Sri Rajagopala Swamy Temple – Mannargudi

 

Sri Rajagopala Swamy Temple is located in Mannargudi town in Tiruvarur district of Tamilnadu State.

It is called Dakshina Dwaraka of the south along with the Guruvayoor temple

It is considered as first among the 108 Abhimana Kshetram.

Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple is dedicated to Rajagopalaswamy, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The sanctum of the temple enshrines a 7 feet high image of Vasudeva along with consorts Rukmani and Satyabhama.

Rajagopalaswamy, Mannargudi is one of the largest and most glorious temples of Tamilnadu. It has the largest temple tank (Haridra Theertham) with the sides measuring a total of 1.3 kilometers encompassing an area of over 10 hectares.

The temple has 16 gopurams, 18 Vimaanas, 7 Prakarams, 7 Mantapas, and 10 Theerthams some of which are large tanks and outside the temple.

The temple walls run for a kilometer in length and are adorned with 4 beautiful Gopurams facing four directions. The main eastern Rajagopuram is a massive 11-tiered structure, the south 7, west 9 and north are 5-tiered gopurams. Apart from this other Gopurams are leading to the inner Prakarams.

After you enter the Rajagopuram you have the large open corridors – Nachiyar Prakaram, Sambaga Prakaram, and Kasi Prakaram.

There is a 1000 pillared and a 100 pillared mantapa. Outside the eastern Rajagopuram is the wonderful 54 feet tall Monolith Garudasthambam with a small shrine for Garuda on top. On the base of this are sculptures including Hanuman, Rajagopalaswamy, Achuthappa Naicker, and his wife Moorthimamba. Many depictions from the Ramayana can be seen in the temple.

The temple walls here are legendary in reference – ‘Mannarkudi Mathil Azhagu’ (Beauty of the Mannarkudi Walls).

There are 10 Theerthams – Haridra River, Durvasa Theertham, Thiruparkadal, Gopika Theertham, Rukmani Theertham, Agnikunda Theertham, Krishna Theertham, Sangu Theertham, Chakra Theertham and Pambani River.

When evil Kamsa imprisoned his own sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva, Lord Vishnu came in front of them and promised that he would be born to them. This is from the Krishna Leela. It is his first Krishna Leela, a Leela-divine play. The 32nd Leela was his time spent as a shepherd at Gokhulam.  The presiding god is Vaasudeva and the procession deity is Rajagopala based on these events. In the morning, Gopuja-cow puja and Gaja puja-puja to the elephant are done as the Vaasudeva shrine is opened.

Kamsa engaged a wild elephant named Kuvalaya Peetam to kill Balarama. Lord Krishna killed that elephant. Remembering the event, Lord is holding a tusk in his left hand.

Lord Krishna arranged a competition among the Gopika bathing in the Yamuna River. The contest was that they should dress properly and wear the jewels after the bath. One Gopika could not find one of her earrings. They found it at last in the ear of Krishna and were excited with joy to see its beauty in his ears. Based on this event, the Lord in the temple has a Thadanga-ear ring in one ear and a Kundalamring in the other.

During the Krishnavatara, there were two sages in the south named Gopilar and Gopralayar. Hearing the Leelas of Lord Krishna they set out to see him in Dwaraka. Maharshi Narada met them on the way and told them that Krishnavatara had ended and the Lord had returned to his abode. The sages fainted on hearing this news. Maharshi Narada woke them up and consoled them. As advised by Narada, they began penance to have lord’s darshan. Lord appeared before them as Krishna in all his 32 Leelas. As requested by the sages, the Lord stayed in this place.

It is said that Thirumangai Azhvaar did visit this place. He came up to the entrance of the temple, lifted the Dwaja Sthambam (Flag Post) at the entrance of the temple that was lying on the floor, and went away.

It is said that the Lord here gave darshan to Brahmma in Kritha Yugam, to Brugu Rishi and Goddess Mahalakshmi in Tretha Yugam, to Agni, Gopila, and Gopralaya Rishi (children of Rishi Vahnimugar) in Dwapara Yugam and to King Rajasekhar in Kali Yugam.

In the Mahabharata, Pulasthya tells Bheeshma that anyone staying for a night at Mannarkoil earns the merit of having been gifted 1000 cows, such is the significance of this place.

The temple elephant Shengamalam takes a 10 km walk every day to keep herself fit. With 32 villages around this temple, the elephant walks to one village every day. Interestingly, Shengamalam does not eat plantains like other temple elephants. She has a special liking for biscuits.

Near the Utsava Moorthy, one also finds Santhaana Gopalan. It is believed that those who pray to the Santhaana Gopalan will be blessed with a child. A Srilankan couple, who prayed to the Lord here and were blessed with a child immediately.

This temple was first constructed by Kulothunga Chola-I during 1070-1125 A.D

The Brahmotsavam which is for 10 days in other temples is celebrated grandly here for 18 days said to represent the 18 days of the Kurukshetra war and the 18 chapters of the Gita.

The festivals that are richly observed in the temple are Brahmmotsavam in Panguni (March–April), the summer festival of Vaikasi in Chithirai (April–June), Aadi Pooram (July–August), Navarathri in Purattasi (September–October), and the Oonjal festival for Rajagopalaswami in Masi (February–March).

Timings

6.30 am to 12.00 noon

4.30 pm to 9.00 pm

8:30 a.m -  Kalasanthi

10:00 a.m – Uchikalam

6:00 p.m -  Sayarakshai

8:00 p.m - Ardha Jamam

How to reach the Temple

2 km from Mannargudi Bus Station

332 km from Chennai

Nearby Temples

Alangudi, Sri Aabathsahayeswarar Temple – 21 km

Thiruvarur, Sri Thyagaraja Temple – 28 km

Thiruvirkudi, Veeratteswarar Temple – 38 km.