Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tirupernagar |
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| Appakkudanthaan Perumal | |
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 10°50′26″N 78°53′11″E / 10.84056°N 78.88639°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thanjavur |
| Locale | Tamilnadu |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
The Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, also known as Thirupper Nagar, is a famous Hindu temple. It is located in Koviladi, a small village in Tamil Nadu, India. This village is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the city of Tiruchirappalli. This temple is very special to followers of the Hindu god Vishnu.
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What is Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple?
This temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Here, Vishnu is worshipped as Appakkudathaan Perumal. His wife, Lakshmi, is worshipped as Indira Devi. The temple is built in the traditional Dravidian architecture style. This style is common for temples in South India.
Why is this Temple Special?
The Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams. These are holy places mentioned in the poems of the Alvars. The Alvars were twelve poet-saints of South India. They lived between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. They praised Vishnu in their beautiful songs. Visiting a Divya Desam is considered very sacred by many people.
The Story of the Temple
The name "Appakkudathaan" comes from a sweet dish called appam. It is a type of pancake. Legend says that Vishnu appeared to a king named Upamanyu. The king was very hungry. Vishnu offered him a pot of appam to eat. This act of kindness gave the god his name. "Appakkudathaan" means "the one who gave appam".
Architecture and Design
The temple complex is quite large. It has a tall gateway tower called a gopuram. This tower is decorated with many sculptures. Inside, there are different shrines and halls. The main shrine houses the idol of Appakkudathaan Perumal. He is shown in a reclining (lying down) posture. This posture is often seen in Vishnu temples.
Temple Layout
The temple has several courtyards. These are called prakarams. Devotees walk around these courtyards during their prayers. There is also a holy tank (pond) within the temple grounds. Water from this tank is used for rituals. The temple walls are covered with carvings. These carvings tell stories from Hindu mythology.
Festivals and Celebrations
Many festivals are celebrated at the Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple. The most important one is the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. This festival usually happens in December or January. Thousands of devotees visit the temple during this time. Special prayers and rituals are performed. The temple car (chariot) is also used in grand processions.
Images for kids
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Image of the first precinct
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Image of the temple car used during procession
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Plaque of Ranganatha in the flag post
