The sthala purana for this divya desam is related in Brahmanda puranam by Veda Vyasa to Jaimini Maharishi. This place got its name as TirppEr Nagar, as Sri Lakshmi is believed to have stayed here for a long time. It is said that once there was a misunderstanding created by Sage Naradar as to who among the two thaayaars, viz. Mahalakshmi and Bhoodevi was greater. Perumal decided to resolve this issue by setting the two Goddess on the tow sides of a weighing scale. The pan holding Bhoomidevi is said to have gone down and the one holding Lakshmidevi went up. Thus the weighty problem was resolved, but not to the satisfaction of Lakshmidevi. So she left Vaikuntam, went to Indra kshetram and did severe penance in order to prove her supremacy. In the course of time, God appeared before Her and convinced Her saying that as He is having Lakshmi Thaayaar on His chest all the time, She is superior to Bhoodevi

Another sthala purana associated with this sthalam has to do with the Indra, as the hill and the theertham at this sthalam are named after him. It is said that once Indra was taking a ride on his elephant and was followed by Devas and apsaras. A great rishi, by name, Durvasa, was on his way to meet Indra. When he came across Indra, he was pleased and gave him a garland that he has in his hand. However, Indra was in a haughty mood, and took possesion of the garland siting on the elephant. On top of that, he placed the garland on top the elephants head. The elephant, not knowing the value of the garland, pulled it down with its trunk and crushed it beneath its feet. Durvasa got very angry and cursed that Indra would loose all his wealth and kingdom. Subsequently, the asuras went to war with devas and defeated them. The Indra lokam was now under the rule of asuras.

Indra felt very sad for his loss of humility in fron of Durvasa. He went to Brahma for help, who advised him to pray to Perumal at TiruppEr Nagar. So Indra went to TiruppEr Nagar and created a tank. He took bath daily in that tank and prayed to Lord all day. In the course of time an Asareere instructed him to go to Lord Siva who will have the solution to regaining his lost kingdom. Indra went to Siva who suggested that the problem can be resolved only if the devas get the amrutham out of the ocean, drink it and become immortal. However, they did not know how to churn the ocean. Hence they all went to Vaikuntam for Perumal's help. Perumal advised them to churn the ocean with the help of Mandara mountain using snake Vasuki as a rope. When they finally got the amrutham the devas and asuras started to quarrel among themselves. It was then left to Perumal who took the form of Mohini and distracted the asuras, so devas can have the amurtham. Thus Indra and the devas were able to defeat the asuras in their subsequent war and regain the lost kingdom. Hence the place where Indra performed his tapas is known as Indra bhavanam, the tank where he took bath every day is known as Indra pushkarani and the hill at this sthalam as Indra malai.

There is another story associated with this sthalam that mentions the origin of the Moolavar's name Appa kudaththaan. There was a Pandya king by name Uparisaravasu who went on a hunt. He saw a mad elephant that was destroying the forest and chased after it. The elephant rushed towards Gauthama maharishi's ashramam, and the king shot an arrow at the elephant. The elephant changed course and went towards the tank nearby, where a brahmin was performing a tapas. When the next arrow of the king hit the elephant, it fell down and died, but killed the brahmin as well, as the elephant collapsed on him. The king was sad that he had committed Brahmahati and renounced his throne. He wandered around and finally reached TiruppEr Nagar, where he performed severe penance. Lord Siva appeared before him and blessed the king. He also requested the king to stay at this sthalam and rebuild the temple for Perumal that was lost in an earlier yugam. He also mentioned that Lord Narayana will one day appear before him and get rid of his dosha and until then he should pray to Perumal and provide for annadhanam for brahmins by offering food along with appam, ghee and paayasam. The king did exactly what Lord Siva has asked him to do. He rebuilt the temple, cooked food, offered it to Perumal and then to the brahmins who came to his house, every day.

Observing this for a long time, Perumal decided to appear at the kings house door a poor brahmin. The Lord told the king that he had come from a long distance and was very hungry and tired and wanted some food. The king was not sure what to do as he was waiting for other brahmins to return from their daily bath at Indra pushkarani. The King mentioned this to the old brahmin, who convinced the king that feeding this old brahmin is quivalent to feeding 100 other brahmins. So the food was served and the old brahmin ate all the food, including the ones kept for other brahmins. The king got worried as the old brahmin was still hungry. He requested the brahmin to retire on his bed while a new batch of food was in preparation and the old brahmin obliged.

While this was going on, Lord Siva also appeared in front of Markandeya rishi. It is said that when the rishi was born, his father, Mirukandu rishi, knew that his som would live only for 16 years. So he advised his son to pray sincerely to get rid of his dosha. So Markandeya went to TiruppEr nagar and offered sincere prayers to Lord Siva. Lord Siva then appeared in front of the rishi as a swan, granted him the Bagavat kavacha mantram and instructed that only Narayana can provide him salvation. He also mentioned that Narayana himsef has taken the form of an old brahmin and is present at King Uparisaravasu's house. He advised the rishi to go to Perumal and get his blessings, while he stays here and keep the Yama dooths at bay.

Accordingly, the rishi went to the King's house, where he saw the old brahmin lying on a couch. He was holding an appa kudam in one hand. The rishi approached Him and bowed before Perumal 100 times. Perumal then lifted his hand from the appa kudam and blessed the rishi with longevity. This is the posture of the Moolavar, with the appa kudam in one hand and blessing Markandeya rishi. Since Markandeya rishi got his longevity here, the tank where he took bath daily is known as Mruthyu vinasini.








Source:
1. 108 Vasihnavaite Divya Desam by Miss M. S. Ramesh.