KUMBHAKONAM

Ponnappan, Maniyappan and Muthappan. The image of Mulavar in standing posture bears many resemblances to the image of Tirupathi Balaji, the Lord of Seven Hills. Many similar traditions are followed besides performing several rituals.  It goes by many other names such as Bhuloka Vaikunthant.  Tulssivanam and Markandeya kshetram.

According to legend, the illustrious sage Markandeya brought up Bhudevi here and Lord Mahavishnu sought her hand and was wedded here for blessing the devotees.  The image of Bhudevi in sitting posture is scaled at the feet of here Lord along with Sridevi too on the other side.  As the story goes the sage, Markandeya requested the Lord to accept food without ,alt. The Lord agreed. 

Hence the practice of preparing Naivedyam without salt.  So the lord is called Lavana varjita Venkateswara -Oppliappan.  The temple tank is called Ahoratra Pushkarini supposed to contain Ganga water and so called Dakshina Ganga.  Several festivals in accordance with Vaikanasa Agama and Vadakalai Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya are celebrated, Brahmostava in purattasi tops the list.  There are a wide variety of sevas akin to the Balaji temple, and through out the year, there is heavy rush for darsan and sevas.

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