UPPILI-
APPAN – ASTOUNDING ABODE OF LORD VISHNU G. RavishankarHave you ever wondered how your would be without
salt? However, in Uppili-Appan temple accepts prasadam made without salt. Amazingly, devotees enjoy the prasadam without salt. A celestial city on earth - Thiru-
viN-nagaram - is one of the names by which Uppiliappan Koil is known. Situated within 2 km. from Tirunageswaram Railway Station and around 4 Kms from Kumbakonam, this is one of the most important shrines for Vaishnavites and is a celebrated temple of the 108 abodes of Vishnu. The Lord is known as Uppili-appan (one who avoids salt) or Oppili-appan (one who is unparalleled), Srinivasan, Venkatachalapathy, Thiru-viN-nagara-appan, etc. The Lord is seen in the standing posture, Nindraan, of the four postures in which He is installed. It is in Thiru-viN-nagaram that He married Bhoo Devi and She is seen sitting, facing north, while the Lord faces the east. The temple has the unique distinction of being sung by more than one Vaishnavite savant,
Alwar. Poigai Alwar, Pey Alwar, Tirumangai Alwar and Nammalwar have sung the praise of Uppiliappan. More followsNammalwar envisioned the Lord in five different forms and called him by five different names, Ponnappan, Maniappan, Muthappan, Ennappan and Thiru-viN-nagara-appanMarkandeya closed his eyes in worshipful prayer to his Lord, and sought His divine intervention to save him and his daughter out of this precarious situation. Lord Vishnu appeared in his inner eye and when he opened his eyes, Markandeya saw the old man in the same youthful form that he envisioned of the Lord in his heart. He was so happy that the Lord proposed the hand of his daughter and he gave Her in marriage to Him in the month of Aippasi, on a day ruled by the star Thiruvonam.The Lord granted Markandeya three boons. The first was a promise to stay in the place - Uppiliappan Koil - forever. The second one is that the place would be known after Markandeya, as Markandeya kshetra and the third one is that He would delightfully accept preparations without salt and that all His devotees would do as wellHow to get there:You can contact Paramount Airways regarding availability of flight from your destination to Madurai. Paramount Airways offers thrice-daily flight connections from Chennai and Bangalore and through connections from South Indian Cities. Upon arrival in Madurai, you can arrange for transport by road to reach Uppili-Appan Koil.
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