Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple at Mannargudi

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Humble Pranam to all Devotees:

 

Adiyaen would like to share with devotees a few words about the Rajamannargudi

Divya Kshetram in the erstwhile Tanjore District.

 

Rajamannargudi or more commonly Mannargudi is the abode of Sri Rajagopalan and

Sengamalathayaar and is one of the more fascinating of the divya kshetrams.

Originally called "Champakaranyakshetram" on account of the vast Champaka flower

laden gardens, Mannargudi as it is known today straddles the rice bowl of Tamil

Nadu and together with Vaduvoor, Nagapattinam, Tircerai, Tirkannamangai and

Naciyar Kovil forms part of a spirutually enlightening and elevating tour. Sri

Rajagopalan in HIS majestic splendour presides over a temple which is equally

astounding and an engineering marvel by itself.Probably built by the Chola

kings, the temple boasts of a huge multi pillared hall (aayirakkaal mandapam), a

very tall gopuram (impressive by any standards) as well as a prakaram filled

with spirituality and HIS anugraham. The Lord's attire and grandeur is

unmatched...the devotion of the temple priests is to be experienced. The

rendering of the archanas by the Dikshatars in chaste Tamil an!

d Sanskrit as well as the "paribhaashai" are unforgettable

experiences.Mythology is full of arresting tales surrounding the divyakshetram,

beginning with efforts to raise the very tall "dvajasthambham" as well as

efforts to raise finances to complete the temple construction. If one is

fortunate, the temple priests allow devotess to hold "Santhana Gopalan" and

recite "Kararavindhaena, padharavindham......." stotram punctating the rendering

with an effusive muscial intonation so typical of the people of "kaverikarai"

 

Very recenetly, HIS devotees have come together and presented HIM with a Gold

Kavacham, all of 67 kilograms of pure gold. A big homam was also conducted with

particpation from around the state.

 

Devotees can visit the temple any time of the year and the nearest railway

station is Kumbakonam from where buses at frequent intervals are available.

 

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar ThiruvadigalE sharanam

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Dwarakanath Srinivasan