108 Divyadesams - Divyadesam means a group of 108 Lord Maha Vishnu Temples on which all the 11 Azhwars except Madhurakavi Alwar, the Incarnations of the Sreeman Narayanan, worshipped and praised the Presiding Deity with their Hymns in Tamil called "Pasurams".

This traditional form of worshipping Perumal and Thayar with the Hymns is known as "Mangalasasanam". These Hymns are later compiled by the great Sree Vaishna Acharya Saint Naadha Munigal whcih is collectively praised as "Nalayira Divya Prabandham". These verses are in Simple Tamil language explaining the extracts of Vedas, Upanishadhs, Bramma Sutra etc …

Among the 12 Alwars Only the 11 Alwars except Mathurakavi Azhwa, praised the Almighty and the Goddess with their Hymns in various divyadesams, Where as Mathurakavi Alwar made all his mangalasasnams, only on his Guru Nammalwar and never sung any hymns on the Almighty and Thayar in any of the 108 Divyadesams. Srirangam Divyadesam, the First and Foremost Divyadesam and the One and Only on which all the 11 Alwars praised the Almighty with their 247 Mangalasasanams.

Tirumala Tirupati Divyadesam in Andrapradesh is the Second Divyadesam sung by 9 Azhwars and Thirukkudanthai Divyadesam is the third, and was Hymned by 7 Azhwars. Among the 108 Divyadesams, 105 are in India, 1 in Nepal and the reaming 2 divyadesams are in the celestial world. Among the 105 Divyadesams, 9 Vada Nadu Divyadesams are in North India and the remaining 97 Divyadesams are in South India that too major of 84 Divyadesams are located in Tamilnadu, 2 Divyadesams are in Andrapradesh ( Tirumala Tirupati and Ahobilam ) and 11 Divyadesams are in Kerala.

They are grouped as Chozhanadu Divyadesams 40 ( In and around Trichy and Kumbakonam ), Nadunadu Divyadesams 2 ( In Cuddalore & Villuppuram ), Pandiyanadu Divyadesams 18 ( In and around Madurai and Tirunelveli ), Thondainadu Divyadesams 22 ( In and Around Kanchipuram and Chennai ) and Malainadu Divyadesams 13 ( Nagercoil and Kerala ). Alwars - The Incarnations of Lord Maha Vishnu.

Azhwars - The Incarnations of Lord maha Vishnu ( Tha Hamsams )

Azhwars are worshipped as the Hamsams of Lord Maha Vishnu. Some evidences like the referances they made, words and the vocubulary they used in their pasurams, which are worshipped as "Nalayira Divya Prabandham" advocate that they lived in period between 6th & 9th centuries AD. Poigai Alwar is the Hamsam of Panchajanyam, the Conch of the Almighty. Boothathalwar is the Hamsam of Kaumathagi, the Mace. Peyalwar is the Hamsam of Nandhakam, the Sword of the Almighty. These three Alwars are being collectively worshipped as “Muthal Alwarkal".

Thirumazhisai Alwar is the Hamsam of Sudharshana Chakra. Nammalwar is the Hamsam of Senai Mudhalvar. Madhurakvi Alwar is the Hamsam of Vainatheya. Kulasekara Alwar is the Hamsam of Kausthubam, one of the Ornaments of Almighty. Periyalwar is the Hamsam of Periya Thiruvadi Garudan. Sree Andal is the Hamsam of Goddess Bhoomi Devi. Thondaradipodi Alwar is the Hamsam of Vanamalai, the Crown of Lord Maha Vishnu. Thiruppan Alwar is the Hamsam of Sreevalsam, a Mole on Lord Maha Vishnu's Chest. Thirumangai Alwar is the Hamsam of Sarngam, the Bow of Lord Maha Vishnu.

Nadhamunigal and the Compilation of "Nalayira Divyaprabandham" - A Tamil Vedha for Sree Vaishnavites

A Tamil Veda for Sri Vaishnavites - Sri Vaishnavites worship "Nalaayira Divyaprabandham" as holy as Vedas. They call it as Tamil Veda. Over a period time all the hymns sung by all the Azhwars were lost. One fine day, when Saint Nadhamunigal were worshipping the Almighty at Thirukkudanthai Divyadesam - Sarangapani Temple, the third Divyadesams among the 108 in Kumbakonam, he had a chance to hear some of the pasurams starting with “Aaraa Amudhe“ by some devotees .

He was much attracted by those pasurams and asked that devotee abot the rest of hymns. But unfortunately he had no idea about and was knowing only few of the pasurams, that too not even in order. Nadhamunigal had a thrust to collect all those hymns. He started searching and finally he came to know that some of the descendants of Madhurakvi Alwar were having some hymns. He went all the way to Thirukkolur and collected those hymns starting with “Kanninum Sirithambu”.

At that time Nammalwar appeared before Nadhamuni. Tested him vigorously. Finally Alwar got pleased about his devotion and gave him all the pasurams, which were compiled as "Nalayira Divyap Pabandham, Tamil Veda for Sree Vaishnavites ", in which Alwars praised, described and worshipped Perumal as a baby, friend, servant and even as a consort.