[www.keralites.net] Sri Rajagopala Swami Temple, Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu

 

Sri Rajagopala Swami Temple, Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu
Rajagopalaswamy temple is a Vaishnavite shrine located in the town of Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Rajagopalaswamy, a form of Lord Krishna. The temple is spread over an area of 23 acres (93,000 m2) and is one of the important Vaishnavite shrines in India. The temple is called Dakshina Dwarka(Southern Dwarka) along with Guruvayoor by Hindus.

The temple has 16 Towers, 18 Vimanas, 7 prakaras, 7 mandaps and 9 sacred springs-therthas. In the 11 tier Rajagopuram there are no sculptures up to six stages from the base. All God sculptures are from the 7th stage only. This is a rare and different type of Rajagopuram in Mannargudi.

The temple was first constructed by Kulothunga Chola I(1070-1125 A.D.), with bricks and mortar, indicated by various stone inscription found in the site.The place Mannargudi is termed Sri Rajathi Raja Chathurvedhi Mangalam and the town started to grow around the temple. Successive kings of the Chola empire, Rajaraja Chola III, Rajendra Chola III and kings of Thanjavur Nayaks, Achyuta Deva Raya expanded the temple. The temple contains inscriptions of the Hoysala kings and some Vijayanagara grants, and many records of the later Nayaks and Marathas. The current temple structure, hall of 1000 pillars, main gopuram(temple gateway tower) and the big compound wall around the temple was built by the king Vijayaraghava Nayak(1532-1575 A.D

 It is the staunch faith of the devotees that prayers to Lord Rajagopalar-Vaasudeva would bless them with prosperity in life, happy wedding, removal of adverse aspects on children, health of cattle and all happiness.

Ravi

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