Oppiliappan temple

Coordinates: 10°57′41.63″N 79°25′53.73″E / 10.9615639°N 79.4315917°E / 10.9615639; 79.4315917
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Oppiliappan Kovil
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Oppiliappan Temple
Thiruvinnagar
The rajagopuram (gateway tower) of the temple, depicting the pyramidal structure
The rajagopuram (gateway tower) of the temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictThanjavur
Deity
  • Oppiliappan Perumal (Vishnu)
  • Bhudevi
Festivals
Cholas
Website
www.oppiliappanswamytemple.tnhrce.in, oppiliappan.org

Oppiliappan Temple, is a

Bhudevi
.

The temple is one of the Pancha Kshethram, where Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi- the daughter of the sage Bhrigu.

The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity and to have been initiated by the

Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century CE, with later contributions at different times from Thanjavur Nayaks
. The temple has two inscriptions dating from the Chola period, a five-tiered rajagopuram (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 sage Markandeya and the Hindu deities Bhudevi, Brahma, and Shiva. The temple observes six daily rituals and three yearly festivals. The chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of "Panguni" (March–April), is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[1]

Legend

Temple elephant

The legend of the temple is mentioned in the Hindu scripture

Neyvethiyam (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

temple tank

It is not clear from the inscriptions and records when the temple was initiated, but there are inscriptions from the

Rajendra 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.

Govinda Dikshitar, the minister of successive Nayak rulers, Achuthappa Nayak (1560–1614) and Raghunatha Nayak (1600–34).[13] The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu
.

Architecture

Elephant and mahout walking through the pillared hall.

The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (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 performing Thirumanjanam (ablution) to the presiding deity. The temple also maintains golden sword, diamond crown and gold arm guard for the image of Hanuman. 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. The vimana is 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' and Rama'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 dancing Krishna is 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, Sita and 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 of

Thirupathi temple 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

View of the shrine from the temple tank

The temple follows Vaigasana Agama and follows

Vadagalai practices. During the Viswaroopa Seva, the first worship, Suprapada Prabarthi Mangalam, a verse exclusively dedicated to Oppiliappan is relayed. Thiruppavai is relayed after it, followed by naivethana in all shrines. Uchikalam is the last worship during the day time and happens at noon. During the evening, mutharkalam is the first worship sequence, recitals in Veda and Nithsuasandamam. Arthajamam is the last puja of the day.[20]

The chariot festival is the most prominent festival of the temple, celebrated for nine days during the

Tavil (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 'ther
thatti 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 during Vaikasi (May–June), Pavitrotsavam (purifying festival) for 5 days during Avani (Aug – Sep), Brahmotsavam for nine days of Purattasi (Sept – Oct), Kalyana Utsavam (holy marriage of god and goddess) for 12 days commencing from Sravanam during Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Adhyayana Utsavam (ten-day-and-ten-night festival) during Margali (Dec–Jan) and float festival for 5 days during Thai(Jan – Feb).
River Kaveri.[25]

Literary mention

Oppiliappan is considered the elder brother of the presiding deity of

Alvars address 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 in Peria Tirumoli while 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

  1. ^ Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
  2. ^ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 29.
  3. ^ a b "Oppiliappan Rama Navami festivities end today". The Hindu. Kumbakonam. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  4. ^ "History of the temple". Oppiliappan Temple administration. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Sravana Deepam". Oppiliappan Temple administration. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  6. ^ Ayyar 1991, p. 348
  7. ^ "Sri Oppiliappan temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  8. ^ Swamigal 2003, p. 14
  9. ^ "Temple inscriptions". Oppiliappan Temple administration. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  10. ^ Ayyar 1991, p. 344
  11. ^ Swamigal 2003, p. 13
  12. ISBN 9788171417155
    .
  13. ISBN 81-206-0996-4
    .
  14. ^ G., Srinivasan (20 May 2011). "Jewels for Oppiliappan". The Hindu. Kumbakonam. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  15. ^ Swamigal 2003, p. 18
  16. ^ Ayyar 1991, p. 544
  17. ^ "The Temple shrines". Oppiliappan Temple administration. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  18. ISBN 8188661422
    .
  19. ^ Rao, A. V. Shankaranarayana (2001). Temples of Tamilnadu – Volume 3 of Heritage series. Vasan Publications. pp. 92–93.
  20. ^ Swamigal 2003, p. 19
  21. ^ "Temple festivals". Oppiliappan Temple administration. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  22. ^ "Sri Ramanavami". Oppiliappan Temple administration. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  23. ISBN 9780821826249
    .
  24. ^ R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 553–4.
  25. ISBN 9781684666041
    .
  26. ^ "The Illustrated Weekly of India". 4. 97. Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited. 1997: 39. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. ^ The Society 1994, p. 25
  28. ^ The Society 1994, p. 28
  29. ISBN 9788122309973
    .
  30. ^ Govindāchārya, Aḷkoṇḍavilli (1902). The divine wisdom of the Dravida saints. C.N. Press. p. 196.
  31. ^ "What to see — Thanjavur district attractions". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

References

External links

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