Divya Desam – Lord Vishnu | One of the Divya Desam Vishnu Sthalam |
Region | Chola Naadu |
Chola Naadu | 6th Vishnu Sthalam |
HISTORY:
The
appakudathan temple is one of the 5 rangams along the Cauvery, the others being
Srirangapatna, Srirangam, Kumbakonam sarangapani temple and Mayiladurai
Indaloor temple. This temple is called the Madhya rangam. This is one of the
108 Divya desams and is also called as Thirupernagar. The Lord is known as
Appalarenganathar and Thayar is Kamalavalli. The perumal is in a lying posture
on adiseshan and with the left hand bless Indra and chandra and right hand
blesses Markendeya Maharishi. A Saligrama garland adorns him. Bhoomadevi is
seated at his feet. A little distance away from the right hand is the
appakudam, which is fairly large. The Neivedyam of Appam is offered from this
kudam every evening. In the garbha graha, there is santhanagopalan.
Koviladi
- Appala Rangam is one among the Pancha Ranga sthala occupies the second place.
Other four are Adhirangam in Sriranga Pattinam in Mysore, Madhya Rangam in Sri
Rangam, Chaturtha Rangam in Kumbakonam and Pancha Rangam in
Indalur-Mayiladuthurai, It may be noted that Srirangam comes third after
Koviladi.
The
Emperuman here in this sthalam says that he will not go out from the hearts of
his devotees and as well as from this sthalam. ("Peyarthal means getting
out"). So this sthalam is called as "Thirupper Nagar".
Lord
Shiva gave Thirupparkadal as milk, when Rishi Ubamanyu was in his childhood
crying due to hunger. This is explained in "Siva Puranam".
Thirupparkadal
is the place that belongs to Sri Vishnu. But, When Lord Shiva is giving
dharshan to his devotee Rishi Ubamanyu, Sri Vishnu is helping him out to give
the complete fulfilment of dharshan of Lord Shiva.
To
explain more about this, the position of Shri Vishnu in this temple clearly
explains how he helped out Lord Shiva. He is giving seva as Ranganathan (In
sleeping position) and his right hand is in a position as giving to Rishi
Ubamanyu as "Aranga Varadhan" in Kidantha Thirukkolam.
Appam, which is one of the delicious food item done in interior parts of Tamil
Nadu. It will be very sweetful if it is taken along with Milk. Sriman Narayanan
is giving Appam which is kept inside kudam (A small vessel) which is full of
Milk. He is giving this Appam to Ubamanyu Rishi by hugging him along his right
hand.
Once
when a King called Ubharisaravasu was in penance on Lord Vishnu in a Purasai
Forest, Saint Dhurvaasar came by that side. Since Ubharisaravasu was in penance
he had not noticed the coming of Saint. Dhurvaasar got angry and cursed him to
loose all his strength and power. Ubharisaravasu immediately came to know about
it and begged Dhurvaasar to pardon him. Saint Dhurvaasar asked King
Ubharisaravasu to go to Palasavana Kshethram near Cauvery River and perform
Annadhaanam to 1 Lakh peoples. King immediately left to that place with a
battalion of Cook. The population of that place was only few hundreds, so he
thought of distributing food to whoever comes to that village. Every Day he was
able provide to food for people in thousands. The king was also happy. One Day
early morning, an old man came to king and told him that he is very hungry. The
king performed his poojas very fast and served food to the old man. The old man
ate the complete food prepared for thousands of people and still felt hungry.
The king requested the old man to wait for some time to cook again and asked
the old man whether he required any snacks in the meantime. The old man asked
king to get him Appam in a pot. The Appam was made very fast and king brought
it a pot full and gave it to the old man. While eating the Appam old man became
Lord Vishnu and removed the curse of king given by Saint Dhurvaasar and laid
down there with the pot full of Appam. So the Lord here was called as
"Appakkudathaan” and "Appala Ranganathan".
The Good advice given by Sriman Narayanan in this shetram is "There is
only one God". So don’t fight for it and avoid Racism.
Since,
Lord Emperuman gave Appam to Ubamanyu, the prasadham here for the lord is Appam
for evening pooja for Him.
The
activity of Sriman Narayanan, who gave the appam was seen in Gnyna Dhirusti of
nammalwar who is Thirukkurugoor Biran Sadagopan has compared Thirumaliruncholai
and Thiruppernagar and sung 11 paasurams in Thiruvaaimozhi.
In that paasurams, he is explaining how Vishnu is getting out of
Thirumaaliruncholai and the way he gives seva to all the people in
Thiruppernagar. He has lot of appams in his stomach and gives to all the
persons, who are suffering from hunger. Because of this, he doesn't want to get
out of Thiruppernagar and sung as "Aara Vayitrinai Adangap Pidithen".
Also, from this shtalam only, Nammalwar started his way to reach Paramapadham. Thiruvarangam
is popularly called as "Periya Kovil". To explain the speciality of
Srirangam, here Sriman Narayanan has given the seva as
"Appakkundathan". Since, the Sthalam is situated on Cauvery banks and
the Lord is in sleeping posture, this place is called as "Kovil Adi".
To memorise the situation of Srirangam, the theertham here is Kollidam.
The
Moolavar of this Sthalam is Appakkudathaan. He is also called as "Appalaa
Ranganathan". Moolavar in Kidantha Kolam (sleeping posture) and in
Bhujanga sayanam facing west direction.Many have wrong impression that Perumal
is holding the Appakkudam, whereby the fact is that there is at least 1-1.5feet
between the Appakkudam and Perumal’s hand.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Appakudathan |
|
Ambal |
Sri Indiradevi, Sri Kamalavalli |
|
Theertham |
Indira Pushkarini Theertham |
BELIEF:
Those
seeking child boon, 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.
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) and 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 the temple chariot housing the festival
deity, 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 during December–January, Navarathri during
September–October and butter pot breaking ceremony (locally called uri
adi) are the other festivals celebrated in the temple.
HOW
TO REACH:
Koviladi
is in the southern bank of Kollidam and can be reached from Kallanai dam easily
and can also be reached from Anbil via Sengariyur and Poondi. For both
Tiruchirapalli should be the main starting point. If one goes by a four
wheeler, without break at Kallanai, cross the road over the dam and take the
route to Koviladi. Only heavy vehicles cannot pass through this road over the
dam. Those who take the bus should get down at Kallanai, cross the road over
the dam and on reaching the other side, proceed on the road behind the Karikal
cholan statue, which is the road leading to Koviladi. The bus stand is nearby
and buses from Kallanai to Thirukattupalli via Koviladi, Poondi is to be taken
and it is only 10 minutes drive from kallanai. For those, going via Anbil, the
route is Lalgudi, Anbil, Sengariyur and Poondi.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Appakudathan
Temple,
Koviladi,
Tirupair,
Tamil Nadu - 613 105.
LOCATION:
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