Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, Thirupper Nagar,
Thanjavur
Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple or Thirupper Nagar
is a Hindu temple located in Koviladi, a village 10 miles (16 km)
from Tiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu, India. It is dedicated to Vishnu and is one of the Divya
Desams—the 108 temples of Vishnu
revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the 12 poet saints or Alwars. This temple is located along the banks of the Kollidam River and is one
of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams located on the banks of the Cauvery River.
The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity,
with contributions at different times from the Medieval
Cholas. The temple is built on
an elevated structure and is approached through a flight of 21 steps. The Rajagopuram (the main
gateway) has three tiers and the temple has a precinct around the sanctum.
Ranganatha is believed to have appeared for king
Upmananya and sage Parasara. The temple has four daily rituals; the first
begins at 8:30 a.m. and the last at 8 p.m. There are four annual festivals
on the temple's calendar; its chariot festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March–April) is the most
prominent of these. The temple is one among the Divya Desas of Lord Perumal and
also one of the five Pancharanga Sthalas.
It is situated in Tamil Nadu. Three miles away from Tiru
Anbil - Kollidam and along the south shore of Kollidam. This sthalam is on the
way to Kumbakonam - Tiruvaiyaru - Tirukkaattuppalli and Kallanai. Persons who
are going to this sthalam should ask for "Koviladi" to visit this
sthalam. When going in bus this sthalam is 15 Kms away from Laalkudi -
Boothaloor Railway station. No lodging facility. By travelling 15 miles from
Tanjore, we can reach this Sthalam.
The temple is situated in a tiny village of Koviladi on
the banks of river Kaveri. The Moolavar, in a reclining pose is known as
Appa Kudathan and here we find Markandeya muni near the Lord. This temple
is considered to be older than Srirangam temple. There is a huge silver pot,
the appa kudam (A sweet made of rice) near the Lord's right hand and
it is believed to be full of Appam as this Lord is fond of the same.
The Utsavar here is known as Azhagiya Manavalan,
Namperumal and Appala Rangan. He is flanked by Bhoodevi and Sree Devi Thayar. There
is also a Santhana Gopala here and the belief is that a childless couple
would be blessed with progeny if they offer their worship to the Lord here.
This temple is located on the northern side of River
Cauvery and 10 kms from Lalgudi and 20kms from Trichy. There is another
Divya Desam of Lord Vishnu Thiru Anbil Sri Vadivazhagiya Perumal Temple also
can be visited which is just 3kms away from here.
Legends & Etymology
According to the sthala Puranam, one of the the Pandiya Kings Uparisaravasar while
hunting a rogue elephant by
mistake killed a Brahmin who was performing tapas on the banks of the
river and got affected with Brahmmahathi
Dhosham (A Sin of Killing a Brahmin). Repenting for his act, the
king renounced his throne and wandered around, finally reaching Thirupper Nagar. One day Lord Siva
appeared before the king and asked him to worship Lord Vishnu here in this
Kshetram to get rid of his Brahmahatthi
Dhosham. There upon the king built a temple for Lord Vishnu and each day
after worship offered food
together with Appam and Payasam to the Brahmins. One fine day almighty
came to king’s place disguised as
a Brahmin and told the king that he is hungry.
The king was surprised but he requested the Brahmin to
wait till the other Brahmins also assembled. But the old Brahmin man conveyed
to the king that he is too hungry and cannot wait further. There upon, the king
agreed to serve him the food. But to the big surprise of the king, the Brahmin ate all the food, and wanted some more. The king requested
him to take rest and went in to make some more. At that time Markandeya Rishi, who was
informed by Siva to seek refuge in Lord Vishnu for longevity of life, was
directed to the King’s place to worship Lord Maha Vishnu taking rest as an old Brahmin man.
Accordingly Markandeya
Maharishi went to the king’s house where he saw the old Brahmin
lying on the couch holding an appak kudam in one hand. Markandeyar approached
the Brahmin and bowed 100 times.
Lord Vishnu regaining his original form lifted his hand from the appa
kudam and blessed Markandeyar with longevity of life. He also blessed the king
to get rid of his brahmahatthi Dhosham. Devotees can worship Moolavar in his Reclining Posture holding Appakkudam. Since Markandeya
got his longevity of life the temple tank is known as Mruthyu Vinasini Theertham. This
is the Only Divyadesam where Appam
is being offered as Naivedyam.
The central deity is Ranganatha, who is believed to have crushed Indira's (a celestial deity) pride. The place is called
"Koviladi" because it is located downstream of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy
temple, which is referred
as Kovil in Vaishnava tradition.
The temple is called as "Tiruppernagar"
because the region was called "Per Nagar" during Chola times. The azhwars refer the place
as "Tiruppernagar" in Nalayira Divya Prabandam, a Vaishnava
canon.
Nammazhwar attained Moksham in
Koviladi - Nammazhwar hymned his last Paasurams about Appala Rangan before attaining
Moksham. Koviladi Appakudathaan
Ranganathar Temple is one of the 7 temples referred by
Thirumazhisai Azhvaar of Lord Vishnu in Reclining Posture - Anantha Sayanam.
The
remaining temples are;
·
Srirangam Aranganathar
·
Thiru Kudanthai Sarangapani
·
Thiru Anbil Vadivazhagiya
Nambi
·
Thiruvallur
Bhakthavatsalan
·
Thiru Vekka Yathothkari
·
Thiru Paarkadal Ksheerapthinathan
Utsavar is also being worshipped in the same name
as Appala Rangan. Thayar is
being worshipped as Indhra Devi and Kamalavalli. Koviladi is sung
by Periyazhwar with 33 Pasurams, Thirumangai
Azhwar, Thirumazhisai
Azhwar and Nammazhwar, who attained
moksham here and his last pasurams were about Koviladi Appakkudathaan.
The Temple
The temple has inscriptions from the 18th year of the reign
of Aditya
Chola. The recorded
inscriptions in this temple are numbered 283, 300, 301 and 303 of 1901. As
per Nammazhwar, the temple was home to the Vedic scholars of the time. The inscriptions in the
temple indicate donations given towards the building of the main
hall. Koviladi was one of the focal points of fighting in the regions
surrounding Tiruchirapalli during the
Anglo-French war; there are no records on the contributions or damages caused
by this war.
The temple has a three-tiered Rajagopuram facing west and an elevated structure approached
through 21 steps. The Moolavar (presiding deity) of the temple, "Appala Rangan", is seen in Bhujangasayanm (a reclining
posture) facing west and is surrounded by Bhooma Devi and Kamala Valli Thaayar.
The central deity is depicted in a reclining posture called pujanga Sayanam,
and he is shown holding the holy pot in his right hand. The sanctum also
contains the image of Upayamanyu and Dhurvarsa. The central deity is called
Appala Ranganathar; he is located away from the Ranganathar in Srirangam. The temple has a prakaram (precinct) around
the sanctum.
The Vimana above the sanctum is of Indira Vimana
design. Lord Vazhikatti Vinanayaka (Guiding Vinayaka) graces the
place. The Utsava Vigraham has a balakrishnan and people pray here for
begetting children. Appam is prepared as a daily offering to the deity here.
There is a separate shrine for Kamalavalli Thaayar. The Thayar
is in an east facing sanctum which is in the first praharam itself. There are
also shrines for Ganesha, Nammazhwar, Ramanujar, Lakshmi Narayana and
Venugopalan. .
It is believed that Nammazhwar recited the last of his
paasurams here before departing the mortal world.
Tirumazhisai Alwar refers to seven shrines featuring
Vishnu in a reclining position - Anbil,
Thirukkudanthai, Thiruvekka, Thiruvallur, Tiruvarangam, Tiruppernagar and Tirupaarkadal
- in a Paasuram.
Mangalasasanam:
·
Periyalwar - 2 Paasurams
·
Thirumangai Alwar - 19
Paasurams
·
Thirumizhisai Alwar - 1
Paasuram.
·
Nammaalvar - 11 Paasurams
Presiding
Deity – Sri Appakudathaan/Sri Appala Ranganathar
with his consort Goddess Indra Devi/Kamalavalli Thayar
Pushkarani – Indra
Pushkarani/ Kollidam
Vimanam – Indra Vimanam
Sthalavruksham – Vilvam
Festivals & Religious Practises
The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) every day, including festivals. Like
other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four
times a day; Kalasanthi at 8:30 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m.,
Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m.
Each ritual comprises three steps; Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam
(food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for the
presiding deity. The worship involves religious instructions in the Vedas
(sacred text) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the
temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals.
The major festivals celebrated in the temple are 13 - day
Panguni Brahmotsavam, Kaisika Dwadasi in Karthigai (November - December),
Teertha Vari at the River Cauvery on the day of Maasi Magam (February - March)
& Nammazhwar Moksham during Era Pathu in Margazhi (December -
February). The chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the
temple and the surrounding villages.
It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni
(April–May); devotees pull a chariot round the streets of Koviladi. Verses from
the Nalayira Divya Prabandham are recited by a group of temple priests and music
made with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion
instrument) is played. Vaikunta
Ekadashi is celebrated during
December – January, Navarathri during September–October and butter pot breaking
ceremony (locally called uri adi) are the other festivals celebrated in
the temple.
Religious significance
Pancharanga Kshetrams (Also called Pancharangams, meaning the
"five Rangams or Ranganathas") is a group of five Hindu temples on
the banks of the Kaveri
River dedicated to
Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu. The five Pancharanga Kshetrams are: The Srirangapatnam called the Adi Ranga, the first temple on the
banks of the Kaveri River from the upstream side; the Srirangam (island in Tiruchirappalli) in Tamil
Nadu known as Adya Ranga (the last temple), Appalarangam
or Koviladi at Tiurppernagar in Tamilnadu, Parimala Ranganatha Perumal
Temple or Mayuram at
Indalur, Mayiladuthurai & Vatarangam at Sirkazhi. Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam is mentioned in place of Vatarangam in some
references. This is the only Divya Desam where Neyyaappam is offered to the Lord every night as neivedhyam.
There is a belief that childless couples upon praying and offering butter with
sugar to the Santhanagopalan deity at the temple are blessed with children.
The Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple is revered in
the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon of 33
verses by Periyalvar, Thirumangai
Azhwar, Thirumalisai Alvar and Nammazhwar. The temple is classified as a divyadesam; the 108 Vishnu temples that are revered in the
Vaishnava canon. The temple is counted as the sixth in line of divyadesams
located in Chola Nadu. The temple is also mentioned in the Sanskrit work Srirangaraja Sarithapanam. The temple is also
the Mukthi Stalam; the place where saint Periyalvar is believed to have
attained the feet of Vishnu.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 8.30 a.m. and 12.00 a.m. and
from 4.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m
Singers
The Lord of the temple is praised in the Mangalasasanam
hymns of Saints Periazhwar, Tirumazhisai Azhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar
Thirumangai
Azhvaar could not forget Appala Rangan:
Thirumangai Azhvaar was so enticed by this Lord that he
says he could not forget Lord Appakudathaan even when he went to Tiruvellarai
(another Divya Desam on the other side of Coleroon).
“துலக்கம் இல் சுடரை அவுணன் உடல் பிளக்கும் மைந்தனை பேரில் வணங்கிபோய்
அளப்பு இல் ஆர் அமுதை அமரர்க்கு அருள் விளக்கினை சென்று வெள்ளரயில் காண்டுமே”
Nammazhwar
and Koviladi Rangan:
Nammazhwar sang the last of his Paasurams about Appala
Rangan before attaining Moksham.
Thirumazhisai
Azhvaar and his reference to 7 temples:
Appakudathaan Ranganathar is one of the 7 temples
referred by Thirumazhisai Azhvaar of Lord Vishnu in reclining Posture - others
being Srirangam, Thiru Kudanthai (Kumbakonam), Anbil (Vadivazhagiya Nambi),
Thiru Vallur, Thiruvekka and Thiru Paarkadal.
Festivals
Car festival on Panguni Uthiram star day Theerthavari in
March-April; Vaikunta Ekadasi in December-January; Navarathri in
September-October and the butter pot breaking Utsav-Uri Adi- are the festivals
celebrated in the temple
Festivals – Panguni Uthiram Brahmotsavam is one of the
famous festivals here. The 10 day long festival also includes
Kalyana Mahotsavam on seventh day and car festival on the 10th day on
Uthiram day celebrated widely. Pakal Pathu and Rapathu Utsavam, Vaikunda
Ekadashi, Mohini Alankaram and procession of Lord on the day before Vaikunda
Ekadashi.
Prayers
Those seeking child boons, freedom from fear of death,
to develop qualities of humility, for relief from adverse planetary aspects,
sins and curses, facing endless problems, pray to Perumal for solutions.
Devotees perform Thirumanjanam to Perumal and offer vastras
Contact
Sri Appakudathaan Temple,
Koviladi (Thirupper)-613 105,
Thanjavur district
Phone: +91- 4362 - 281
488, 281 460, 281 304
Mobile: 99524 68956
Connectivity
Kallanai is 25 km from Tiruchi. Buses to Tirukattupalli
from Kallanai pass through Koviladi.
To reach Koviladi, one can take Tiruchi- Kallanai-
Tirukkaattuppalli route. It's located 25 Kms east of Trichy. Buses ply from
Tiruchi central and Chathiram bus stand with a frequency of 1/2 hr. Cabs charge
around Rs. 400 for the up and down trip from Trichy to Koviladi.
From Trichy take the road to Kallanai. On the Trichy
Chennai bypass there is a prominent board that leads to Kallanai. The road is
excellent. It is 9 kms to Kallanai and about 5 kms further you will reach
Tiruppernagar / Koviladi village where the temple is situated.
You can also reach the temple from Lalgudi and Anbil
side. But the road was horrible.
The temple is about 25 kms away from Thiruvaiyaru
towards Trichy after you cross Tirukattupalli from Tanjore side.
Nearest
Railway Station: Trichy.
Nearest Airport: Trichy.