Visit to Appakudathan Perumal Temple or Thirupper Nagar,Trichy - Divya Desam 08
Appakudathan temple which dates back 1000-2000
years is the 8th Divya Desam temple located in Koviladi village which is around
10 miles from Trichy. This temple is located along the banks of river Cauvery
and is dedicated to Appakudathan/Appala Ranganathan (Vishnu) and his consort
Indira Devi/Kamala valli (Lakshmi). Vishnu is seen in saiyana kolam (lying down
posture) holding the appakudam (pot with appam) in his right hand and blessing
the devotees with the left hand in apana hasta mudra.
As per Hindu folklore, the king Ubhamanyu earned the rage of
sage Durvasar and lost all his physical strength. To get rid of the curse,
he was asked to feed one lakh people every day. One day, Lord Vishnu
disguised himself as an old man, appeared before the king and asked for a meal.
The king went on providing food to the old man who consumed all the food
prepared for the people yet not fulfilled. The king was shocked and bewildered
at this strange act. The old man then asked for a kudam (pot)
of Neyyaappam (a sweet rice cake delicacy), stating that only
it can satisfy his hunger. The king fulfilled the wish and later recognized
that it was Lord Vishnu who had appeared as the old man. The king was relieved
of the sage's curse by the blessings of Vishnu. Since then Vishnu is called
"Appakudathaan" in this temple.





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