BHOOLOGA VAIKUNTHAM

Appakudaththaan PerumaL Koil

Moolavar : Sri Appakudaththaan PerumaL

Thaayaar : Sri Kamalavalli, Sri Indira Devi

Uthsavar : Sri Appaala Ranganathan

Pushkarini : Indira Theertham

Vimaanam : Vimaanam

Sthala Vriksham : Purasai Maram

Perumal ThirukkOlam : Bhujanga Shayana ThirukkOlam

MangaLaasaasanam : Nammazhwar, Thirumazhisai Azhwar,Thirumangai Azhwar, Periyazhwar.

This temple known as one of the Pancha Ranga Kshetrams is located around 25 kms from TiruchirapaLLI and around 8 kms from Bhoodhalur railway station.

The temple built by Chozha kings is said to have been in existence even before the Srirangam Ranganatha temple. This is the reason it is also known by the name of Koviladi (Kovil – Srirangam, Adi – Ahead Of/Before) and is placed second on the list of Pancha Ranga Kshetrams before Srirangam.

A king by the name of Upamanyu fell victim to the curse of the sage Durvasa, known for his short temper. He repeatedly pleaded with the sage to forgive him. The sage, taking pity on the king, told him that feeding one lakh people in the divya kshetram of Koviladi would relieve him of the curse. The king as instructed set about feeding one lakh people. One day, Lord Narayana himself in the guise of a poor old man approached the king for food. In order to test the king’s sincerity, the old man kept eating more and more exhausting all the food supply for the day. The king, realizing that this was no ordinary man, humbly enquired if he needed anything else. The old man asked the king to present him with a pot of appam (sweet dumplings). The minute the pot of appam was given to the old man, the curse was lifted and Lord Narayana appeared before the king. This is the reason the Lord here is known as Appakudaththaan.

Nammazhwar attained moksham after performing mangalaasaasanam for Appakudaththaan PerumaL.

Uthsavam

Panguni Uththiram chariot festival (March-April)

Vaikuntha Ekadasi

Navarathiri