Oppiliappan Temple, also known as Uppiliappan Kovil, is a prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located in Thirunageswaram near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, sacred shrines glorified in the Vaishnavite tradition. Vishnu is worshiped as Oppiliappan and his consort Lakshmi as Bhudevi.
The temple is one of the Pancha Kshethram, where Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi- the daughter of the sage Bhrigu. The temple is considered the southern counterpart of Tirupathi temple and hence devotees perform their marriages and vows as they do in Tirupathi.
As per tradition, no salt is used in the temple offerings, symbolizing the purity of the sanctified food offered to the deity.
The temple is believed to be over 1,200 years old and has inscriptions dating back to the Chola dynasty (9th–13th century CE). Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.
The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (the gateway tower) and is enshrined within a granite wall. The shrine over the sanctum is plated with gold. The main shrine of the temple houses the idol of Oppiliappan in standing posture and it also houses the idols of Bhoomidevi and sage Markandeya. The vimana is called Suddhananda, meaning “pure happiness”.
According to the legend ‘Tulasi’ performed penance to get close to Lord Vishnu. Vishnu told her that his consort, Lakshmi, would appear under her lap in ‘Thiruvinnagaram’. Tulasi then appeared as a plant at the site where the temple stands today.
‘Sage Markandeya’, a great devotee of Vishnu, wished for Lakshmi to be his daughter and Vishnu to be his son-in-law. On a pilgrimage, he reached Thiruvinnagaram and began a severe penance for 1,000 years. Lakshmi appeared as a baby under the Tulasi plant, and Markandeya adopted her and raised her as his daughter.
When she came of age, on the day of ‘Panguni Shravana’, Vishnu appeared disguised as an old man and asked for her hand in marriage. Markandeya initially hesitated, pointing out their age difference and joking that his daughter did not even know how to cook properly. The old man replied, “Even if she cooks without salt, I will still accept it as the best food.” Markandeya realized through his divine vision that the old man was Vishnu himself. Vishnu revealed his celestial form, and Markandeya happily married his daughter to him.
Due to this legend, the temple’s offerings (Neyveidhyam) are always prepared without salt. The deity is known as ‘Oppiliappan’, meaning “the one who cannot be equaled.”
Brahmotsavam, Panguni Utsavam, and Tiruvonam are some of the festivals celebrated here on a grand scale. During Vaikunta Ekadasi the temple celebrates this event with grandeur, symbolizing the opening of the gates of Vaikunta (Lord Vishnu’s abode).