Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Uppiliappan Perumal

Uppiliappan Perumal.This temple is in Thanjavur District. As per legend, once Tulasi did penance to attain closeness to Vishnu. Vishnu gave a boon to the plant that his consort Lakshmi would appear under her lap in Tiruvinnagaram. Tulasi appeared in the place where the temple is located. 

Mrikandu Maharishi's son, Markandeya worshiped Vishnu and desired for the boon that Lakshmi should appear as his daughter and Vishnu himself should become his son-in-law.

Once Markandeya was on a holy trip and after reaching Thiruvinnagaram, he felt that it was the right place for getting his desire fulfilled. Markandeya started a severe penance for thousand years seeking Lakshmi's blessings. Lakshmi appeared as a baby under the already incarnated tulasi plant. Markandeya felt the presence of Lakshmi as the incarnation in the form of the baby and realised that a part of his desire had been fulfilled. 

He took possession of the baby and raised her. When the young girl reached adolescent age, on the panguni month of Shravana, Vishnu appeared as an old man and asked for the hand of Markandeya's daughter in marriage. Markandeya replied that, "You are very ripe and old, my daughter is too young and she does not even know how to cook with proper salt contents" to which the old man replied, "If your daughter must cook without salt, then I will still take it as my best food, but I will not leave from here without marrying her". 

Markandeya sought the help of Vishnu and then realised using his penance that the old man was none other than Vishnu himself. When he opened his eyes, Vishnu appeared in front of him with sanku and chakram as in Vaikundam.

Markandeya offered his daughter's hand in marriage. As per the legend, the temple Neyvethiyam (food offering in the temple) is always prepared without salt in the food.

The name Uppiliappan is as result of this legend.




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