Oppiliappan Temple / Sri Oppiliappa Perumal Temple / Thiruvinnagar / Arulmigu Venkatachalapathy Thirukoil / உப்பிலியப்பன் கோயில், திருநாகேஸ்வரம் / Thirunageswaram, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Oppiliappan Perumal Temple also called Thiruvinnagar at Thirunageswaram is the 15th Divya Desam of 108 Diva Desams and 13^th Divya Desam of Chozha Nadu. Also, this is one of the Pancha kshetras, where Maha Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi. The 5 kshetras are, Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam, Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Salem, Nachiyar Koil, and Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. This place was called Agasa Nagaram, Vaikunta Nagaram, Thiruvinnagar, Oppiliappan Sannidhi, and Uppiliappan Sannidhi during ancient times. Moolavar is also called Venkatachalapathy, Thiruvinnagarappan, Thanoppiliappan, Uppiliappan Srinivasan, etc.

Mangalasasanam was done by Peyalwar ( 2342 & 2343 ), Thirumangai Alwar (1448-77, 1855, 2080, 2673 (72), 2674 (113) and Nammalwar (3365-77 ). Nammazhwar mentions the Moolavar of this temple as Ponnappan, Maniappan, Muttappan, Ennappan, and Tiruvinnagarappan. 

2342

பண்டெல்லாம் வேங்கடம் பாற்கடல் வைகுந்தம்,

கொண்டங் குறைவார்க்குக் கோயில்போல், - வண்டு

வளங்கிளரும் நீள்சோலை வண்பூங் கடிகை,

 இளங்குமரன் றன்விண் ணகர்.

….. பேயாழ்வார்

1477

தாரார் மலர்க்கமலத் தடஞ்சூழ்ந்த தண்புறவில்,

சீரார் நெடுமறுகில் திருவிண் ணகரானை

காரார் புயல்தடக்கைக் கலிய னொலிமாலை,

ஆரா ரிவைவல்லார் அவர்க்கல்லல் நில்லாவே

…… திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்

3365

நல்குரவும் செல்வும் நரகும் சுவர்க்கமுமாய்,

வெல்பகையும் நட்பும் விடமும் அமுதமுமாய்,

பல்வகையும் பரந்தபெரு மானென்னை யாள்வானை,

செல்வம்மல்கு குடித்திரு விண்ணகர்க் கண்டேனே. 

…… நம்மாழ்வார்

Moolavar  : Sri Oppiliappa Perumal / Sri Uppiliappan

Thayar     : Sri Bhumi Devi / Bhoomidevi Thayar

Utsavar    : Than Oppiliappan

Some of the salient features of this temple are ….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, dwajasthambam, and Garudan are after the Rajagopuram under a mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of maha mandapam.

Moolavar is in standing posture with shankha and chakra in the upper hands and lower right hand is in varada hastam and the left hand is in kadi hastam, similar to Tirupati Sri Venkatesa Perumal. Sridevi and Bhudevi are in the sanctum sanctorum. No images are in the kostas.

Desikar is in the ardha mandapam. Maha Vishnu’s various avatars, Alwars, sthala purana, and Purana are in the form of paintings around the praharam wall.

In praharam, Sri Maniappan Sannidhi, Ennappan Sannidhi, Thulabaram, Ramar with Sita and Lakshmana, Sannidhi, Anjaneyar, Ramanuja, Alwars, Garudan Sannidhi, Krishna, and Ramanuja.

Vahanas Garudan, Hanuman, Kuthirai / Horse Vahana, Hamsa Vahana, Kamala Vahana, Sesha vahana, and Elephant Vahana are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padma bandha adhistanam on an upana. The adhistanam is with padma jagathy, kadaka / Silambu kumudam, pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and Pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone from upanam to prastaram. A two-tier brick vimanam is above the prastaram. Maha Vishnu’s various forms are on the tala and greeva koshtam. The Sigaram is of vesara style. The Vimanam is called as Sudhdhanandha Vimanam (Vishnu Vimanam.)

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to the 08^th Century maybe be Pallava period and the same was reconstructed during the Chozha period. The temple also received contributions from Vijayanagaras, Thanjavur Nayakas, and Marathas. Two Chozha period inscriptions are recorded from this temple.

The inscriptions recorded in ARE 211 & 218 of 1911 are actually inscribed at Thirunageswaram Shiva Temple and mention this Maha Vishnu Temple- Thiruvinnagaram. 

The inscription in ARE 211 of 1911 on the northern wall of the Sanctum Sanctorum belongs to the Chozha King Parakesarivarman, Rajendra Chozha-I ( 1042 – 44 CE ) records the  gift of gold jewel studded with gems and pearls to the temple.   

The second inscription in ARE 218 of 1911, belongs to Chola king Rajaraja Rajakesari varman- I’s 14^th reign year, on the Sanctum sanctorum’s southern wall. The inscription records a gift of land to the temple.

The tradition in many ancient temples in Tamil Nadu including this one is that the original image of the presiding deity was made of wood and replaced later with stone. Similarly, the moolavar was also replaced.

There were a lot of additions like mandapas, built in the temple by Govinda Dikshitar, the minister of successive Nayak rulers, Achuthappa Nayak (1560–1614 ) and Raghunatha Nayak (1600–34).

This Arulmigu Venkatachalapathy Thirukoil also called Oppiliappan Koil maha Samprokshanam was performed on 8^th February 2009 at a cost of Rs.12 Crores ( 12 Crores .. ?).

Kodimara Yantra Prathista was done on 26^th April 2023 and Preparation for Maha Samprokshanam ie. palalayam was conducted on 05^th June 2023 and Maha Samprokshanam was performed on 29^th June 2023.

Ref:

Annual Report on Epigraphy 1911.

The inscriptions on the wall.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Bhudevi was reborn as the daughter of Markandeya Maharishi. As decided already Maha Vishnu, came to the ashram in the form of an old man and told that he would marry his daughter. Markandeya Maharishi does not want his daughter to get married to an old man. To reject the old man, Maharishi said that his daughter is not well versed in household duties and also she will even forget to add salt to the food while preparing. Maha Vishnu revealed Himself and married Bhudevi. Hence the prasadam offered to Moolavar, Maha Vishnu will be without salt. Hence Moolavar is called as Uppiliappan, ie Uppillatha appan – உப்பில்லாத அப்பன்.

As per another legend Garudan, Kaveri, Markandeya Muni, and Nammalwar worshipped Sri Oppiliappan of this temple.

During the festival, Perumal and Thayar are taken in procession, outside the temple, which is a unique procedure of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas as per Vaikhanasa agama of Vadakalai,  special poojas are conducted on Annual Brahmotsavam with chariot procession in the month Panguni and Puratasi, Dolotsavam, 6 days Vasanthotsavam in the month Vaikasi, 5 days Pavithrotsavam in the month Avani, Nine days Brahmotsavam in the month Purattasi, From Sravana Nakshatra day 12 days Thirukalyana Utsavam in the month Aippasi, Rama Navami, Sravana Nakshatra days of every month, Vaikunta Ekadasi etc.

Golden chariot procession

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

http://www.oppiliappan.org/, WWW.oppiliappanswamytemple.org

The temple’s landline number +91 435 2463385 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place Thirunageswaram is about 5 KM from Kumbakonam, 6 KM from Nachiarkoil, 41 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, and 51 KM from Thanjavur.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Theppam - used during Theppa Thiruvizha

Ennappan Temple

Ennappan

The Visit to this temple was a part of the Divya Desam Temples Visit, near Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, organized by Culture Circuit.  Thanks to Mr Balakumaran.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---