Oppiliappan Temple

Oppiliappan Temple, known in old texts as Thiruvinnagar, is a Vishnu temple near Thirunageswaram on the outskirts of Kumbakonam. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams praised by the Alvar poet-saints, and one of the Pancha Kshethram where, by tradition, Lakshmi was born as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu. Vishnu is worshipped as Oppiliappan, with his consort as Bhudevi. The Alvar poet-saints Nammalvar and Thirumangai Alvar sang of the temple.

Tradition

According to tradition, the sage Markandeya did penance here and found Lakshmi as a baby under a tulasi plant. When she grew up, Vishnu came as an old man to ask for her hand. Markandeya protested that his daughter was too young even to cook with the right amount of salt; Vishnu replied that he would eat her food without salt. In keeping with this story, the temple's food offerings are always prepared without salt. Oppiliappan is also regarded as the elder brother of Venkateswara of Tirupati, and the temple tank, the Ahoratra Pushkarini, is believed to purify by day and by night alike.

History

The temple is thought to have been begun by the medieval Cholas in the late 8th century, with later additions by the Thanjavur Nayaks. It has two Chola-period inscriptions, a five-tier gateway tower and a granite wall enclosing all its shrines and water bodies. It is administered by the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department.

Festivals

The chariot festival in the Tamil month of Panguni (March–April) is the temple's most prominent festival. The day of the Thiruvonam (Shravana) star is especially important here every month.