Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple, Koviladi

Sthala Purāṇam

Thirupper Nagar at Koviladi, sung by the Alvars, derives its name from the Lord's promise that he will never depart from this place or from the hearts of his devotees, the region having been called Per Nagar in Chola times; Koviladi denotes its position downstream (adi) of the great kovil at Srirangam. The presiding deity, reclining in Kidantha Kolam facing west, is Appakkudathaan (Appala Ranganatha), with Thayar as Indravalli or Kamalavalli. The central sthala puranam tells of a king afflicted by the curse of sage Durvasa, who had passed unnoticed and so deprived the king of his strength. To expiate this, the king performed annadhanam, feeding a lakh of people daily on the banks of the Kaveri. One day an aged Brahmin appeared and consumed all the food prepared yet remained unsatisfied, asking only for a pot (kudam) of sweet appam. When the king offered it, the Brahmin revealed himself as Vishnu, lifted the curse, and reclined here holding the pot of appam, whence the name Appakkudathaan (he of the pot of appam). The temple is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams along the Kaveri. It is also revered as the place where sage Markandeya was freed from Yama's decree of early death. Nammalvar, Periyalvar, Tirumangai Alvar and Tirumazhisai Alvar have all sung its praise; tradition holds it as a mukti sthalam. The vimana is the Indra Vimanam.

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