STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA
TAMIL NADU
near Kumbakonam - Thiruvinnagaram
by Lalitha Venkat
The Uppiliappan
Temple in Thiruvinnagaram about 6km from Kumbakonam, is one of the sacred
108 Vaishnava Divya Desams and is dedicated to Lord Venkatachalapathi.
The deity is known by various names as Uppiliappan, Oppiliappan, Srinivasan,
Venkatachalapathy, Tiruvinnagarappan, etc.
Sage Markandeya
once wanted to have Bhoomadevi as his daughter and Vishnu as his son-in-law.
One day, a baby girl appeared under a tulasi plant. The sage took her home
and brought her up. When he started looking for a groom for her, Vishnu
appeared like an old man and asked Markandeya for his daughter’s hand in
marriage. Markandeya tried to fend him off by saying the young girl did
not even know how to cook, like adding salt and so on. Vishnu finally revealed
himself and promise to manage with saltless food. Thus, the marriage of
Vishnu and Bhoomadevi took place in the month of Aipasi (Oct / Nov) on
the day of star Thiruvonam. This is commemorated as a 10-day festival
every year.
The presiding
deity in this temple is facing east in a standing posture while His consort
Boomidevi is sitting next to Him facing north. Markandeya sits in a pose
facing Boomidevi as if giving her in marriage to the Lord. There is no
separate shrine for the Goddess and the Lord never leaves His sanctum without
being accompanied by Boomidevi.
The prasadam
for the Lord in this temple is prepared without salt. This is the reason
the deity is known among many other names, as Uppiliappan (uppu+ illappan),
which in Tamil means 'the One who does not take salt'.
(also listed under 108 Vaishnava
Divya Desangal - Thiru
Vinnagar)
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