Oppiliappan Temple
| Oppiliappan Temple | |
|---|---|
Thiruvinnagar | |
 Therajagopuram(gateway tower) of the temple | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Thanjavur |
| Deity | |
| Festivals | Rama Navami,Vaikuntha Ekadasi,Sravanam Festival |
| Features |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Thirunageswaram |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
  Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Geographic coordinates | 10°57′41.63″N79°25′53.73″E/ 10.9615639°N 79.4315917°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Cholas |
| Website | |
| www | |
Oppiliappan Temple,is aHindu templededicated toVishnu,located nearThirunageswaramand also known by its old toponym Thiruvinnagar, a village in the outskirts of theKumbakonamin the South Indian state ofTamil Nadu.Constructed in theDravidian style of architecture,the temple is glorified in theNaalayira Divya Prabandham,the early medievalTamilcanon of theAlvarsaints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is counted as the 60th of the 108Divya Desamsdedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshiped as Oppiliappan and his consortLakshmiasBhudevi.
The temple is one of thePancha Kshethram,whereLakshmiwas born asBhargavi- the daughter of the sageBhrigu.
The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity and to have been initiated by theMedieval Cholasof the late 8th century CE, with later contributions at different times fromThanjavur Nayaks.The temple has two inscriptions dating from the Chola period, a five-tieredrajagopuram(gateway tower), and a granite wall. The complex contains all the shrines and water bodies associated with it.
Oppiliappan is believed to have appeared for sageMarkandeyaand theHindu deitiesBhudevi,Brahma,andShiva.The temple observes six daily rituals and three yearly festivals. The chariot festival, celebrated during theTamilmonth of "Panguni" (March–April), is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by theHindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Departmentof theGovernment of Tamil Nadu.[1]
Legend
[edit]
The legend of the temple is mentioned in the Hindu scriptureBrahmanda Purana.Tulasi,once did penance to attain closeness to the godVishnu.Vishnu responded that his consortLakshmiwould appear under Tulasi's lap in Tiruvinnagaram. Tulasi appeared as a plant in the place where the temple is located. This is mentioned in the 53rd verse of Nammazhwaar inThiruviruththam.The sageMarkandeyaworshipped Vishnu and desired to have Lakshmi as his daughter and Vishnu as his son-in-law. Once Markandeya was on a holy trip and after reaching Thiruvinnagaram, he felt it was the right place to get his desire fulfilled. Markandeya started a severe penance for thousand years, seeking Lakshmi's blessings. Lakshmi appeared as a baby under the tulasi plant. Markandeya recognized the baby as Lakshmi and raised her. When the young girl reached adolescence, on thepangunimonth ofShravana,Vishnu appeared as an old man and proposed marriage to her. Markandeya replied, "You are very ripe and old, my daughter is too young and she does not even know how to cook with proper salt contents", to which the old man replied, "If your daughter must cook without salt, then I will still take it as my best food, but I will not leave from here without marrying her". Markandeya sought Vishnu's help and then realised using his penance that the old man was Vishnu himself. When he opened his eyes, Vishnu appeared in his true celestial form. Markandeya married his daughter to Vishnu. Per the legend, the temple'sNeyvethiyam(food offering) is always prepared without salt.[2]The name Oppiliappan is a result of this legend.
There is also a story behind the tank in this temple. Once a King had consummated with a daughter of a saint and hence the saint cursed him to become a bird. The king lived as a bird and one night when there was a storm, the branch of the tree the bird was sleeping on broke and fell into the water of this tank. The bird regained its original form as the King and since then this is known as the only theerththam that one can do theerth thaadanam even in the night. Since this tank has such healing power in the day as well as night, it is called "Ahoraathra Pushkarani".[3][4][5][6][7]The place is called by various names, including "Agasa Nagaram", "Vaikunda Nagaram", "Thiruvinnagar", "Oppiliappan Sannithi" and "Uppiliappan Sannithi". The presiding deity is also called by various names, including Venkatachalapathy, Thiruvinnagarappan, Oppilaappan, Thanoppillaappan, Uppiliappan and Srinivasan.[8]
History
[edit]
It is not clear from the inscriptions and records when the temple was initiated, but there are inscriptions from theMedieval Cholasperiod indicating generous gifts to the temple. There are two inscriptions recorded from theNaganathar TempleinTirunageswaram.The epigraph numbered 211 of 1911 on the northern wall of the central shrine indicates gift of gold jewel worked in gems and pearls to the temple from the Chola king Parakesarivarman, aliasRajendra Chola I(1012–44 CE). The second inscription numbered 218 of 1911 on the shrine's southern wall indicates a gift of land to the temple in the 14th year of the Chola king Rajaraja Rajakkesarivarman I.[9][10][11]
The tradition in many ancient temples in Tamil Nadu including this one is that the original image of the presiding deity is made of wood and replaced later with stone.[12]There were a lot of additions made to the temple byGovinda Dikshitar,the minister of successive Nayak rulers,Achuthappa Nayak(1560–1614) andRaghunatha Nayak(1600–34).[13]The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of theGovernment of Tamil Nadu.
Architecture
[edit]
The temple has a five-tieredrajagopuram(the gateway tower) and enshrined within a granite wall. The complex contains all the shrines and water bodies associated with it. The Sahasradhari plate and pot (kudam) are made of gold for performingThirumanjanam(ablution) to the presiding deity. The temple also maintains golden sword, diamond crown and gold arm guard for the image ofHanuman.The shrine over the sanctum is plated with gold.[14]The main shrine of the temple houses the image of Oppiliappan in standing posture and it also houses the images of Bhoomidevi and sage Markendeya. Thevimanais called Suddhananda, meaning "pure happiness". The Desika shrine is located near the sancturn sanctorum. On the sides of the first precinct, the shrine of Anjaneya is located on the southern, and Alvars' andRama's on the northern and Ramanuja's on the eastern sides. The shrine for Maniappan is located in the second precinct in the southern side, while the shrines of Ennappan and the holy birth spot of Bhoomidevi are located in the northern side.Garuda's shrine is located right opposite the sanctum and right behind the temple mast. The shrine of dancingKrishnais located on the southern side of the main entrance.[15]
A marble hall is located on the western side in the inner precinct acts as the resting hall for the festival deities during festivals. Dolotsavam festival is celebrated in Another marble hall in the northern side of the temple. Adjoining the hall, there is a shrine where the images of Rama,Lakshmana,Sitaand Hanuman are housed. The sacred bed chamber called Tiruppalliarai, covered full of mirrors is located next to it. A Yaga sala for performing religious rituals is present in the temple. The temple has a hall for housing festival vehicles, a library, and a hall with edight carved pillars on the banks of the temple tank, where the annual float-festival is celebrated. The Kodimandapa, located to the south of the Garuda shrine, is used for several day-to-day religious practices. The annual Kalyana Utsavam festival is performed in the hall amidst music and dance programmes.
The temple is considered the southern counterpart ofThirupathitemple and hence devotees perform their marriages and vows as they do in Thirupathi.[16]Outside the main complex, the temple maintains two marriage halls, a rest house containing five rooms, two other halls, a housing each for the small chariot and the big chariot. There is a garden around the third precinct of the temple and a much bigger garden about 0.5 km (0.31 mi) to the south of the temple, where Tulasi and flowers are grown. A hall in the garden is used for resting deities during the Vasantotsavam festival celebrated for six days in May–June every year.[17][18][19]
Festivals and religious practices
[edit]
The temple follows Vaigasana Agama and followsVadagalaipractices. During the Viswaroopa Seva, the first worship, Suprapada Prabarthi Mangalam, a verse exclusively dedicated to Oppiliappan is relayed.Thiruppavaiis relayed after it, followed bynaivethanain all shrines. Uchikalam is the last worship during the day time and happens at noon. During the evening,mutharkalamis the first worship sequence, recitals inVedaand Nithsuasandamam. Arthajamam is the lastpujaof the day.[20]
The chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the temple, celebrated for nine days during theTamilmonth ofPanguni(March–April) and devotees from various places pull the chariot round the streets of temple. Verses from the 'Naalayira Divya Prabandham' are recited by a group of temple priests amidst music withNagaswaram(pipe instrument) andTavil(percussion instrument). The processional idols of Oppiliappan and Bhudevi are brought to the temple car early in the morning amidst Vedic chantings. Subsequently, the festive idols are taken to the 'therthatti mandapam' (chariot launching hall). The 'ratharohanam', the rituals associated with taking the idols to the temple car is performed in an auspicious time before starting the procession. The temple celebrates six other festivals: Vasanta Utsavam (spring festival) for 6 days in the temple garden duringVaikasi(May–June), Pavitrotsavam (purifying festival) for 5 days duringAvani(Aug – Sep), Brahmotsavam for nine days ofPurattasi(Sept – Oct), Kalyana Utsavam (holy marriage of god and goddess) for 12 days commencing from Sravanam duringAippasi(Oct–Nov), Adhyayana Utsavam (ten-day-and-ten-night festival) duringMargali(Dec–Jan) and float festival for 5 days during Thai(Jan – Feb).[21]Ramanavami,the festival associated withRama,anavatarof Vishnu. The event is celebrated for ten days with music and dance performance and on the concluding day,kanakabhishekam(ablution with gold for the festival image) and Rama Pattabhishekam.[3][22]Sravan Deepam is a festival celebrated every month in the temple on the day of Tamil star ofThiruvonamand devotees observe fast called Sravana Vratham that day by consuming only unsalted food.[5]Tonsure ceremony for getting children shaved for the first time to promote proper growth and ear piercing is a very common practise followed in the temple.[23]It is believed that the place is as sacred asVaikuntaand as in Vaikunta, the river Vraja there flows as river Nattaru and hence considered sacred.[24]The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks ofRiver Kaveri.[25]
Literary mention
[edit]Oppiliappan is considered the elder brother of the presiding deity ofTirupathi Venkateshwara Temple.[26]The temple is revered inNaalayira Divya Prabandham,the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, byPeriyalvar,Thirumangai AlvarandNammalvar.The temple is classified as aDivya Desam,the 108 Vishnu temples that are revered in the Vaishnava canon. The temple is counted as the 14th in the list ofdivyadesamsinChola Naduand 83rd in the overall list. TheAlvarsaddress the presiding deity by various names like Oppiliappan, Vinnagarappan and Venkatachalapathy and his consort Bhudevi as Bhoomidevi Nachiar and Dharanadevi.[27]Thirumangai Alvar refers to Oppiliappan as Thiruvinnagar Mevvane in his verses inPeria Tirumoliwhile Nammalvar called him "Thannoppaarillappan", that is he who has no comparison, meaning there is neither an equivalent nor superior to Vishnu. He mentions "the Lord who by his powers affords solace for pining hearts and renders them fit for service".[28][29][30]The temple is one of the most visited in the district.[31]
Notes
[edit]- ^Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
- ^V., Meena (1974).Temples in South India(1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 29.
- ^ab"Oppiliappan Rama Navami festivities end today".The Hindu.Kumbakonam. 29 April 2013.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^"History of the temple".Oppiliappan Temple administration.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^ab"Sravana Deepam".Oppiliappan Temple administration.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^Ayyar1991, p. 348
- ^"Sri Oppiliappan temple".Dinamalar.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^Swamigal 2003,p. 14
- ^"Temple inscriptions".Oppiliappan Temple administration.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^Ayyar1991, p. 344
- ^Swamigal 2003,p. 13
- ^Kumar, Raj (2003).Essays On Indian Art And Architecture.Discovery Publishing House. p. 132.ISBN9788171417155.
- ^V., Vriddhagirisan (1942).Nayaks of Tanjore.New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 107.ISBN81-206-0996-4.
- ^G., Srinivasan (20 May 2011)."Jewels for Oppiliappan".The Hindu.Kumbakonam.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^Swamigal 2003,p. 18
- ^Ayyar1991, p. 544
- ^"The Temple shrines".Oppiliappan Temple administration.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^Anantharaman, Ambujam (2006).Temples of South India.East West books. p. 54.ISBN8188661422.
- ^Rao, A. V. Shankaranarayana (2001).Temples of Tamilnadu – Volume 3 of Heritage series.Vasan Publications. pp. 92–93.
- ^Swamigal 2003,p. 19
- ^"Temple festivals".Oppiliappan Temple administration.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^"Sri Ramanavami".Oppiliappan Temple administration.Retrieved7 July2013.
- ^Berndt, Bruce C.; Rankin, Robert Alexander (2001).Ramanujan: Essays and Surveys.American Mathematical Soc. p. 31.ISBN9780821826249.
- ^R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001).An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam(1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 553–4.
- ^Ka. Vi., Kannan (2019).River cauvery the most battl(r)ed.Notion Press. p. 34.ISBN9781684666041.
- ^"The Illustrated Weekly of India". 4.97.Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited. 1997: 39.
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^The Society1994, p. 25
- ^The Society1994, p. 28
- ^Bansal, Sunita Kumar (2008).Hindu Pilgrimage.Pustak Mahal. p. 158.ISBN9788122309973.
- ^Govindāchārya, Aḷkoṇḍavilli (1902).The divine wisdom of the Dravida saints.C.N. Press. p.196.
- ^"What to see — Thanjavur district attractions".Thanjavur District Administration. Archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2013.Retrieved7 July2013.
References
[edit]- Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1991).South Indian shrines: illustrated.New Delhi: Asian Educational Services.ISBN81-206-0151-3.
- "The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society (Bangalore, India)".The Society.85.Bangalore, India: Mythic Society.
- Swamigal, V.N. Ramadesikacharya (2003).Oppliappan Thirukoyil Thalavaralaru.Venkatachalapathy Thirukoyil, Oppilliappan Koyil.
External links
[edit]
