Rajagopalaswamy Temple Mannargudi:
Sri Vidhya Rajagopalaswamy Temple is a Vaishnava shrine found in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, India.The main deity is Rajagopalaswamy, a Krishna incarnation. It is a prominent Vaishnava sanctuary in India. Hindus refer to the shrine as Dakshina Dvaraka (Southern Dvaraka), or Guruvayoor. It is ranked first among the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams of the Vaishnavate tradition.
Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy Temple History:
The temple was initially built by Kulothunga Chola I (1070-1125 CE), according to a stone inscription discovered on the site. Mannargudi is known as Sri Rajathi Raja Chathurvedhi Mangalam, and the town began to expand around the temple. The temple was expanded by successive Chola monarchs Rajaraja Chola III and Rajendra Chola III, as well as Thanjavur Nayak kings Achyuta Deva Raya. The temple houses inscriptions from the Hoysala rulers, some Vijayanagara donations, and numerous records from the subsequent Nayaks and Marathas. The Thanjavur Nayaks established the temple as their dynastic and principal shrine, making considerable additions.
The current temple architecture, hall of 1000 pillars, major gopuram (temple gateway tower), and large compound wall surrounding the temple were built by King Vijayaraghava Nayak (1532-1575 CE). Raghunathabhyudayam, a Nayak ideology, tells how the king donates armour adorned with precious stones to the chief deity. He built the large tower in the temple so that he could see Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple from the top of Mannargudi. The Nayaks were very interested in music, which was cultivated in both temples. Mukhavina, Dande, Kombu, Chandravalaya, Bheri, and Nadhasvaram were all typical instruments used in temple services.
Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy Temple Architecture:
Mannargudi’s history is centered around the Rajagoplaswamy temple. The temple includes a massive gopuram (gateway tower) facing east and a temple tank in the north-east direction. The center shrine is placed axially to the gateway and flagpost and is reached via a succession of pillared rooms. The presiding god is 156 inches tall and depicted seated with his consorts Satyabhama and Rukmini at his sides. There is a large tank at the shrine’s entryway that collects rainwater. The temple complex includes 16 gopurams (tower entrances), 7 prakarams (outer courtyards), 24 shrines, seven mandapams (halls), and nine sacred theerthams (temple tanks). The utsava (festival deity) is a metal sculpture from the Chola dynasty. It has keshabanda coiffure and restrained decoration, which are not typical of 11th-century Chola bronzes. The temple tank, known as Haridra Nadhi, is 353 metres (1,158 feet) long and 255 metres (837 feet) wide, covering 23 acres and ranking as one of India’s largest temple tanks. Sengamalathayar’s shrine (also known as Hemabhujavalli) is located in the second precinct around the sanctuary. The temple features a thousand-pillared hall.
Rajagopalaswamy Temple Mannargudi Timings:
The timings of Mannargudi temple is 5.30 am – 12.00 pm and 4.00 pm – 9.30 pm
The temple priests perform pujas (rituals) every day, especially during festivals. The priests of this Vishnu temple, like those at other Vishnu temples in Tamil Nadu, are Vaishnavaite Brahmins. The temple ceremonies take place four times per day: Kalasanthi at 8:30 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ceremony consists of three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering), and deepa aradanai (lamp-waving for the presiding deity). Worship involves priests reading religious instructions from the Vedas (holy scripture) and worshippers prostrating in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly, and biweekly rituals.
Festivals Celebrated at Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy temple:
The temple’s main festival is Panguni Brahmotsavam, which lasts 18 days. During the second day, the legendary story of Krishna taking away the bathing females garments, the females demanding their return, and Krishna singing the flute was acted out. The festival deity is put on the pinnai tree, whose branches are adorned with clothing and jewelry. The chariot festival is the most important festival in the temple and nearby villages. It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April), when devotees wheel a chariot through the streets of Mannargudi. A group of temple priests recite verses from the Nalayira Divya Prabandham while playing music on the nagasvaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument).
Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy Temple Address:
Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu 614001.
How to Reach Rajagopalaswamy Temple Mannargudi?
By Air:
Tiruchirapalli International Airport is the nearest airport, which is 97.1 kilometers distant.
By train:
Mannargudi Railway Station is the nearest railway station, which is 2.2 kilometers distant.
By Road:
Mannargudi is well connected with other major cities, and direct buses are accessible to the temple.
Famous Temples List in Mannargudi:
Vaduvur Sri Kothandaramaswamy Temple
Haridra Nadhi
Jayamgondanatha temple
Rajathi Rajeswara temple and
Raja Gopalaswamy temple.
Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy Temple Images:
