Koviladi Appa Kudathan Temple

Koviladi, a village situated near Lalgudi town in the Tamil Nadu state of India, stands about 23 kilometers away from Lalgudi. Also referred to as Tirupper Nagar, this village is home to a profoundly significant temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Known as the Appa Kudathan Perumal Temple, it holds the distinction of being the 6th Divya Desam within the Chola region. Delve into the details of this temple through the exploration presented in this article.

Highlights:

• Tirumazhisai Alwar, Tirumangai Alwar, Periyalwar and Nammalvar have composed Pasurams (devotional hymns) about this site.
• It is considered as the 6th Divya Desam temple. It is located in Chola region.
• God -  Appa Kudathan Perumal a.k.a. Appala Ranganatha Swamy
• Goddess - Kamalavalli a.k.a. Indra Devi
• Teerth (holy water) - Indra Teerth
• Vimana - Indra Vimana
• It is one of Pancha Ranga Kshetrams.
• Presiding deity holding the pot of Appam, which is a unique feature.
• Separate shrine for Lord Ganesha in a Vishnu temple.
• It is perhaps the only temple where Appam (a kind of sweet dish) is offered to the presiding deity every night.
• It is one of those Divya Desam temples where Vishnu is in the form of Bhujanga Sayanam posture.

Legend:

There are many legends connected to this holy site.

Lakshmi's Penance:

According to the Brahmanda Purana, Narada Rishi once sowed discord between Vishnu's consorts, Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. Each claimed superiority, prompting Vishnu to place them on a scale. Bhoo Devi's side sank, displeasing Sri Devi. She left Vaikuntha and performed intense penance in Palasa Vanam (now Koviladi). Appearing before her, Vishnu affirmed her greatness and declared he would forever hold her on his chest. This event led to the village being named Tirupper Nagar. The prefix "Tiru" in Tamil language is equivalent to the term "Sri" of Sanskrit.

Indra's Devotion:

On a certain occasion, Durvasa offered a sacred garland to Indra, who carelessly accepted it using his left arm and then handed it to his white elephant, Iravata. In an unfortunate turn of events, Iravata tugged on the garland, trampling and destroying it beneath its feet. This disrespectful act greatly angered the sage, renowned for his quick temper. In response, Durvasa cast a powerful curse upon Indra, causing him to suffer the loss of his wealth and kingdom.

Seeking guidance from Brahma, Indra descended upon Koviladi, built a tank, and worshiped Vishnu daily. The tank became Indra Teerth, and the area earned the name Indra Vanam. The temple's hill also bears Indra's name as Indra Giri. A divine voice guided Indra to churn the milky ocean, restoring his wealth.

Appa Kudam:

In a bygone era, there lived a Pandya King named Uparasavarisu, also known as Upamanyu. Engaging in a hunting expedition, he pursued a wild elephant deep within the forest. Fleeing from the King's arrows, the elephant sought refuge by the side of a tank where a devoted Brahmin was engrossed in performing his sacred rituals. Tragically, the elephant met its end in the tank, inadvertently causing the Brahmin's demise as well. This heart-wrenching incident weighed heavily on the King's conscience, for he felt responsible for indirectly causing the Brahmin's death.

Haunted by remorse, the King made a life-altering decision. He relinquished his royal throne and embarked on a journey of spiritual seeking, traversing through diverse pilgrimage sites in a quest for redemption.

Finally, the Pandya monarch arrived at the destination known as Indra Vanam. There, he engaged in rigorous penance directed towards Lord Shiva. When Shiva manifested before him, the King earnestly beseeched for Moksha, liberation from the cycle of life and death. Responding to the King's plea, Shiva imparted divine counsel: the King was instructed to erect a temple dedicated to Vishnu in that very location. Furthermore, Shiva imparted to him a sacred hymn and advised him to perform "Anna Daan," the sacred tradition of offering food, to Brahmins as an act of piety.

In adherence to this guidance, the King diligently recited the sacred hymn and extended offerings of sustenance to Brahmins over a span of numerous days. One fateful day, a transformation occurred: Vishnu took on the guise of an elderly man and descended to this very place. When the King courteously suggested that the elderly Brahmin partake in a cleansing river bath akin to the other Brahmins, the disguised Vishnu firmly declined, asserting his presence and immediate need for nourishment. Faced with this situation, the King had no alternative but to swiftly provide sustenance to the elderly Brahmin even before the rest of the Brahmins returned from their ablutions.

Vishnu, taking on the persona of the elderly Brahmin, consumed the offered food and remarkably demanded more sustenance. The distressed Pandya King found himself in a quandary, directing his attendants to prepare additional provisions. In a pivotal moment, the King presented a grand pot containing a sweet dish named Appam to the Brahmin. At this juncture, Vishnu unveiled his true form, accepting the pot with graciousness. It's of note that in the Tamil language, "Kudam" signifies a pot. Therefore, "Appa Kudathan" signifies the divine Lord holding the pot containing the delightful Appam. Hence, the deity earned the name "Appa Kudathan." Ultimately, through this profound interaction, Vishnu granted the Pandya King liberation, bestowing upon him Moksha.

Mahabali:

According to an alternate tale, the sacred reservoir is referred to as Nitya Pushkarani. In this narrative, the virtuous king Mahabali engaged in the ritual of daily bathing within this tank, offering regular prayers to Vishnu. Through his unwavering devotion and steadfast commitment, Mahabali ultimately achieved Moksha, the sublime state of liberation.

Markandeya:

Markandeya Rishi's life was ordained to span a mere 16 years. In pursuit of extending his lifespan, heeding his father's counsel, Markandeya embarked on a journey to Indra Vanam, beseeching Vishnu for longevity. Faithfully, the sage conducted regular rituals in reverence of Vishnu. During this time, Shiva manifested as a swan, engaging Markandeya in conversation. Subsequently, assuming his true form, Lord Shiva imparted a hymn dedicated to Narayana, assuring the sage that this sacred chant would safeguard him from Yama's grasp, the lord of death.

Undeterred, Markandeya persisted in his devotion, faithfully reciting the hymn in honor of Vishnu. As the appointed 16 years drew to a close, Yama arrived at the site, instilling fear in the sage's heart. In his moment of distress, Markandeya fervently invoked Shiva once more, who reappeared to assure him that he would protect him from Yama's grasp. In addition, Shiva advised the sage to seek refuge in the tent of the Pandya King and implore Vishnu for aid.

Acting upon Shiva's guidance, Markandeya approached the Pandya King's tent, where he encountered an elderly form of Vishnu, gripping a pot. Bowing reverently a hundred times, Markandeya approached the old man. In a profound gesture, Vishnu lifted his arm from the pot and placed it upon the sage's head, bestowing upon him an extended lifespan. This transformative event led to the tank being named Mrityu Vinasini Teerth, signifying the waters that repel the clutches of death.

History:

Numerous verses in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, composed by four revered Alwars, resonate with the temple's sanctity. Among them, Peyalvar dedicated two verses, while Tirumangai Alwar, Nammalvar, and Tirumazhisai Alwar contributed 19, 11, and one verses respectively, collectively culminating in a total of 33 Pasurams devoted to Appa Kudathan.

This architectural gem appears to hail from the Chola era, characterized by its distinctive style, with subsequent enrichments and contributions from later Pandyas and the Vijayanagara dynasty.

The temple's historical significance is further evident through inscriptions dating back to various periods, including those of Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I, Vikrama Chola, Maravarma Pandya, Jatavarma Pandya, and Vijayanagar King Sadasiva Raya. These inscriptions illuminate the temple's enduring role in shaping regional history and culture.

Special Aspects:

Koviladi Appa Kudathan Temple is among the five key Sri Ranganath temples, forming part of the Pancha Ranga Kshetrams. It is called as Appala Rangam. The other four sites are Srirangam (Adya Rangam), Srirangapatna (Adi Rangam), Kumbakonam Sarangapani (Vada Rangam) and Mayiladuthurai (Parimala Rangam). (As per some interpretations, Vada Rangam is at Sirkazhi).

Temple Layout:

Facing westward, the temple boasts a three-tiered tower that greets the eye. Resting atop a modest elevation named Indra Giri, the temple complex is perched on a gentle hill. Accessing the temple is made easy by ascending a flight of steps that lead the way. Midway up the steps, the flagstaff and bali peetha stand as silent sentinels.

Within the western-facing sanctum, the divine figure of Ranganatha, known as Appa Kudathan, reclines in a posture termed Bhujanga Sayanam. He rests upon Sesha, the cosmic serpent, while his right arm gently touches the head of Markandeya Rishi. Adjacent to the sage, a pot of Appam is thoughtfully placed. At Appa Kudathan's feet rests Bhoo Devi, both the sage and the goddess seated upon the floor. Appa Kudathan, adorned with two arms, is characterized by the absence of Brahma at his navel.

Within the sanctum, one encounters the utsav deities of Appa Kudathan, accompanied by his two consorts and the dancing form of Krishna, Nardana Krishna.

The sanctum is encircled by two prakaras (enclosures). The Ardha Mandapa houses a sub-shrine enshrining the utsav images of several deities, including Venu Gopala. Moving onward, the Maha Mandapa features a shrine dedicated to the utsav murtis of Vishwaksena, Ramanuja, and select Alwars.

The Goddess of the site, Kamalavalli, is honored in a separate east-facing shrine within the outer prakara. Close to this shrine rests an ancient icon of Garuda.

An intriguing highlight is the moderately large sculpture of Ganesha, found within a separate shrine in the outer prakara, and referred to as Tumbikkai Alwar. Notably, a distinct sub-shrine is dedicated to Lakshmi Narayana.

Adding to the allure of the complex, an old yet resplendent temple car (Rath) rests outside the premises, situated in the Agraharam. Adorned with intricate wooden carvings, this temple car stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of yesteryears, exuding undeniable charm.

Happy travelling.