Divya Desam – Lord Vishnu | One of the DivyaDesamVishnuSthalam |
Region | Chola Naadu |
Chola Naadu | 13th Vishnu Sthalam |
HISTORY:
Thiruvinnagar
Sri Oppiliappan Perumal Temple is one of 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu
located in Thirunageswaram which is 7km south of Kumbakonam in the district of
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. This temple is also known as Markandeya Kshetram/
Tulasivanam. Presiding deity – Moolavar Oppiliappan with his consort Bhoomidevi
Nachiyar. In this temple Sri Oppiliappan worshipped in his five forms as
Ponnappan, Maniappan, Muthappan, Vinnagarappan and Ennappan.
Bhoomadevi
is the daughter of Muni Markandeya. Very young in age. The Muni was in search
of a bridegroom for her. The Lord came to him in the guise of an aged man and
sought Bhoomadevi’s hands. Markandeya pointed out his age to him but the Lord
(old man) insisted his demand. The Rishi said that his daughter did not know
even how to cook and the salt may go more or less which may cause anger against
his daughter. Then the Rishi prayed to the Lord to relieve him from the
confusion. A voice from the sky came, “let your daughter cook without food and
that would suffice to me. Are you now ready to give your daughter to me”. The
Muni understood that the caller was none other than the Lord himself…
Markandeya gave his daughter Bhumadevi to the Lord in the wedding that
followed. This is the shrine, where the Lord began his life with Bhumadevi.
The
Sthalapuraanam of this temple is discussed in the Brahmanda Purana, one of the
eighteen Mahapuranas.
The
legend associated with the temple is as follows; Once Tulasi did penance and
asked of the Lord Vishnu, "You are bearing Lakshmi alone in your chest; I
request such special blessing and attention for me also" to which the Lord
replied "Lakshmi occupied my chest after severe penance and now she is
about to incarnate on the banks of River Kaveri in bhoologam (Earth) with the
name of Bhumi Devi. You may appear there prior to her as a tulasi plant and she
will incarnate in your lap (i.e. under your shadow). "I will accept
Lakshmi some days later" and since you were the support or
"aathaaram" for her incarnation you will be rewarded as being very
special to me in this temple; more than Lakshmi. One can attain the blessings
of Lakshmi only after severe penance, but one who worships me with your ithaz
(leaves), will get the effect of doing Ashvamedha yagam and those who dwell in
your vanam as their place of living will surely attain moksham. You will always
be the garland that is presented to me. I will accept the thulasi maalai first
and will marry Lakshmi only after that".
On
hearing this Tulasi appeared in Thiruvinnagaram. This is confirmed by the 53rd
paasuram of Sri Nammazhwaar in Thiruviruththam.
Later,
Mrikandu Maharishi's son, Markandeya worshipped the Lord Vishnu and desired for
the boon that Lakshmi should appear as his daughter and the Lord himself should
become his son-in-law. One day, when Markandeya was doing Theerththaadanam and
Shethra yaaththirai, after reaching Thiruvinnagaram, he felt that this was the
right place for getting his desire fulfilled. Markandeya then started a severe
penance for 1000 years seeking Lakshmi's blessings.
After
thousand years of severe penance, Lakshmi appeared as a baby under the already
incarnated tulasi plant (tulasi chedi). Markandeya felt the presence of Lakshmi
as the incarnation in the form of the baby and realised that a part of his
desire had been fulfilled. He took possession of the baby and raised her.
When this young girl reached adolescent age or paruvam, one day on the panguni
month of Sravana Nakshathram, the Lord appeared as an old man and asked for the
hand of Markandeya's daughter in marriage. Markandeya replied that, "You
are very ripe and old, my daughter is too young and she does not even know how
to cook with proper salt (lavanam) contents. You may get angry and curse her if
she does not cook properly. This is not fair. You are bodily old but mentally
very aware. You must forgive me and bless me but this will not work out."
To which the old man replied, "If your daughter must cook without salt,
then I will still take it as my best food, but I will not leave from here
without marrying her." Without knowing what to do, Markandeya sought the
help of the ever protecting Lord Vishnu. It was then that he realised using his
thapobalam, that the old man was none other than Lord Vishnu himself. When he
opened his eyes the Lord appeared in front of him with conch and chakram as in
Sri Vaikundam. Markandeya asked for forgiveness and offered his daughter's hand
in marriage and performed the kannikaathaanam of his daughter (Lakshmi) to the
Lord.
Since
the Lord had said "I will accept the food that is not salted as my best
and most desired food", this temple Neyvethiyam is always done without
salt in any food. No one should ever take anything that contains salt into this
temple and the puraanaas indicate that such persons who knowingly do so are
believed to suffer in hell.
The
name Oppiliappan is as result of this legend. However, Nammaazhwaar called him
"Thannoppaarillappan", that is he who has no comparison (i.e. there
is neither an equivalent nor superior to the Lord - mikaiyum oppum illaathavan)
There
is also a story behind the tank in this temple. Once a King had consummated
(punarchchi) with a daughter of a saint and hence the saint cursed him to
become a bird. The King lived as a bird and one night when there was a storm
and the branch of the tree the bird was sleeping on broke and fell into the water
of this tank. The bird which got dipped by this accident in the tank regained
its original form as the King and since then this is known as the only
theerththam that one can do theerth thaadanam even in the night. In general
"theerthAdanam " in the night is not recommended by our scriptures.
Since this tank has such a healing power in the day as well as night, it is
called "ahoraathra pushkarani".
Unique feature of the Temple:
There
is no separate shrine for Bhoomidevi here and as already stated, Bhoomidevi is
sitting with folded hands by the side of the Lord in the main sanctum
sanctorum. The utsava deity of Oppiliappan is never taken out of the temple,
without His consort, Bhoomidevi. The lord is also known as lord Venkateshwara’s
brother and so those devotees who are unable to visit tirupati to fulfill their
promises can do so here.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Perumal Oppiliappan |
|
Ambal |
Sri Bhoomi Devi |
|
Theertham |
Agorathra Theertham |
BELIEF:
All food offerings at the temple are strictly and completely saltless. Salt or any food item containing salt is not allowed in the temple beyond Garuda’s Sannidhi. It is customary to offer a mixture of salt and pepper to the footprints in front of the Garuda and by doing this it is believed that such worshippers get releif from all kinds of skin ailments. It is a sin to carry salt inside the temple. Hence the Lord is also called as ‘Lavana Varjita Venkatesa’ i.e. Venkatesa who avoids salt.
Vishnu
Vimaanam - Sudhanandha Vimaanam. It is named as Suddhananda, meaning "pure
happiness" . Devotees who worship this vimana(tower) derive immence and
unalloyed happiness. Note that the vimana in Tirumala Tirupati is named as
Ananda vimana, whereas here it is Suddhananda Vimana.
Pujas
and festivals are conducted in the temple according to Vaikhanasa Agama
sastras. Pujas are performed six times daily, starting with Viswarupa Darsanam
in the morning when recitation of Suprabhatam, Prapatti and Mangalam specially
composed in praise of this deity takes place.
Tiruppavai
recitation and Vedaparayanam then follow, concluding with Sathumurai. Then the
principal Puja takes place, when offerings are made at all other shrines also.
Then at noon another Puja is performed. Again the evening Puja is held, when
recitation of Divya Prabandha and Veda Parayana takes place, followed by
Sathumurai. Then about 8.00p.m. Principal night Puja is performed when
offerings are made at all other shrines also. Then the last Puja for the day is
performed about 9 p.m., following which the temple is closed for the day.
HOW
TO REACH:
The
temple is situated about 7kms south of Kumbakonam in tanjore district of
Tamilnadu. It is located at Thirunageshwaram post. Buses, autos and private vehicles
are available to reach Oppiliappan temple from kumbakonam. Staying facilities
are also available near the temple as well at kumbakonam. Number of town buses
ply frequently between Kumbakonam and this place and Naganatha Swamy Temple
(Rahu Sthalam) is also closeby.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Venkatachalapathi
Swami Temple,
Oppiliappan Koil,
Tirunageswaram,
Kumbakonam,
Tamil Nadu – 612004.
LOCATION:
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