Sri Oppiliappan Temple (Uppiliappan Koil), in Thirunageswaram in Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Uppiliappan Perumal (Vishnu) with consort Bhumidevi. It is also known as Thiruvinnagar, Oppiliappan Kovil, Oppiliappan Sannidhi.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet saints, and is counted as the 60th Divya Desam. It is one of the most actively visited and well documented Divya Desams in the Kumbakonam region. According to temple legend, sage Markandeya performed penance for a child and was blessed with a daughter who was Bhumidevi reborn.
Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
| Evening | 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
Timings can vary slightly by season and on festival days; confirm locally before visiting.
Poojas and daily rituals
Daily rituals include multiple kalams of abhishekam and neivedhyam; uniquely, no salt is used in any food offering made to the deity
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Ramanavami | 10 days, Chithirai (March/April) | Celebrated on a grand scale with music and dance performances, culminating in kanakabhishekam and Rama Pattabhishekam |
| Brahmotsavam / Chariot Festival | 9 days, Panguni (March/April) | Major annual festival with the temple car procession on the final day |
| Vasanta Utsavam | 6 days, Vaikasi (May/June) | Spring festival held in the temple garden (Nandavanam) |
| Pavitrotsavam | 5 days, around Avani/Sravanam (August/September) | Purification festival ending on Sravanam day with an early morning Garuda seva |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style with a five tiered rajagopuram and a gold plated vimana over the sanctum known as Suddhananda Vimana
History
According to temple legend, sage Markandeya performed penance for a child and was blessed with a daughter who was Bhumidevi reborn. Vishnu appeared before the sage in disguise seeking to marry her, and when the sage worried that his young daughter did not yet know how to cook with salt, the Lord replied that he would happily accept food without salt as his favourite offering. He then revealed his true form as Vishnu and married Bhumidevi at this spot, taking the name Uppiliappan, meaning the one without salt. To this day no salt is used in the neivedhyam (food offering) prepared for the deity.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located in Thirunageswaram village, about 5 km from Kumbakonam railway station and bus stand; reachable by bus, taxi, or auto-rickshaw. Nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli (Trichy), around 90 km away.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Confidence level as originally recorded for this entry; no further explanatory note was written at the time