UPPILIAPPANTEMPLE, THIRUNAGESWARAM, THANJAVUR DISTRICT-TAMILNADU Introduction
Located in the town of Thirunageswaram, Uppiliappan Temple is a revered Hindu temple.Also known as Thiruvinnagar of Venkatachalapathy Temple, the temple enshrinesLord Vishnu. The temple is constructedin the Dravidian style of architecture. Glorified in the popular Tamil work- Divya Prabandha, theshrine is counted as the 60th amidst the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to LordVishnu. Vishnu is worshipped as Lord Uppiliappan and his spouseLakshmi is worshipped as Bhumi Devi. The temple is one of the Pancha Kshethram,where Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi- the daughter of the sage Markandeya. The construction of the temple is believed to have beenstarted during the reign of the Medieval Cholas in the 8th century AD and was completed in the times ofThanjavur Nayaks. The five-tiered gopuram is constructed within agranite wall and has two inscriptions dating from the Chola period. Administered andmaintained by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government ofTamil Nadu, Uppiliappan Temple observed six daily rituals and three annualfestivals. Panchguni Festival (also known as Chariot Festival) iscelebrated during March- April and thousands of pilgrims gather at the spot tobe a part of the festivities. Legend of UppiliappanTemple The legend of the temple is mentioned in the Hindu scripture Brahmanda Purana. Theoldest legend associated with the temple goes to say that once Tulsi (theplant) prayed to attain closeness to Lord Vishnu. Vishnu gave the plant a boonthat Goddess Lakshmi will appear in its lap herself. Tulsi then, grew at the place where the temple stands now.Some years later, Maharishi Markandeya worshipped to Lord Vishnu to let GoddessLakshmi be born as his daughter and that Lord Vishnu should then marry her andbecome his son-in-law. When Markandeya reached the site of the temple, he got anintuition and started a severe penance that lasted for several thousands ofyears. Finally, Lakshmiappeared as a baby under the Tulsi plant and Markandeya realised that his wishhas been fulfilled. The Maharishi nurtured the child and reached theage of adolescence; when Vishnu appeared before him in disguise and asked forhis daughter’s hand in marriage. To which Markandeya replied that hisdaughter is too young to decide the content of salt in food let alone beingmarried. Vishnu not only accepted his daughter’s flaw but also said that thefood she cooks will be of best quality with or withoutsalt. The Maharishi got puzzled and prayed to Lord Vishnu to helphim out. Then, Lord Vishnuthen appeared in his original form with a conch and chakram and married GoddessLakshmi. The temple stands at the same spot. And as per this legend, the prasad offered in the temple-Neyvethiyam, is prepared withoutany salt in it tothis day. History The actual history of the temple cannot be traced with thehelp of the inscriptions. However, the inscriptions and the records of giftsmentioned on the walls and art of the temple suggest the creation of the templeto be from the MedievalCholas Period. The epitaphs and inscriptions are majorly from thereign of Rajendra Chola and Rajaraja Rajakkesarivarman I. The later kings modified the shrine. The original idol of thepresiding deity was changedfrom wood to stone. A lot of extensions and additions were made byGovinda Dikshitar and the Nayak rulers. Architecture ofUppiliappan Temple The major attraction of the temple is the luxuriantfive-tiered gopuram adorning the entrance. Besides, it is needless to mentionthat the rich temple is generously endowed and bedecked with precious jewelleryand valuable stones. Theshrine above the sanctum sanctorum is plated in gold as are theSahasradhari plate and pot used to perform ablution- Thirumanjanam. The idol ofHanuman is decorated with a diamond crown, golden sword and armour. A marble hall is located on the western side in the innerprecinct acts as the resting hall for the festival deities during festivals. Dolotsavam festival is celebrated in another marble hall inthe northern side of the temple. Adjoining the hall, there is a shrine wherethe images of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman are housed. The sacred bed chambercalled Tiruppalliarai, covered full of mirrors is located next to it. A Yagasala for performing religious rituals is present in the temple. The temple hasa hall for housing festival vehicles, a library, and a hall with carved pillarson the banks of the temple tank, where the annual float-festival is celebrated. The Kodimandapa, located to the south of the Garuda shrine,is used for several day-to-day religious practices. The annual Kalyana Utsavamfestival is performed in the hall amidst music and dance programmes. Deities The main shrine houses presiding deity of Uppiliappan. The mainshrine of the temple houses the image of Oppiliappan in standing posture and italso houses the images of Bhoomidevi and sage Markendeya. The vimana is calledSuddhananda, meaning "pure happiness". The temple complex also houses smaller shrines of Anjaneya, Desika, Ramanuja, Alwar,Sri Rama, Maniappan, Ennappan and also Garuda. The Desika shrine is located near the sancturn sanctorum. Onthe sides of the first precinct, the shrine of Anjaneya is located on thesouthern, and Alvars' and Rama's on the northern and Ramanuja's on the easternsides. The shrine for Maniappan is located in the second precinct in thesouthern side, while the shrines of Ennappan and the holy birth spot of Bhoomideviare located in the northern side. Garuda's shrine is located right opposite thesanctum and right behind the temple mast. The shrine of dancing Krishna islocated on the southern side of the main entranceThe complex also houses twomarriage halls, a guest house with five rooms, ne chamber each for the big andsmall chariot and two spare halls. A garden in the premises grows Tulsi plants. Poojas The temple follows Vaigasana Agama and follows Vadagalai practices.During the Viswaroopa Seva, the first worship, Suprapada Prabarthi Mangalam, averse exclusively dedicated to Oppiliappan is relayed. in all shrines.Uchikalam is the last worship during the day time and happens at noon. Duringthe evening, mutharkalam is the first worship sequence, recitals in Veda andNithsuasandamam. Arthajamam is the last puja of the day. Festivals at Uppiliappan Temple The Chariot festival is the most important festival ofthe temple celebrated for nine days during the Tamil month of Panguni (March -April). Along with the chants of the mantras and singing of hymns, the devoteesand the priests carry thedeities in the chariot to the neighbouring streets of the city. Thefestival is celebrated with much zeal and gusto and thousands of pilgrimsthrong the holy premises to be a part of the festivities. History ofUppiliappan Temple Devotees from various places pull the chariot round thestreets of temple. Verses from the 'Naalayira Divya Prabandham' are recited bya group of temple priests amidst music with Nagaswaram (pipe instrument) andTavil (percussion instrument). Theprocessional idols of Oppiliappan and Bhudevi are brought to the templecar early in the morning amidst Vedic chantings. The temple celebratessix other festivals: VasantaUtsavam (spring festival) for 6 days in the temple garden during Vaikasi(May–June), Pavitrotsavam(purifying festival) for 5 days during Avani (Aug – Sep), Brahmotsavam for nine days ofPurattasi (Sept – Oct), KalyanaUtsavam (holy marriage of god and goddess) for 12 days commencing fromSravanam during Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Adhyayana Utsavam (ten-day-and-ten-night festival) during Margali(Dec–Jan) and float festivalfor 5 days during Thai(Jan – Feb). Ramanavami, the festival associated with Rama, an avatar ofVishnu. The event is celebrated for ten days with music and dance performanceand on the concluding day, kanakabhishekam(ablution with gold for the festival image) and Rama Pattabhishekam. Sravan Deepam is a festivalcelebrated every month in the temple on the day of Tamil star of Thiruvonam anddevotees observe fast called Sravana Vratham that day by consumingonly unsalted food. Tonsure ceremony for gettingchildren shaved for the first time to promote proper growth and ear piercing isa very common practise followed in the temple. It is believed that the place isas sacred as Vaikunta and as inVaikunta, the river Vraja there flows as river Nattaru and hence considered sacred.The temple is counted asone of the temples built on the banks of River Kaveri. Temple tank There is also a story behind the tank in this temple. Once aKing had consummated with the daughter of a saint and hence the saint cursed him to become a bird. The king lived as a birdand one night when there was a storm, the branch of the tree the bird wassleeping on broke and fell into the water of this tank. The bird regained itsoriginal form as the King and since then this is known as the only theerththam that one can dotheerth thaadanam even in the night. Since this tank has such healing power in the day as well asnight, it is called "AhoraathraPushkarani” Specialities The Sahasradhari plate and pot (kudam) are made of gold forperforming Thirumanjanam (ablution) to the presiding deity. The temple alsomaintains golden sword, diamond crown and gold arm guard for the image ofHanuman. The shrine overthe sanctum is plated with gold The temple is considered the southern counterpart ofThirupathi temple and hence devotees perform their marriages and vows as theydo in Thirupathi. Outside the maincomplex, the temple maintains two marriage halls, a rest house containing fiverooms, two other halls, a housing each for the small chariot and the bigchariot. There is a garden around the third precinct of the temple and a muchbigger garden about 0.5 km to the south of the temple, where Tulasi and flowersare grown. A hall in thegarden is used for resting deities during the Vasantotsavam festival celebratedfor six days in May–June every year Literary mention Oppiliappan is consideredthe elder brother of the presiding deity of Tirupathi Venkateshwara Temple. The temple is revered in NaalayiraDivya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Periyalvar,Thirumangai Alvar and Nammalvar. The Alvars address the presiding deity byvarious names like Oppiliappan, Vinnagarappan and Venkatachalapathy and hisconsort Bhudevi as Bhoomidevi Nachiar and Dharanadevi. Thirumangai Alvar refersto Oppiliappan as Thiruvinnagar Mevvane in his verses in Peria Tirumoli whileNammalvar called him "Thannoppaarillappan", that is he who has nocomparison, meaning there is neither an equivalent nor superior to Vishnu. Hementions "the Lord who by his powers affords solace for pining hearts andrenders them fit for service". The temple is one of the most visited inthe district. Temple timings The Oppiliappan Temple in Kumbakonam is open from 6:00 AM to1:00 PM and again from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. There is no entry fee to visit thetemple. Location Uppiliappan Temple is located in Thanjavur near the city ofKumbakonam at Thirunageswaram.It can be reached easily in hired taxi- cabs, autos or state-run buses.Alternatively, you can drive down to the spot. Administration The temple is maintained and administered by the HinduReligious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Address: 12, Oppiliyappan koil N St, Thirunageswaram, Tamil Nadu612204, Phone: 0435 246 3385 Compiled and posted by R.Gopalakrishnan 2-11-2025 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/302027868.1976343.1762056451782%40mail.yahoo.com.
