Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple:
Located in Koviladi, a village 10 miles (16 km) from Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India, is the Hindu Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, also known as Thirupper Nagar. One of the 108 temples of Vishnu that the 12 poet saints, or Alvars, respect in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, it is devoted to the god Vishnu. Situated beside the Cauvery River, this temple is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams situated beside the river.
The 108 Vishnu temples that are respected in the Vaishnava canon are categorized as Divya Desams, including this one. The temple is situated in Chola Nadu and is ranked sixth among the Divya Desams.
Koviladi Appakudathan Temple Legend & History:
Hindu mythology states that after incurring the anger of the sage Durvasar, King Ubhamanyu lost all of his physical strength. He was instructed to feed one lakh people every day in order to lift the curse. The Hindu deity Vishnu once pretended to be an elderly man, went before the king, and requested food. The old guy ate all of the food that had been prepared for the people while the monarch continued to give. This bizarre deed astonished and perplexed the king. The elderly guy claimed that only kudam (pot) of Neyyaappam (sweatmeal) could satisfy his hunger. After granting the king’s wish, he discovered that Vishnu had actually taken the form of the elderly man. With Vishnu’s blessings, the monarch was freed from the curse of the sage. In the temple, Vishnu is referred to as “Appakkudathaan” due to a mythology.
It is thought that sage Markandeya was freed from the curse of Yama, the god of death, in this temple. Yama had cursed Markandeya to die at the age of sixteen. Ranganatha is the ruling deity, and it is said that he broke the pride of the celestial deity Indira. The location lies downstream of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, also known as kovil in Vaishnava tradition, which is why the place is called “Koviladi”. The reason the temple is called “Tiruppernagar” is that during the Chola era, the area was known as “Per Nagar.” In the Sri Vaishnava canon of Nalayira Divya Prabandam, the Alvars allude to the location as “Tiruppernagar”.
Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple Architecture:
The temple features an elevated building accessible by 21 stairs and a three-tiered rajagopuram facing west. Surrounded by Bhooma Devi and Kamalavalli Thayar, the Moolavar (presiding deity) of the temple, “Appala Rangan,” is shown in Bhujangasayanm (a reclining posture) facing west. The main god is portrayed with the holy pot clasped in his right hand while in a reclined position known as pujanga sayanam. The images of Dhurvarsa and Upayamanyu are also housed in the sanctuary. Appala Ranganathar is the major god, and he is situated at Srirangam, apart from the Ranganathar.The sanctum of the temple is surrounded by a prakaram, or precinct. Historian K.V. Soundararajan states that this temple, along with the Sowmya Narayana Perumal temple at Thirukoshtiyur, Veeraraghava Perumal temple at Thiruvallur, Rajagopalaswamy temple at Mannargudi, and Rangantha temple at Srirangapatna, are examples of the systematic arrangement of subsidiary deities found in South Indian Rangantha temples built during the 9th and 10th centuries.
Koviladi Temple Timings:
The koviladi temple is open from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm in the morning and from 04:30 pm to 08:30 pm in the evening.
Kalasanthi – 08:30 am
Uchikalam – 10:00 am
Sayarakshai – 06:00 pm
Ardha Jamam – 08:00 pm
Festivals celebrated at Koviladi Temple:
The temple celebrates the following main festivals: Teertha Vari at the River Cauvery on the day of Maasi Magam (February – March), Kaisika Dwadasi in Karthigai (November – December), and Nammalvar Moksham during Era Pathu in Margali (December – February). The 13-day Panguni Brahmotsavam is observed at the temple. The temple’s and the nearby villages’ most well-known celebration is the chariot festival. Devotees pull the temple chariot containing the festival deity throughout the streets of Koviladi during the festival, which is observed during the Tamil month of Panguni (April–May).
A group of temple priests recite verses from the Nalayira Divya Prabandham while the nadasvaram (a pipe instrument) and tavil (a percussion instrument) are played. Other festivals observed in the temple are Vaikuntha Ekadashi in December and January, Navarathri in September and October, and the butter pot breaking ceremony (known locally as uri adi).
Koviladi Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple Address:
Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, taluk, Budalur, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu – 613105
How to reach Koviladi Temple:
By Road:
The closest bus stop is Koviladi Bus Stand.
By Rail:
Tiruchi Railway Station is the closest train station.
By Air:
Tiruchi is the nearest airport.
Places near to Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple:
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Anjaneyar Temple Nanganallur
Poondi Madha Basilica
Shiva Ganga Garden
Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram
Chandra Bagwan Temple
appakkudathaan perumal temple distance:
Thanjavur to Koviladi distance – 57 min (36.6 km) via Kollidam – Kallanai Main Rd
Anbil to Koviladi distance – 23 min (15.5 km) via Ariyur Rd and Kallanai – Thiruvaiyaru Rd/Kollidam – Kallanai Main Rd
Trichy to Koviladi distance – 40 min (26.5 km) via NH 45 – North Bank Kallanai Rd
Kallanai to Koviladi distance – 13 min (7.5 km) via Kallanai – Thiruvaiyaru Rd/Kollidam – Kallanai Main Rd
Srirangam to Koviladi distance – 35 min (22.5 km) via NH 45 – North Bank Kallanai Rd and Kallanai – Thiruvaiyaru Rd/Kollidam – Kallanai Main Rd
appakkudathaan perumal temple photos:
 from Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India, is the Hindu Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, also known as Thirupper Nagar.){kind=link}