SriVaishnavam - The Philosophy !
108 Dhivya Desam - Thiruvallikkeni

Location : Chennai (Triplicane)
Perumaal : Venkatakrishnaswamy, Parthasarathy, Ranganathar (Perumaal),
Thaayaar : Vedavalli,
Theertham : Allikkeni
Paasuram : ThirumangaiAzhwar, PeyAzhwar, ThirumazhisaiAzhwar
Vimaanam : Ananda Vimanam
Travel Base : Chennai

Description: This Dhivyadesam is located in Thirucherai, near 4km north Kodavasal and 15 km south of Kumbhakonam. In this town, is also the Thirucherai Shivastalam, enshrining Gnana Parameswarar (Senneriappar), glorified by the Thevaram hymns of Sambandhar and Appar.

Deities: The Moolavar here is Saranathan, in a standing posture facing East; Thaayaar is known by the name Saranayaki.

Legend: Perumaal here is believed to have been worshipped by Markandeya and Kaveriamman. At the Thiruchcherai Shivastalam, it is believed that Shiva was worshipped by Kaveri and Markandeya. Legend also has it that during the time of the great deluge, a pot fashioned out of clay, was used to rescue and preserve the Vedas. It is believed that none of the pots made by Bhrama would last, and that he was directed by Vishnu to proceed to Thirucherai (Saara Kshetram) and make a pot out of the clay on the banks of the Kaveri.

This temple with 2 prakarams has a 90 feet high Rajagopuram. There is a shrine to Yoga Narasimhar here. Shrines to Lakshmi are in the Mahamandapam. There are also shrines to Rajagopala with his consorts and to Thiruvenkatamudaiyaan and the Azhwars.Legend  has it that this temple was built with a part of the granite meant for building the Rajagopala temple at Manargudi, and hence the shrine to Rajagopala here. There are shrines to Kaveriamman and Anjaneyar near the temple tank.

Festivals: Six worship services are offered each day here. The grand chariot festival happens on Thaippoosam, in the Tamil month of Thai, when Saranathan is taken in procession in a chariot with Sree Devi, Bhu Devi, Neelaa Devi, Mahalakshmi and Saranayaki.