Koviladi
Encyclopedia
Koviladi also known as "Appakudathan" is 8th in the 108 Divya Desams
.Located at about 20 miles from Tiruchirapalli
this ancient temple is believed to have a special mention in the Brahmanda Purana
. This place was called ‘Palasavana Kshetra’.The principal deity Ranganatha
in Sayanam is called "Appala Ranganathar".
It is also believed that it is at this temple Maharishi Markandeya
was liberated from his curse of dying at 16 years from Yama with the blessings of the Ranganatha
at the temple. It is here at this temple that Lord Ranganatha is believed to have crushed Indira's pride about himself.
This is the only Divya Desam where Neyyappam
is offered to the Lord every night as neivedhyam.
There is a belief that couples without an offspring upon praying and offering butter with sugar to the Santhanagopalan idol at the temple will be immediately blessed with a baby.
The Moolavar at the temple is called "Appala Rangan" and is surrounded by Bhooma devi and Kamala Valli Thaayar.
and is on the way to Thanjavur along the banks of river Kaveri. Its closest town is Thirukaatupalli. Another famous temple close by is the Varagur Temple.
Divya Desams
Divya Desams refer to 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars . 105 of these are located in India, 1 in Nepal, while 2 are located outside of the Earthly realms. 'Divya' in Tamil language indicates premium and 'Desam' indicates place or temple.The two major deities...
.Located at about 20 miles from Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirappalli ) , also called Tiruchi or Trichy , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state...
this ancient temple is believed to have a special mention in the Brahmanda Purana
Brahmanda Purana
The Brahmanda Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts and has been assigned the eighteenth place in almost all the lists of the Puranas.Brahma in Sanskrit means "the biggest", anda/andam means globe...
. This place was called ‘Palasavana Kshetra’.The principal deity Ranganatha
Ranganatha
Ranganātha , also known as Sri Ranganatha, Ranganathar, or Ranga, is a Hindu deity, more well known in South India. The deity is a resting form of Lord Vishnu, one of the foremost of Hindu Gods. His consort is Goddess Lakshmi, also known as Ranganayaki, Thayar...
in Sayanam is called "Appala Ranganathar".
History
King Ubhamanyu earned the wrath of sage Durvasar and lost all his physical strength. To get rid of the curse he was asked to proceed to this place. He built a palace and fed thousands of people everyday. One day Lord Mahavishnu disguised himself as an old man and appeared before the king and asked for a meal. The Lord consumed the food prepared for a thousand people. The king was shocked and bewildered at this strange act. Not stopping with this, he asked the Lord what else he wanted. The Lord at once asked for a kudam of Neyyaappam (pot of appam). The king fulfilled His wish. Thus the king became a free man redeemed of the curse once he gave the appa kudam to the Lord.The Lord is also called ‘Appa Kudathan’ because he holds an appa kudam in his right hand in a reclining posture.It is also believed that it is at this temple Maharishi Markandeya
Markandeya
Markandeya is an ancient rishi from the Hindu tradition, born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi. He is celebrated as a devotee of both Shiva and Vishnu and is mentioned in a number of stories from the Puranas...
was liberated from his curse of dying at 16 years from Yama with the blessings of the Ranganatha
Ranganatha
Ranganātha , also known as Sri Ranganatha, Ranganathar, or Ranga, is a Hindu deity, more well known in South India. The deity is a resting form of Lord Vishnu, one of the foremost of Hindu Gods. His consort is Goddess Lakshmi, also known as Ranganayaki, Thayar...
at the temple. It is here at this temple that Lord Ranganatha is believed to have crushed Indira's pride about himself.
This is the only Divya Desam where Neyyappam
Neyyappam
Neyyappam is a south Indian speciality common in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These are rice pancakes fried in Ghee. A batter of pouring consistency is made of rice flour and jaggery. Cardamom and dried ginger are added for flavour. Neyyappam is derived from "Neyy" which means Ghee and "appam", pancake....
is offered to the Lord every night as neivedhyam.
There is a belief that couples without an offspring upon praying and offering butter with sugar to the Santhanagopalan idol at the temple will be immediately blessed with a baby.
The Moolavar at the temple is called "Appala Rangan" and is surrounded by Bhooma devi and Kamala Valli Thaayar.
Geography
The temple is located about 25 km from TiruchirapalliTiruchirapalli
Tiruchirappalli ) , also called Tiruchi or Trichy , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state...
and is on the way to Thanjavur along the banks of river Kaveri. Its closest town is Thirukaatupalli. Another famous temple close by is the Varagur Temple.