Information of Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu

This temple is also known as the Thirupper Nagar temple is a Hindu place of worship and is located at village called Koviladi which is about 16 kms from Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu. This temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu the preserver and is one of the 108 Divya Desams gracing the country of India. The temple is located on the banks of the river Kollidam and it is also is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams. The temple is an ancient one and dates back to the period of the Medieval Cholas and the other rulers of that era.

Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple Religious Significance

This temple holds high religious significance in the Hindu religion especially those who follow the Vaishnava sect. The temple is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams which means a group of five temples on the bank of river Kaveri dedicated to Ranganatha who is a form of Vishnu. This temple is especially visited by people or couples who have no children. It is believed that childless couples who pray here and offer butter with no sugar to the diety present here they will be blessed in the form of children.

Other than that it is also a part of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu and it also is known to be the 6th in line of the Divya Desams in the Chola Nadu. This temple is also the place where the saint Perialvar is said to have attained Vishnu's feet.

Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple Mythology & History

According to the legends of Hinduism there was a King called Ubhamanyu who was cursed by a sage known as Durvasar. The curse led the king to lose all his strength and it could be broken only if he fed one lakh people every day. Lord Vishnu saw this and disguised himself as an old man and asked the king for a meal. The king obliged and fed him however he consumed all the food that was prepared to feed the one lakh people. He then asked for a pot of Neyyaappam which was a sweet meal to satiate his hunger, this too the king provided and then Lord Vishnu showed him his true form. He then removed the curse from the king as a result he is known as Appakkudathaan.

Another legend has it that it was at this temple where Markandeya was relieved of his curse to die at the age of 16. This boy had been cursed by the Hindu death god Yama. This temple is also known to be the place where Ranganatha the central diety of this temple crushed the pride of Indira who was a celestial diety.

Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple Architectural Significance

The temple dates back to the medieval Chola dynasty period and depicts a Dravidian style of architecture. There are inscriptions in the temple from the 18th year of reign of Aditya Chola. The temple was known to be a home for the Vedic scholars according to Nammazhwar.

The temple has been built on an elevated structure which takes a total of 21 steps to reach. The temple's main gateway or the Rajagopuram is a three tired structure and faces the western side. The main diety or the presiding diety of the temple is "Appala Rangan" and he can be seen in a reclining position facing the western side with a pot in his hand. The main sanctum also holds the images of the King Upayamanyu and the sage who cursed him Dhurvarsa.

Major Festivals at Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple

There are daily pujas and other religious rites conducted at the temple however the chariot festival is the central festival of the temple. It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni which is during the months of April and May.