Divya Desam

By comparison, the Paadal Petra Sthalam are the 276 Shiva temples glorified in the works of the Shaiva Nayanars.

Tamil Nadu is home to the most number of Divya Desams with 25 of them being located in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

The Divya Desams are classified into six regions: The word Alvar in Tamil, means "the immersed", referring to their deep devotion of God.

Alvars are considered to be the twelve poet-saints of Vishnu, who were instrumental in popularising Vaishnavism during the 5th-8th centuries CE.

The Divya Suri Saritra by Garuda-Vahana Pandita (11th century CE), Guruparamparaprabhavam by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jeeyar, Periya tiru mudi adaivu by Anbillai Kandadiappan, Yatindra Pranava Prabavam by Pillai Lokam Jeeyar, commentaries on the Naalayira Divya Prabandam, Guru Parampara (lineage of Gurus) texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the Alvars and their works.

The Ranganathaswamy Temple, located in Srirangam, is the first of the Divya Desams.
Muktinath Temple, Nepal is the only Divya Desam outside India
Vishnu and Lakshmi, the revered divine couple venerated in most Divya Desams
Shri Narsimmha Mandir
Shri Narsimmha Mandir