Uppiliappan Temple

Uppiliappan is a temple belonging to the Vaishnavite tradition in Tiruvinnagar, a village in the Thanjavur district of southern India. The sanctuary includes several shrines around a central courtyard, where columned walkways and wall reliefs with scenes from sacred texts can be found.

The site dates from the Chola period between the tenth and twelfth centuries, when the region was a major center of temple architecture. Later rulers expanded the entrance gates and added columned halls, which continue to define the appearance today.

The name translates literally as 'Lord of Saltless Food' and reflects a legend in which the deity refused offerings prepared with salt. Locals still prepare ritual dishes without salt and serve them as sacred food to worshippers who come for blessings.

Shoes must be removed before entering the grounds, and clothing should cover shoulders and knees. Priests conduct daily ceremonies, with morning and early evening being the busiest times for rituals and prayers.

An eleventh-century inscription mentions a tulsi plant that according to local priests grows continuously on the grounds. Believers hold that its leaves carry healing powers and take them home as gifts for family members.