| DescriptionThis
Divyadesam is located at a distance of about 10km from Lalgudi near Tiruchirappalli and is 23km west of the Shivastalam Tiruvaiyaru. It is
also known by the names Indragiri, Palaasavanam, and Pancharangam. Deities:
Vishnu is referred to as Appakkudattaan or Appalaa Ranganathar; the sanctum enshrining
Vishnu in a reclining posture, faces West. The image of Appakkudattaan, blessing Upamanya
Muni, holds a pot. Legend has it that Upamanyu Muni and Paraasarar were blessed by Vishnu
here. There is a separate shrine for Kamalavalli taayaar in an east facing sanctum.
There are also shrines to Ganesha, Nammalwar, Ramanuja, Lakshmi Narayana and
Venugopala. It is believed that Nammalwar recited the last of his paasurams here before
departing the mortal world.
The temple: This is a temple built at an elevation on a hill by name
Indragiri. With 2 prakarams, it covers an area of about 2.5 acres, and has a rajagopuram
of great workmanship. Inscriptions from the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar periods are
seen here.
Legends: A ruler by name Uparisravas offered penance at this shrine to
obtain relief from a curse of Durvasa muni. Per his penance, he resolved to feed a hundred
thousand guests each day. Legend has it that Vishnu appeared in the form of an aged guest
and pleaded with the king to feed him. His supply of cooked rice exhausted for the day,
the distraught king sought a way out and fed the elderly guest with an offering of sweet
rice cakes (appam). The king percieved Vishnu in the form of an elderly guest and was
absolved of his curse. Vishnu here is portrayed with a pot containing sweet rice cakes and
hence the name Appakkudattaan. Appam is prepared as a daily offering to the deity here.
Festivals:Vaikuntha Ekadasi, and the annual Panguni Bhramotsavam are
celebrated here. Six worship services are offered each day.
Tirumazhisai Alwar refers to seven shrines featuring Vishnu in a reclining position
- Tirukkudandai, Tiruvegkaa, Tiruvallur,
Tiruvarangam, Tiruppernagar,
Anbil and Tirupparkadal
in a paasuram. |
