006. Thirupper Nagar - Sri Appakudathan Perumal Temple, Trichy
The appakudathan temple is one of the 5 rangams along the Cauvery, the others being Srirangapatna, Srirangam, Kumbakonam sarangapani temple and Mayiladuthurai Indaloor temple.{“Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple in Srirangam”, “the Sarangapani Temple in Kumbakonam”, “Sri Appakudathan Temple in Trichy” and the “Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple in Indalur, Mayiladuthurai”}.
This temple is called the Madhya rangam. Koviladi is in the southern bank of Kollidam and can be reached from Kallanai dam easily and can also be reached from Anbil via Sengariyur and Poondi. For both Tiruchirapalli should be the main starting point. If one goes by a four wheeler, without break at Kallanai, cross the road over the dam and take the route to Koviladi. Only heavy vehicles cannot pass through this road over the dam. Those who take the bus should get down at Kallanai, cross the road over the dam and on reaching the other side, proceed on the road behind the Karikala cholan statue, which is the road leading to Koviladi. The bus stand is nearby and buses from Kallanai to Thirukattupalli via Koviladi, Poondi are to be taken and it is only 10 minutes drive from kallanai. For those, going via Anbil, the route is Lalgudi, Anbil, Sengariyur and Poondi.
This is one of the 108 Divya desams and is also called as Thirupernagar. The Lord is known as Appalarenganathar and Thayar is Kamalavalli. The perumal is in a lying posture on adiseshan and with the left hand bless Indra and chandra and right hand blesses Markandeya Maharishi. A Saligrama garland adorns him. Bhoomadevi is seated at his feet. A little distance away from the right hand is the appakudam, which is fairly large. The Neivedyam of Appam is offered from this kudam every evening. In the garbhagriha, there is santhanagopalan.
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.
The Emperuman here in this sthalam says that he will not go out from the hearts of his devotees and as well as from this sthalam. ("Peyarthal means getting out"). So this sthalam is called "Thirupper Nagar".
Lord Shiva gave Thiruparkadal as milk, when Rishi Ubamanyu was in his childhood crying due to hunger. This is explained in "Siva Puranam".
Thiruparkadal is the place that belongs to Sri Vishnu. But, When Lord Shiva is giving darshan to his devotee Rishi Ubamanyu, Sri Vishnu is helping him out to give the complete fulfilment of darshan of Lord Shiva.
To explain more about this, the position of Shri Vishnu in this temple clearly explains how he helped out Lord Shiva. He is giving seva as Ranganathan (In sleeping position) and his right hand is in a position as giving to Rishi Ubamanyu as "Aranga Varadhan" in Kidantha Thirukkolam.
Appam, which is one of the delicious food items prepared in interior parts of Tamil Nadu. It will be very sweetful if it is taken along with Milk. Sriman Narayanan is giving Appam which is kept inside a kudam (A small vessel), which is full of Milk. He is giving this Appam to Ubamanyu Rishi by hugging him along his right hand.
Once when a King called Ubharisaravasu was in penance on Lord Vishnu in a Purasai Forest, Saint Dhurvaasar came by that side. Since Ubharisaravasu was in penance he had not noticed the coming of Saint. Dhurvaasar got angry and cursed him to lose all his strength and power. Ubharisaravasu immediately came to know about it and begged Dhurvaasar to pardon him. Saint Dhurvaasar asked King Ubharisaravasu to go to Palasavana Kshetram near Cauvery River and perform Annadhaanam to 1 Lakh people.
King immediately left for that place with a battalion of Cook. The population of that place was only a few hundreds, so he thought of distributing food to whoever comes to that village. Every Day he was able to provide food for people in thousands. The king was also happy. One Day early morning, an old man came to the king and told him that he was very hungry. The king performed his poojas very fast and served food to the old man. The old man ate the complete food prepared for thousands of people and still felt hungry. The king requested the old man to wait for some time to cook again and asked the old man whether he required any snacks in the meantime. The old man asked the king to get him Appam in a pot. The Appam was made very fast and the king brought it a pot full and gave it to the old man. While eating the Appam old man became Lord Vishnu and removed the curse of the king given by Saint Dhurvaasar and laid down there with the pot full of Appam. So the Lord here was called as "Appakkudathaan” and "Appala Ranganathan".
The Good advice given by Sriman Narayanan in this shetram is "There is only one God". So don’t fight for it and avoid Racism.
Since, Lord Emperuman gave Appam to Ubamanyu, the prasadam here for the lord is Appam for evening pooja for him.
The activity of Sriman Narayanan, who gave the appam was seen in Gnyana Thirusti of nammalwar who is Thirukkurugoor Biran Sadagopan has compared Thirumaliruncholai and Thiruppernagar and sung 11 pasurams in Thiruvaimozhi.
In that paasurams, he is explaining how Vishnu is getting out of Thirumaliruncholai and the way he gives seva to all the people in Thirupper Nagar. He has a lot of appams in his stomach and gives to all the persons, who are suffering from hunger. Because of this, he doesn't want to get out of Thiruppernagar and sung as "Aara Vayitrinai Adangap Pidithen".
Also, from this shtalam only, Nammalwar started his way to reach Paramapadham. Thiruvarangam is popularly called as "Periya Kovil". To explain the speciality of Srirangam, here Sriman Narayanan has given the seva as "Appakkundathan". Since, the Sthalam is situated on Cauvery banks and the Lord is in sleeping posture, this place is called "Kovil Adi". To memorise the situation of Srirangam, the theertham here is Kollidam.
About Temple:-
The temple has inscriptions from the 18th year of the regime of Aditya Chola.The recorded inscriptions in this temple are numbered 283, 300, 301 and 303 of 1901. As per Nammazhwar, the place was home to Vedic scholars of the time. The inscriptions in the temple indicate donations to build the main hall. During the Anglo-French war in the regions surrounding Tiruchirapalli, Koviladi was one of the focal points. There are no records on the contributions or damages caused by these wars.
The temple has a three-tiered rajagopuram facing west and an elevated structure approached through 21 steps. The Moolavar (presiding deity) of the temple, "Appala Rangan '', is seen in Bhujagashayanam (a reclining posture) facing west and is surrounded by Bhooma Devi and Kamala Valli Thaayar. The image of the central deity is depicted in a reclining posture, called pujanga sayanam and he is seen holding the holy pot in his right hand. The sanctum also contains the image of Upayamanyu and Durvasa. The central deity is called Appala Ranganathar as he is located away from (appal) the Ranganathar in Srirangam.The temple has a prakaram (precinct) around the sanctum.
Moolavar:-
The Moolavar of this Sthalam is Appakudathan. He is also called as “Appalaa Ranganathan ''. Prathyaksham for Ubamannyu and Parasarar(Bhattar). Moolavar in Kidantha Kolam and in Bhujanga sayanam facing west direction.
Thayaar:-
The Thayaar of this Sthalam is Indira Devi. Also called “Kamala Valli”.
Mangalasasanam:-
Periyalwar – 2 Paasurams.
Thirumangai Alwar – 19 Paasurams
Thirumizhisai Alwar – 1 Paasuram.
Namaalwar – 11 Paasurams.
Total – 33
