Oppiliappan Temple

Oppiliappan , also known as Thiruvinnagar is a very sacred place, where boons are granted to devotees and is one among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnava’s.   This pilgrim centre bears many names such as Akasa Nagaram, Vaikunta Nagaram, Thiruvinnagar, Uppiliappan Sannadhi.  The lord here is present in five forms – ponnappan, maniappan, muttappan, vinnagarappan and ennappan.

Puja Practice:

Pujas and festivals are conducted in the temple according to Vaikhanasa Agama sastras. Pujas are performed six times daily, starting with Viswarupa Darsanam in the morning when recitation of Suprabhatam, Prapatti and Mangalam specially composed in praise of this deity takes place.

Tiruppavai recitation and Vedaparayanam then follow, concluding with Sathumurai. Then the principal Puja takes place, when offerings are made at all other shrines also. Then at noon another Puja is performed. Again the evening Puja is held, when recitation of Divya Prabandha and Veda Parayana takes place, followed by Sathumurai. Then about 8.00p.m. Principal night Puja is performed when offerings are made at all other shrines also. Then the last Puja for the day is performed about 9 p.m., following which the temple is closed for the day.


The temple View
Unique feature of the Temple

All food offerings at the temple are strictly and completely saltless. Salt or any food item containing salt is not allowed in the temple beyond Garuda’s Sannidhi. It is customary to offer a mixture of salt and pepper to the footprints in front of the Garuda and by doing this it is believed that such worshippers get releif from all kinds of skin ailments. It is a sin to carry salt inside the temple. Hence the Lord is also called as ‘Lavana Varjita Venkatesa’ i.e. Venkatesa who avoids salt.

There is no separate shrine for Bhoomidevi here and as already stated, Bhoomidevi is sitting with folded hands by the side of the Lord in the main sanctum sanctorum. The utsava deity of Oppiliappan is never taken out of the temple, without His consort, Bhoomidevi. The lord is also known as lord Venkateshwara’s brother and so those devotees who are unable to visit tirupati to fulfill their promises can do so here. For the Kshetra Purana or Legend behind this temple visit – Oppiliappan – Kshetra Purana

About the Idol
The lord is 8 ft tall with Bhoomidevi on the right and Markandeya Naharishi on the left. “Maam Ekam Saranam Vruja’ is written on the left hand of the lord.  Lord never leaves the temple without Bhoomidevi thayar since he had promised Sage Markandeya that he would never leave his daughter bhoomidevi thayar alone while asking her hand in marriage.

How to reach
The temple is situated about 7kms south of Kumbakonam in tanjore district of Tamilnadu.  It is located at Thirunageshwaram post. Buses, autos and private vehicles are available to reach Oppiliappan temple from kumbakonam. Staying facilities are also available near the temple as well at kumbakonam. Number of town buses ply frequently between Kumbakonam and this place and Naganatha Swamy Temple (Rahu Sthalam) is also closeby

Important Details

Temple Timings  -  Temple is open from 6 am to 1 pm in the noon and from 4 pm to 9 pm in the evenings.
Official Website – http://oppiliappantemple.org/index.html
Address of the Temple:

Arulmigu Venkatachalapathi Swami Temple
Oppiliappan Koil
Tirunageswaram – 612 004
(Kumbakonam Taluk)

Phone (0435) 246 33 85