Oppiliappan Temple

The Oppiliappan Temple at Thiruvinnagar, near Kumbakonam in the Chola Nadu, enshrines the Lord as Oppiliappan, also revered as Thiruvinnagarappan and Venkatachalapathi, and stands among the 108 Divya Desams sung by the Alwars (60th in the traditional numbering, 14th of the Chola Nadu group). The presiding Moolavar is a majestic standing form of Vishnu, worshipped here with his consort Bhumi Devi, who at this kshetra is venerated as Bhoomidevi or Bhargavi. According to the sthala purana, the sage Markandeya undertook penance desiring the Lord himself as his son-in-law, and the Lord, accepting his young daughter, promised that the offerings made to him at this shrine would forever be prepared without salt — for which reason the naivedyam at Oppiliappan is traditionally offered saltless to this day. Nammalwar’s own epithet for the deity, “Thannoppaarillappan” (“he who has no compare”), is traditionally credited as the source of the name Oppiliappan. The kshetra is closely associated in tradition with Tirupati, the Lord being regarded as a form of Srinivasa, so that worship here is held to confer the grace of the Lord of the seven hills upon the Tamil plains. The temple’s glory is celebrated in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, having been hymned by Pey Alwar, by Nammalwar, and by Thirumangai Alwar (7th-9th century), whose verses praise the Lord of Thiruvinnagar and his abode. Devotees revere Oppiliappan as a bestower of well-being and prosperity, and the saltless offering remains the temple’s most celebrated and beloved distinction.

Two Chola-period inscriptions document the temple’s early history: one, cataloged as Epigraph 211 by the Archaeological Survey’s 1911 report, records a gift of a gold jewel set with gems and pearls from the emperor Rajendra Chola I (r. 1012-1044 CE); the other, Epigraph 218, records a land grant made in the 14th regnal year of Rajaraja I. The temple was later renovated and expanded under the patronage of Govinda Dikshitar, minister to the Thanjavur Nayak rulers Achuthappa Nayak (1560-1614) and Raghunatha Nayak (1600-1634). The complex is built in Dravidian style with a five-tiered rajagopuram known as the Suddhananda Vimana, and its temple tank, the Ahoraathra Pushkarani, together with the adjoining Nattaru river, is held in local tradition to be equivalent to the celestial Viraja river.

Festivals

The grandest observance at Thiruvinnagar is the annual Brahmotsavam for Oppiliappan in the Tamil month of Purattasi (September/October). A nine-day chariot festival (Ther) is held in Panguni (March/April), a six-day Vasanta Utsavam in Vaikasi (May/June), and a twelve-day Kalyana Utsavam beginning from the Sravanam asterism in Aippasi (October/November) – Sravana being the asterism traditionally associated with Oppiliappan and marked monthly. Vaikunta Ekadasi is observed during the ten-day/night Adhyayana Utsavam in Margazhi (December/January), with the recitation of the Tiruvaymozhi, and a five-day Float festival (Theppotsavam) on the temple tank is held in Thai (January/February). Pavithrotsavam and the wider Srivaishnava festival cycle are also traditionally conducted.

Location & Access

The temple stands at Thiruvinnagar, also called Oppiliappan Koil, in the Chola Nadu country of the Kaveri delta, on the outskirts of Kumbakonam in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. Kumbakonam, the nearest major town and railway junction, serves as the convenient base for reaching the shrine, with Tiruchirappalli the closest large city and airport. The temple follows six daily worship periods, including Viswaroopa Seva, Uchikalam, Mutharkalam, and Arthajamam. Verify current darshan timings and travel details with the temple (HR&CE) or official sources before visiting.