Temple Location :
About the Temple:
This temple lies at Thirunageswaram of Tanjore district in TamilNadu.
It is about 4 miles away from Kumbakonam and a mile away from Thirunageswaram railway station.
Ample bus facilities are provided. Staying facilities are not furnished.
Sthala Puranam:
When the Great sea of Vaikunda, the Thiruparkadal was churned, Lakshmi devi and Thulasi devi emerged out from the sea.
Lord Narayana, placed Mahalakshmi in his heart. Thulasi devi too wanted to marry Lord
Narayana. So, he guided her to become a thulasi plant where Maharishi Markandeya performed
penance. She came to Thirunageswaram near Kumbakonam. After a long period of hard pennance
Lord Narayana gave her the wife post. Lord Narayana gave Mahalakshmi a place in his heart but
he gave Thulasi devi a very special opportunity (ie) Thilasi devi has perumanently got the
place as a garland around his neck.
So internally Mahalakshmi blesses us and externally Thulasi devi blesses us. From then
Thulasi is considered as a sacred herb and has lots of medicinal values it it.
Markandeya Maharishi is the son of Mrikantu Maharishi andhe had the wounderful opportunity of
having dharsan of both Mahavishnu and Lord Shiva in his life time.
He prayed hard to Lord Vishnu, asking him to granted him Bhoomidevi as his daughter his wish
was granted for one day he found Bhoomidevi as a two year old child under the Thulasi plant
in the forest in Thirunageswaram.
Days went by and one day, Lord Vishnu came as an old Brahmin. Markandeya Maharishi gave him
a very hearty welcome the aged Brahmin wanted to marry Bhoomi devi. But, Markandeya Maharishi
tried to explain him that his daughter was too young to get married.
But the Brahmin refused to accept his reasons and blackmailed him that if he did not have
Bhoomi devi as his wife he would die on the spot.
Maharishi pleaded him to leave his child. He told him that my daughter is not yet fit for
marriage mentally and physically. She doesnt even know to cook food with proper proportion
of salt. But the old man unable to be convinced. So, he Maharishi asked his daughter to
accept for marriage. She started crying and told her father that she too would die if her
father compelled her to marry the old man.
Now, Markandeya Maharishi was caught in fix. He pleaded Mahavishnu to get him out of the
problem. Internally he knelt before the Lord and caught his feet and prayed hard to solve
his problem.
When Maharishi woke from Dhyanam (Prayer), instead of aged Brahmin he found Lord Mahavishnu
clad in most beautiful clothing with one hand in his hip and the other seeking Bhoomi devi's
hand for marriage.
Bhoomi devi was very happy and was really to accept Lord Mahavishnu as her husband. Markandeya
Maharishi too was very happy.
So on the day of Sravana Natchatram of the Tamil Month Aipasi Lord Mahavishnu married
Bhoomidevi. The grand occassion was graced by Lord Brahma and all the celestial persons (ie)
devars. Even than Markanteya Maharishi felt sad due to his boundless towards his daughter.
He feared that his daughter might not know the correct quantity of salt for dishes. So he asked
Lord Mahavishnu three boons:
1. O! Lord you should take dishes without salt in this place. But the dishes should taste wounderful to you and your devotees.
2. You should never leave my daughter alone, you have to stay with her forever.
3. This place should be named after me.
Hence, from the onwards, Lord Vishnu takes food without salt and so he is called Oppiliappan
(ie) Uppu - illatha - appan literall Lord without salt.
So, even today Lord Oppiliappan takes food without salt. Many may think that why so importance
to salt. Salt is the main item not only in South Indian dish but in multi continental too.
Without salt nothing would taste high. To improve the level of Sweetness to, a pinch of
salt is being added. But too much of salt will also spoil the dish. Hence salt plays an
important place. Lord Mahavishnu has forbidden such an item showing humanity that love is the
most wanted thing in one's life rather than anything including hatredness.
As from the heaven (ie) Vinnulagam Lord himself wished to stay on this place, this place is
known as Vinnagar (place of heaven), also as a wish of Markandeya Maharishi this is also
known as "Markanteya Kshetram". Thulasi devi got her wish satisfied at this place and along
with pleasent smelling flowers - Thulasi leaf has got an important role in its part (ie)
the role of beautifying Lord Mahavishnu as a garland this place is also called as
"Thulasivanam".
Lord Oppiliappan bowed in front of Markandeya Maharishi to seek his daughter for marriage
and got her as "Kannikadhanam", (ie) getting a girl for marriage as deed of alms from the
bride's father. As Lord himself got alms from his father in law, the following deads are
consided very scared at this place.
Each and every Thulasi leaf used to perform Pooja (Archani)to Lord Oppiliappan would fetch
the total value of an Ashwametha Yagna (yagam).
Every step placed to reach this kshetram would fetch lots of eternal values (Punniyam).
Devoting cands to Oppiliappan even as small as a cow's shoe, would fetch definite eternity. (or) immortality.
Rendering chandhan, Kumkum and flowers would vanquish the sins like the murder of a Brahmin
etc.
By devoting Dhoopakal, Deepakal, vessells needed for pooja and Thirumanjanam (Bathing of
Lord god), brass bell and silk clothing one could get themselves out from all sorts of sins.
Those who undertake/perform utsavam to Lord Oppiliappan would definitely have the boon of
birth of a child.
Just by chanting "Thulasivanam" all the effect sins fly away.
In the tamil month Panguni on the day of Sravanam doing the following things would remove
all the if phabam's due to Panchama Pathyam effects evil sins like murder, roberry etc.
Early in the morning taking bath in the temple pushkarani. Give alms (dhanam) to needy
people. Choose any 5 Brahmins and treat them as the 5 forms of Oppiliappan (ie) as
Ponnappan, Maniappan, Muthappan, Ennappan, Vinnagarappan. Then give them Thirukannal amudhu
(ie) Payasam (ie) Sweet kheer and finally worship Oppiliappan in his Sannathi.
Oppiliappan in his Moolastanam (ie) Karbagraham (ie) Main Sannadhi takes the form of
Ponappan, Muthappan and Vinnagarappan. Out side the Moolavar Sannadhi, to the Northern side,
of Opposite to pushkarani one can have dharsan of Ennappan and to the south side of the
Moolavar sannathi inside the flower garder Manniappan has his sannathi.
Glimpse of Moolavar Sanathi:
Oppiliappan stands upto 8 feet tall in the centre. Below him Bhoomidevi faces north in a
kneeling posture while Makandeya Maharishi who has the boon of retaining his age as
16 forever is the position to perform Kannikadhanam (ie) ready to perform marriage to his
daughter.
Left hand of Oppiliappa perumal contains the inscription "Maam Ekam Saranam Vrija" a made
of diamonds which is a verse form Bhagavatgita instructing the whole mankind to devote their
pure souls into his lotus feet to attain Salvation.
Ahorathra Pushkarani:
There is an interesting tale regarding the reason behind the name of this pushkarani.
Once there was a Brahmin named Devasharma belonging to the clan of Bharadwaja Maharishi. One
day it happened so, that he took forcefully the daughter of Gymini Maharishi as his wife.
The rishi heard his daughters cries and atonce he cursed Devasharma turn in Krunchu Paravai
a type of bord. Then only shrama realised his mistake and he pleded the Maharishi to leave
him. As his anger suoded, he told devasharma to wait near pushkarani of Oppiliappan perumal
temple and one day he would be freed from the curse.
It happened so one day during night time. A huge strom borke out and the branch in which
devasharma was sitting as a bird broke and tell pushkarani. As soon as the divine water
splashed in the birds body, devasharma was freed fromhis curse. Generally one has to take
bath in the pushkarani only in the day time. Generally one has to take bath in the
pushkarani only in the day time. But as unusually this pushkarani paved the way to freedom
devashrama's curse during the night time, this pushkarani is named as "Ahorathra Pushkarani"
which means litrelly "Unusual in night".
Utsavam:
In the tamil months Panguni Bhramotsavam of Eypasi month Kalyana utsavam's are conducted.
On every day of Sravana natchatram (ie) on the sravana day of every month, "Sravana deepam"
is taken ie a huge camp is being lit and fortunes are forcasted.
By paying required amount in the Devastanam, we can conduct Kalyana Utsavam, Garuda sevai
and Moolavar Thirumanjanam.
Sthala virutcham (Scared Tree): Flower - Herbs, Thulsi etc.
Specials:
Whenever Oppiliappa Perumal's idol is taken for procession, He is always accompanied along with Bhoomidevi only. The Perumal wont step out the Temple without Thaayar inorder to keep his promise.
Oplliappan perumal is treated as Brother of Srinivasaperumal of Thirumala Thirupathi. So all
the offerings due to Thirupathi perumal can be offered here and it's taken as equivalent as it
were offered at Thirupathi.
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this Kshetram is Oppiliappan. He is also called with the name "Uppiliappan". The Moolavar is found in Standing posture facing East direction. Prathyaksham for Markandeya Maharishi, Lord Garuda, River Kaveri, lord of Dharma.
Thayaar:
The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Bhoomidevi Naachiyaar.
Mangalasasanam:
- Peyalwar - 2 Paasurams.
- Nammalwar - 11 Paasurams.
- Thirumangai - 34 Paasurams.
Total - 47 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
- Ahorathra pushkarani.
- Aarthi pushkarani.
Vimanam:
Vishnu Vimaanam - Sudhanandha Vimaanam.
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