Kalai "N" Koyil
Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple~Koviladi~Trichirapalli~Tamilnadu~India!
Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, or Thirupper Nagar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Koviladi, a village 10 miles (16 km) from Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. It 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 river Kollidam and is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams located in the banks of the river Cauvery.
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 approached through a fleet 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 at various times from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The temple chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the temple, celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March–April).
Legend and etymology:
As per Hindu legend, the king Ubhamanyu earned the wrath of sage Durvasar and lost all his physical strength. To get rid of the curse, he was asked to feed one lakh people everyday. One day, Hindu god Vishnu disguised himself as an old man, appeared before the king and asked for a meal. The king went on donating and the old man consumed all the food prepared for the people. The king was shocked and bewildered at this strange act. The old man asked for a kudam (pot) of Neyyaappam (a sweatmeal), stating that it can only fulfill his hunger. The king fulfilled the wish and later realised that it was god Vishnu who appeared as the old man. The king was relieved off the curse of the sage by the blessings of Vishnu. Vishnu is called "Appakkudathaan" in the temple on account of the legend. It is also believed that it is at this temple where sage Markandeya was liberated from his curse of dying at 16 years from Yama (god of death). The central deity is also called Ranganatha, who is believed to have crushed Indira's (a celestial deity) pride.The place is called "Koviladi" because it is located downstream (adi) to the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, which is referred as kovil in Vaishnava tradition. The temple is called as "Tiruppernagar" as the region was described as "Per Nagar" during Chola times. The azhwars refer the place as "Tiruppernagar" in Nalayira Divya Prabandam, a Vaishnava canon.
The temple:
The temple has inscriptions from the 18th year of the regime of Aditya Chola.The recorded inscriptions in this temple are numbered 283, 300, 301 and 303 of 1901. As per Nammazhwar, the place was home to Vedic scholars of he time. The inscriptions in the temple indicate donations to build the main hall. During the Anglo-French war in the regions surrounding Tiruchirapalli, Koviladi was one of the focal points. There are no records on the contributions or damages caused by these wars.
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 image of the central deity is depicted in reclining posture, called pujanga sayanam and he is seen 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 as he is located away from (appal) the Ranganathar in Srirangam.The temple has a prakaram (precinct) around the sanctum.
Festivals and religious practises:
The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. 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 is held amidst 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 chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the temple and also for the villages around. It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (April–May) and devotees from various places pull the chariot round the streets of Koviladi. Verses from the Nalayira Divya Prabandham are recited by a group of temple priests amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument). 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.
Religious significance:
Pancharanga Kshetrams (also called Pancharangams, meaning the "five Rangams or Ranganathas") is a group of five sacred Hindu temples, dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of the god Vishnu, on the banks of the Kaveri River. The five Pancharanga Kshetrams in the order of their successive locations, on the banks of the Kaveri River 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 Tamil Nadu, Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple or Mayuram at Indalur, Mayiladuthurai and Vatarangam at Sirkazhi. The Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam is mentioned in place of Vatarangam in some references.This is the only Divya Desam where Neyyappam is offered to the Lord every night as neivedhyam. There is a belief that couples without an offspring upon praying and offering butter with sugar to the Santhanagopalan deity at the temple are blessed with kids.
The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon by Periyalvar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Thirumalisai Alvar and Nammazhwar, in a total of 33 verses.The temple is classified as a divyadesam, the 108 Vishnu temples that are reverred 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 or the place where saint Perialvar is believed to have attained the feet of Vishnu.
Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple~Koviladi~Trichirapalli~Tamilnadu~India!
Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, or Thirupper Nagar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Koviladi, a village 10 miles (16 km) from Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. It 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 river Kollidam and is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams located in the banks of the river Cauvery.
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 approached through a fleet 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 at various times from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The temple chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the temple, celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March–April).
Legend and etymology:
As per Hindu legend, the king Ubhamanyu earned the wrath of sage Durvasar and lost all his physical strength. To get rid of the curse, he was asked to feed one lakh people everyday. One day, Hindu god Vishnu disguised himself as an old man, appeared before the king and asked for a meal. The king went on donating and the old man consumed all the food prepared for the people. The king was shocked and bewildered at this strange act. The old man asked for a kudam (pot) of Neyyaappam (a sweatmeal), stating that it can only fulfill his hunger. The king fulfilled the wish and later realised that it was god Vishnu who appeared as the old man. The king was relieved off the curse of the sage by the blessings of Vishnu. Vishnu is called "Appakkudathaan" in the temple on account of the legend. It is also believed that it is at this temple where sage Markandeya was liberated from his curse of dying at 16 years from Yama (god of death). The central deity is also called Ranganatha, who is believed to have crushed Indira's (a celestial deity) pride.The place is called "Koviladi" because it is located downstream (adi) to the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, which is referred as kovil in Vaishnava tradition. The temple is called as "Tiruppernagar" as the region was described as "Per Nagar" during Chola times. The azhwars refer the place as "Tiruppernagar" in Nalayira Divya Prabandam, a Vaishnava canon.
The temple:
The temple has inscriptions from the 18th year of the regime of Aditya Chola.The recorded inscriptions in this temple are numbered 283, 300, 301 and 303 of 1901. As per Nammazhwar, the place was home to Vedic scholars of he time. The inscriptions in the temple indicate donations to build the main hall. During the Anglo-French war in the regions surrounding Tiruchirapalli, Koviladi was one of the focal points. There are no records on the contributions or damages caused by these wars.
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 image of the central deity is depicted in reclining posture, called pujanga sayanam and he is seen 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 as he is located away from (appal) the Ranganathar in Srirangam.The temple has a prakaram (precinct) around the sanctum.
Festivals and religious practises:
The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. 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 is held amidst 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 chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the temple and also for the villages around. It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (April–May) and devotees from various places pull the chariot round the streets of Koviladi. Verses from the Nalayira Divya Prabandham are recited by a group of temple priests amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument). 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.
Religious significance:
Pancharanga Kshetrams (also called Pancharangams, meaning the "five Rangams or Ranganathas") is a group of five sacred Hindu temples, dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of the god Vishnu, on the banks of the Kaveri River. The five Pancharanga Kshetrams in the order of their successive locations, on the banks of the Kaveri River 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 Tamil Nadu, Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple or Mayuram at Indalur, Mayiladuthurai and Vatarangam at Sirkazhi. The Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam is mentioned in place of Vatarangam in some references.This is the only Divya Desam where Neyyappam is offered to the Lord every night as neivedhyam. There is a belief that couples without an offspring upon praying and offering butter with sugar to the Santhanagopalan deity at the temple are blessed with kids.
The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon by Periyalvar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Thirumalisai Alvar and Nammazhwar, in a total of 33 verses.The temple is classified as a divyadesam, the 108 Vishnu temples that are reverred 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 or the place where saint Perialvar is believed to have attained the feet of Vishnu.