Saranatha-perumal (distinct shrine)
One of the 108 Divya Desams
The 108 Divya Desams are the sacred abodes of Vishnu sung by the 12 Alvar saint-poets. Compiled as the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Nathamuni (9th c. CE), this corpus of 4,000 pasurams defines the sacred geography of Tamil Vaishnavism and the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya.
This Temple
- Location: Thirucherai, Thanjavur (10.9197°N, 79.3531°E) Tamil Nadu
- Presiding deity: Saranatha-perumal (5 forms)
- Thayar (Goddess): Saranayaki
- Tirtham: Saranga-tirtham
- Vimana: Saranatha-vimana
- Mangalashasanam: Sung by Tirumangai-alvar, Kulasekhara-alvar
- Built: 9th c. CE
Sthala-Puranam
See main entry thirucherai-saranatha.
Worship & Festival
Daily 5-fold puja; Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Margazhi full moon) is the holiest day — the Paramapada-vasal gate is opened; passing through is said to grant moksha. Annual Brahmotsavam (10 days) features Vishnu on all his vahanas (Garuda, Hanumanta, Shesha, Hamsa, Simha, Ratha).
The Alvar Tradition
Each Divya Desam's sanctity rests on how many Alvars sang of it and how many pasurams — this is the mangalashasanam. Tamil Vaishnavism treats the 4,000 pasurams as Dravida Veda — equivalent to the Sanskrit Vedas.
Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations
- Sacred flowers
- tulasilotuschampaka
- Offerings
- tulasi garlandpuliyodaracurd riceakkaravadisal
- Sacred colours
- saffronyellowgreen (tulasi)
🪔 Worship Procedures
- Daily rites
- • vishvarupa• kala-santi• ucchikala• sayaraksha• ardha-jama
- Puja sequence
- tulasi
- milk abhisheka
- puliyodara
- deepa-arati
- tirtha + shathari
🛕 Principal Temples
- 📍 Thirucherai, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, IndiaFestivals: Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Dec–Jan) · Brahmotsavam (annual 10 days)Goddess: Saranayaki. Tirtham: Saranga-tirtham. Vimana: Saranatha-vimana. Sung by Tirumangai-alvar, Kulasekhara-alvar
🎊 Festivals
- Vaikuntha EkadashiMargazhi (Dec–Jan) · 1 day
- BrahmotsavamAnnual · 10 days
📜 Primary Scriptural Sources
- Nalayira Divya PrabandhamTamil hymns7th–9th c. CE
