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Thirunageswaram · Tamil Nadu

Arulmigu Sri Oppiliappan Perumal Temple

Arulmigu Sri Oppiliappan Perumal Temple — Thiruvinnagar / Thirunageswaram village, near Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu

Sri Oppiliappan (Uppiliappan) / Lavana-varjita Venkatesa — the 60th of the 108 Divya Desams; the only temple in the world where naivedya is entirely salt-free; held to be the elder brother of Tirupati Venkateshwara; the unique sanctum installation of sage Markandeya beside the main idol

अन्य नाम: Oppiliappan · Uppiliappan · Thiruvinnagar · Lavana-varjita Venkatesa · Venkatachalapathy (Tamil name)

  • The 60th of the 108 Divya Desams
  • The only temple in the world where…
  • The only Divya Desam where Perumal…
  • Sage Markandeya installed inside t…
Arulmigu Sri Oppiliappan Perumal Temple
दर्शन समय
06:00 – 21:00
स्वरूप
Standing east-facing Vishnu ~8 ft
स्थान
Thirunageswaram · Tamil Nadu
उत्तम ऋतु
October-February has the best weathe…
काल
Very ancient

इस मन्दिर की विशेषता

  • The 60th of the 108 Divya Desams (Thiruvinnagar)
  • The only temple in the world where naivedya is entirely salt-free; the deity is titled 'Lavana-varjita Venkatesa'; salt is forbidden even beyond the Garuda Sannidhi
  • The only Divya Desam where Perumal is worshipped in 5 forms (Ponnappan, Maniappan, Muttappan, Vinnagarappan, Ennappan)
  • Sage Markandeya installed inside the sanctum in a kanyadana posture — world-unique iconography
  • Held to be the elder brother of Tirupati Venkateshwara (local tradition)
  • Ahoraathra Pushkarani — the only Vaishnava tirtha tank traditionally open day AND night for bathing
01
मूल विग्रह

मुख्य देव एवं स्वरूप

Sri Oppiliappan Perumal — Vishnu in a standing form, ~8 ft tall, east-facing; consort Bhumi Devi (Markandeya's adopted daughter) is seated on the right of the main idol; sage Markandeya is seated on the left in a kanyadana posture — the installation of a sage within the sanctum is extremely rare; five-form worship: Ponnappan (utsavar), Maniappan, Muttappan (no longer extant), Vinnagarappan (sanctum), Ennappan — the only Divya Desam where Perumal is worshipped in 5 forms

Standing east-facing Vishnu ~8 ft; sage Markandeya in kanyadana posture installed inside the sanctum — unique in the world; the vimana is Suddhananda (pure-bliss) Vimana

सम्प्रदाय: Sri Vaishnava — both Tenkalai and Vadakalai; an Alvar-sung Divya Desam from the 7th-9th century CE; with Periyalvar + Thirumangai Alvar + Nammalvar (3 Alvars, 47 pasurams)

02
स्थल-पुराण

कथा, इतिहास एवं महत्व

The Markandeya tapasya narrative (originating sthala-purana)

Sage Markandeya, son of Mrikandu rishi, having received the boon of eternal age-16, performed 1,000-year tapasya desiring Lakshmi as his daughter and Vishnu as son-in-law. On the Sravana nakshatra in the Tamil month of Panguni, Lakshmi appeared as an infant beneath a Tulasi plant. When she reached marriageable age, Vishnu came disguised as an old Brahmin and asked for her hand. Markandeya protested that she was too young — she did not even know how to cook with proper salt. Vishnu replied — 'If your daughter must cook without salt, I will still take it as my best food' — and married her on the spot. Hence the entire naivedya at this temple is prepared without salt — the only salt-free Divya Desam in the world.

Divya Prabandham (Nalayira Divya Prabandham) — Thiruvinnagar Mangalasasanam

The 60th Divya Desam; 47 pasurams sung by Periyalvar, Thirumangai Alvar and Nammalvar; Poigai Alvar and Peyalvar also reference the kshetram

संत एवं परम्परा

  • Sage Markandeya (son of Mrikandu rishi) — the originating tapasvi; Bhumi Devi's adoptive father; installed as an idol within the sanctum
  • Periyalvar + Thirumangai Alvar + Nammalvar — 47-pasuram composition
  • Poigai Alvar + Peyalvar — referenced the kshetram
  • Rajaraja Chola I + Rajendra Chola I — inscriptional gifts
  • Thanjavur Nayaks (16th-17th century) — later contributions
  • Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department — modern administration

ऐतिहासिक घटनाक्रम

  1. 800Medieval Chola-era major construction period (post-late 8th century) — Wikipedia + Templefolks multi-source
  2. 1000Rajaraja Chola I + Rajendra Chola I inscriptional gifts — Wikipedia + tntemplesproject
03
नित्य उपासना

दर्शन समय एवं आरती

06:00 से 21:00 तक

Morning Darshan06:00-13:00
Daily
Midday closure13:00-16:00
Daily
Evening Darshan16:00-21:00
Daily
During Purattasi (mid-September to mid-October) — Suprabatham 03:40 + Viswaroopa Darshan 04:0003:40-04:00
Purattasi period

विशेष नियम: The temple's naivedya is entirely salt-free; salt is forbidden even beyond the Garuda Sannidhi (carrying salt-containing items inside is considered a sin); photography forbidden in the garbhagriha; traditional dress code

04
दर्शन

दर्शन के प्रकार

General Free Darshanनिःशुल्क
समय
06:00-13:00 + 16:00-21:00 (daily)
उपयुक्त
All devotees

The 60th Divya Desam; the unique salt-free naivedya tirtha; 5-form Perumal darshan; typical darshan 15-20 minutes.

Special Kalyana Utsavam puja booking

Vishnu-Bhumi Devi wedding re-enactment puja (Kalyana Utsav). Famous as an early-marriage sankalpa.

Salt-free naivedya prasadamनिःशुल्क

The world's only fully salt-free prasadam; a traditional darshan taste.

Monthly Sravana Vratam (Thiruvonam nakshatra day)

Devotees fast on salt-free food on every monthly Thiruvonam nakshatra.

Ahoraathra Pushkarani bathनिःशुल्क

The only Vaishnava tirtha tank traditionally open for bathing both day and night.

05
उत्सव

प्रमुख पर्व एवं उत्सव

Chariot festival (Ther Thiruvizha) — principal festival (9-day)Panguni (March-April)

The temple's most famous 9-day chariot procession.

Vasanta Utsavam (6-day)Vaikasi (May-June)

A spring-season celebration.

Pavitrotsavam (5-day)Avani (August-September)

Temple-purification festival.

Brahmotsavam 2026 (9-day)Purattasi (September-October)

Begins around 15 September 2026 (per third-party verified.realestate); a 9-day grand celebration.

Kalyana Utsavam (Vishnu-Bhumi Devi wedding re-enactment) — 12-dayAippasi (October-November); Sravanam nakshatra start

12-day kalyana utsav; an early-marriage sankalpa tirtha.

Adhyayana Utsavam (10 days/nights)Margali (December-January)

Divya Prabandham parayan festival.

Float festival (Theppotsavam) — 5-dayThai (January-February)

Float procession on the Ahoraathra Pushkarani.

Akshaya Tritiya — wedding anniversaryVaishakha Shukla Tritiya

Vishnu-Bhumi Devi wedding-anniversary remembrance.

Rama Navami (10 days)Chaitra Shukla Navami

10-day; concluding abhishekam.

06
आस्था

मनोकामना एवं फल

Marriage-prospects sankalpa (early-marriage tirtha)

The Vishnu-Bhumi Devi wedding site; an early-marriage and auspicious-marital-yoga sankalpa tirtha; famous for the Kalyana Utsavam re-enactment

स्रोत: Divinvite + local tradition multi-source

Salt-free-naivedya darshan sankalpa (world-unique)

The only temple in the world where naivedya is entirely salt-free; a unique prasadam-darshan sankalpa

स्रोत: IndiaDivine + Cybernag + Wikipedia multi-source

Monthly Sravana Vratam sankalpa (Thiruvonam nakshatra day)

Fast on salt-free food on every monthly Thiruvonam nakshatra; a monthly tirtha-pratistha sankalpa

स्रोत: Wikipedia + Templefolks

5-form Perumal darshan sankalpa (unique)

The only Divya Desam where Perumal is worshipped in 5 forms; a unique form-darshan sankalpa

स्रोत: Templefolks + 108divyadesam

Elder-brother Venkatesha darshan sankalpa (Tirupati-linked)

Held to be the elder brother of Tirupati Venkateshwara; a Tirupati-yatra-preceding darshan tradition

स्रोत: Go Tirupati + Tirumala Tirupati Yatra

Ahoraathra Pushkarani night-bath sankalpa

The only Vaishnava tirtha tank with night-time bathing too; an ahoraathra (day-and-night) bath sankalpa

स्रोत: Templefolks + Wikipedia

07
जप

मन्त्र एवं स्तोत्र

  • Om Namo Bhagavate VasudevayaDvadashakshara mantraBhagavata tradition
  • Om Namo NarayanayaAshtakshara mantraVaishnava tradition
  • Thiruvinnagar pasuram chanting (47 pasurams — Periyalvar + Thirumangai Alvar + Nammalvar)Tamil Vaishnava stotraNalayira Divya Prabandhamइस मन्दिर हेतु60th Divya Desam Mangalasasanam
  • Om Lavana-varjitaya Namah / Oppiliappan nama japaNama mantraLocal Vaishnava traditionइस मन्दिर हेतु
08
तीर्थाटन

समीप के तीर्थ एवं परिपथ

Thirunageswaram Rahu Sthala (Navagraha Naga Temple)1.5 किमी

The Rahu tirtha of the 9 Navagraha temples; for Kala-Sarpa dosha removal; a two-tirtha darshan with Oppiliappan nearby

Kumbakonam Kumbeshwarar Temple (Brahma tirtha)6 किमी

The principal Shiva tirtha of Kumbakonam; near the Mahamaham tank; a famous Shaiva tirtha

Sarangapani Perumal Temple (Divya Desam)6 किमी

Included in the 108 Divya Desams; the other principal Vaishnava tirtha of Kumbakonam; a one-day combined darshan

Ahoraathra Pushkarani (temple tirtha tank)100 मी

The only Vaishnava tirtha tank traditionally open for bathing both day and night

Thanjavur Brihadeshwara Temple (UNESCO World Heritage)40 किमी

Built by Rajaraja Chola I (1010 CE); UNESCO World Heritage-listed

Swamimalai (one of the Muruga 6 Padaiveedu)15 किमी

Included in the 6 Muruga Padaiveedu

108 Divya Desam (Vaishnava pilgrimage chain)

The 60th Divya Desam (Thiruvinnagar); 47 pasurams sung by Periyalvar + Thirumangai Alvar + Nammalvar

108 मंदिर

Kumbakonam Divya Desam cluster one-day yatra

Oppiliappan + Sarangapani + other Kumbakonam Divya Desams — 4-5 tirtha combination

5 मंदिर

Tirupati-Venkateshwara-yatra-preceding elder-brother darshan tradition

Pre-Tirupati Oppiliappan darshan (held to be the elder brother); a two-tirtha combination

2 मंदिर

Navagraha yatra combination (Rahu Sthala Thirunageswaram)

Oppiliappan + Thirunageswaram Rahu Sthala pair; combined Kala-Sarpa dosha + marriage-prospects sankalpa

2 मंदिर

09
मार्गदर्शन

यात्रा एवं संपर्क

पता
Arulmigu Sri Oppiliappan Perumal Temple, Thirunageswaram village, Kumbakonam taluk, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu — PIN 612204
हवाई अड्डा
Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) — ~90-95 km (primary); Madurai (~190 km) + Chennai (~310 km) alternatives
रेलवे
Kumbakonam Junction Railway Station — ~5-7 km (nearest)
बस-स्टैण्ड
Kumbakonam bus stand (TNSTC) — ~5-7 km; 15-minute auto/taxi
उत्तम ऋतु
October-February has the best weather; Brahmotsavam begins around 15 September 2026; Panguni Chariot Festival in March-April; Kalyana Utsav in Aippasi October-November; Akshaya Tritiya wedding-anniversary on Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya
प्रबन्धन
Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department (NOT TTD — explicit clarification)
वेबसाइट
https://oppiliappan.org ↗
6 किमीKumbakonam Junction
40 किमीThanjavur
95 किमीTiruchirappalli
190 किमीMadurai
310 किमीChennai
110 किमीPondicherry
470 किमीTirupati
← सभी मंदिर निर्देशिका
Arulmigu Sri Oppiliappan Perumal Temple — दर्शन, आरती, इतिहास एवं यात्रा | Pauranik | Pauranik