnu is called 'the lord who did as he was told', after he rolled up his serpent bed and followed his devotee out of the city. Poigai Alvar, the first Alvar, is said to have been born in its tank.
Yoga Narasimha Temple, Sholinghur
A hilltop temple of Narasimha seated in yoga, reached by more than 1,300 steps. Tradition says that staying here for one ghatika, about 24 minutes, is enough to win liberation.