Uppiliyappan at Thiruvinnagar

Temple features:
Name of this place	Thiru-Vinagaram
Deity in sanctum	Upiliyappan ( East facing standing pose)
Consort of Vishnu in sanctum	Boomi-Nachiyar
Deity for festivals	Uppiliyappan
Consort for festivals	Boomi-Nachiar
Tower is called	Suddha-Aanandha-vimanam
Holi tank	Ahoratra-Pushkarini
Devotees who have seen the god here	Makandeyar, Cauvery and Garuda
Devotional song sung on the deity by	Thiru-Mangai-Alvar sung 34 songs, Peyalzhvar 2 and Poigai-alzhvar 1.
Sri Bramanda puranam says that Sage Naradha once asked Brahma about this holi place. Brahma told Naradha that long time ago Sage Markandeyer did penance for one thousand years in this place to have Sri Lakshmi as his daughter. Lord was pleased with his penance and granted the boon that Lakshmi would be born as his daughter. Happily Markandeyar woke up from his penance and found a baby girl under a Thulasi plant. Sage markandeya was very happy. He took the baby and brought her up naming her Boomi Nachiyar. Years passed. Sri Boomi-nachiyar became an young maid. One day in Panguni ( march) month on Ekadesi day an old man asked Markandeyer for the hands of Boomi-nachiar in marriage to himself. But Markandeyar told him that his daughter was too young and would not be a match for him. But the old man was adamant and wanted to marry Boomi-nachiar. Markandeyar told him that his daughter did not have adequate training in cooking and forget to add salt in the food. In anger the old man might curse his daughter. So he again refused to agree to the alliance. Then the Old man said that he would accept food without salt and said he would not go without his daughter. Sage Markandeya was confused. He closed his eyes and prayed to Vishnu. He realised by intution that the old man was none other than Lord Vishnu himself. When he opened his eyes Lord Vishnu was there before him with shanku and Chakkara. Markandeya was very happy and married his daughter to Sri Vishnu. Because of this background story even now in this kshetram offering to the God are not salted. Hence this deity is called Uppili-Appan.   Om Namo Lakshmi Narayanaya Namaha   Location: Thiru-vinnagara Kshetram (Uppiliyappan koil) is 4 kms from Kumbakonam in Tamilnadu. Buses and private limosins are avialable.            Home