Lord Uppliappan - The One Who Is Served Food Without Salt!



 The next temple in the list of Divya Desham is the famous Uppliappan temple, also called as Thiruvinnagar temple, located in Thirunageshwaram in Kumbakonam district of Tamil Nadu. Lord Vishnu is the presiding deity as Lord Uppliappan and His consort is Bhudevi.

Legend has it that this place is the avathara-sthal (birth place) of Bhudevi. Rishi Markandeya harboured hopes of acquiring Devi Lakshmi as his daughter. In the course of his travels, he came to Thiruvinnagaram and undertook severe penance to beget Devi Lakshmi as his daughter. One day, he finally found a girl-baby lying under the Tulasi plant in the place where the temple is currently situated. The Rishi's joy knew no bounds as he realised that his penance had been rewarded. He raised the child as his own daughter. When the time came for her marriage, an old man approached Markandeya and asked for his daughter's hand in marriage to himself. The Rishi gently refused on the grounds that the old man was at the prime-end of his life, and also that the Rishi's daughter had not yet learnt to add salt to meals; she had not yet learnt to cook anything. The old man insisted that he was willing to eat food without salt but he wanted to marry only the Rishi's daughter. Markandeya gradually realised that the old man was in fact, Maha Vishnu in disguise. Maha Vishnu then granted the Rishi, the vision of His divine form complete with Shanka and chakra. The Rishi then offered his daughter's hand in marriage to the Lord. Even today, the offerings prepared for the Lord are made without salt!

There is also a legend about the holy teertham (pond) of this temple. Once a king who was cursed by a Rishi to turn into a bird fell into the pond one night. His curse was instantly lifted and he regained his original form. This pond is the only one that is believed to perform healing works even at night. It is referred to as Ahorathra Pushkarni. 

Uppliappan is a reference to the Lord who takes food without salt. In Tamil language, Uppu means salt. Uppu Illada Appan (the one without salt) turned into the name Uppliappan. Uppliappan also has another meaning - the one who has no comparison with anyone else. 

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit this temple.  The deity of Uppliappan is one of the most beautiful deities I have ever seen. Impressive standing posture, rounded cheeks and the most beautiful part - a lovely smile that makes one keep on looking at the deity in sheer wonder and devotion. Just to see this majestic deity, one should visit this temple. 

The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (main tower) with an impressive vimana  named as Shuddaananda (pure happiness). Along with the deities of the Lord and Bhudevi, there are shrines for Lord Hanuman, Rishi Markandeya, Garuda, the 12 Alvars and a separate shrine for Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Devi Sita and Hanuman. 

Lord Uppliappan is considered as the elder brother of Tirupati Balaji. It is believed that the history of this temple is mentioned even in the Brahmanda Purana. It is considered equal to Vaikuntham in its sacredness and piety. The Lord's right palm which points towards His holy feet has the inscription from the Gita - Maamekam sharanam Vraja. (meaning, surrender to Me alone). Thirumangai Alvar, one of the prominent devotees of Maha Vishnu has highly praised this deity in his songs. It is believed that the Lord blessed him with five types of His divine vision - as Thiruvinnagarapan (which is the deity in the sanctom sanctorum), as Ponnapan (which is the deity taken out in processions), as Maniappan, Ennapan (both of which have shrines for themselves in the temple) and finally as Mutthapan (who does not exist in deity form). 

People praying in this temple are said to be blessed with long lives and peaceful family relationships. 

Benefits aside, I would like to state again - one should visit this temple, if nothing else, then just to get the darshan of one of the most beautiful forms of Maha Vishnu.

Om Namo Narayana! Om Devyai Namaha!


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