Appakkudathan Temple

Overview

The Koviladi or Thiruppernagar temple is situated on the banks of River Kollidam (a branch of the Cauvery River), atop a hill called Indragiri. There are five important temples of Ranganatha which are popularly known as Pancharanga kshetras - Srirangapattanam, Koviladi, Srirangam, Kumbakonam and Indalur. Koviladi is known as Madhya Rangakshetra.

About the temple

As one enters the serene and calm agrahara (brahmana settlement) of Koviladi, one experiences a mysterious peace and tranquillity enveloping every visitor. The temple is on the banks of the River Cauvery. This is reminiscent of the Viraja River, with the God as Vaikunthanatha. The temple is believed to have received significant royal patronage, as kings, from time to time, served the God with much devotion, just like King Ubharisaravasu. The medieval Chola kings in particular have carried out various additions to the temple. The temple has inscriptions on stone from the 18th year of the regime of Raja Adithya Chola. As mentioned earlier, the temple is situated on a small hillock and has to be approached through a flight of steps. The main rajagopuram is three tiered and the temple has one prakara or enclosure. There is a beautiful pond here named Indra Pushkarani.

About the deity

On the altar, the beautiful God of Koviladi, Appakudathan, lies in bhujanga shayana on Adisesha. His lotus feet are adorned with golden anklets and toe rings. His right hand blesses King Ubharisaravasu. Bhumidevi, the consort of the God, is seen seated at His feet. A pot of appam is seen near the God. The Deity is made of sodhai (termite sand) .

Legend

There was once a very pious king called Ubharisaravasu. He was a great devotee of God Vishnu and lived strictly according to the dharma shastras. Once while he undertook a penance in the Purasi forest, in deep meditation on God Hari, Durvasa Muni who is famous for his anger came before the king. Since the king was engrossed in his meditation, he was not aware that the great sage was standing before him. Durvasa was offended and cursed the king, that he would lose all his strength and power. The king, rudely shaken from his meditation by the anger and cursing of the sage, trembled with fear and begged pardon. Durvasa told King Ubharisaravasu to go to Palasavana near the Cauvery River and feed one lakh brahmanas. Feeding of brahmanas is considered as a great pious activity and is an important Vedic injunction. The pious king was delighted and thanked the sage.

The king immediately left for Palasavana with a battalion of palace cooks and guards. Since that place was not very populated, the king distributed food to each and every brahmana he came across there. Every day the king would feed a few thousand brahmanas. And he led a calm and contented life by offering worship to Hari, preparing delicious foodstuff offerings for Him and then offering the prasadam to the brahmanas. Thus, the king was not at all upset with the curse of Durvasa, and, rather, took it as a blessing and obeyed the orders of the sage.On the path of spiritual life, it is very important to receive guidance from sages, the spiritual master or guide, because we cannot directly or immediately approach the Supreme God Hari on our own. The king set an example of this and was carrying out the feeding programme with much jubilation. Early one morning an elderly brahmana came to the king and told him that he was very hungry. After offering the food that was cooked, to the God, the king fed the old brahmana with the prasadam. The old man ate all the food that was available, which was sufficient to feed a thousand people, and told the king that he was still hungry. The king begged pardon from the brahmana and offered to cook again. Since this would take time, the king enquired whether the old man would like to have some snack prasadam in the meantime. The old brahmana asked for appam (a popular South Indian snack prepared with rice flour and jaggery, deep fried in ghee) in a pot. The appam was prepared very quickly and was brought in a pot to the brahmana, along with hot milk. After eating the appam, the old brahmana revealed to the king that He was actually God Vishnu. The king was in ecstasy. The God wanted to rest there and kept the pot of appam near Him while He lay down. Upon the request of the king, the God decided to stay there and bless the devotees. Since the God requested for the prasadam of appam in a pot (kudam in Tamil) He is known as Appakudathan. To this day, appam is made and offered in a pot to the God during the shayanotsava, before He retires.

Significance

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.

Rare fact

This is the only divya desam where the sweet dumplings are offered daily to the God.

Festival

Car festival on Panguni Uthiram star day Theerthavari in March-April; Vaikunta Ekadasi in December-January; Navarathri in September-October and the butter pot breaking utsav-Uri Adi- are the festivals celebrated in the temple

Prasad & Offering

Prayers

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

Thanks giving

Devotees perform Tirumanjanam to Perumal and offer vastras

Accessibility

Air

Nearest Airport is Tiruchi.

Rail

Tiruchi is an important railway Station of Southern Railway and is well connected with the towns and cities of the state.

Road

Tiruchi is well connected road from various cities in Tamilnadu.

Address

Sri Appakudathan Temple,
Koviladi (Tirupair)-613 105,
Thanjavur district