Mannargudi - Rajamannar Temple

Renowned as Dakshina Dwaraka, this famous Vaishnava kshetra has perched a prominent place in the temple history of India. Its glory is embedded in several scriptures, like the Mahabharata. It was variously described as Vasudevapura Swayambhusthala, Champakaranya etc. in the Puranu like Brahmanda Purana, Sri Venkatachala Purana etc. The Puranas grew eloquent, while dealing with its former splendour and the sports played by the Mulavirat Vasudeva Bhagawan. It is ranked as one of the biggest temples that the whole Bharat could boast of. It was built in a grandiose scale with super architectural design. Everything that greets the eye is imposing in dimension and majestic in embellishment. It has seven prakaras surmounted by sixteen high towers and twenty mini-shrines for the several deities. The material wealth, in the form of vahanas, jewels, lands, endowments etc., is so extensive that it matches superbly with the supreme spiritual wealth it is credited with. Many renowned pravaktas and particularly Manavala mahamuni visited and praised its glory to the highest pinnacle. Their outpourings and endowments enriched its treasury to an enviable degree. It is famous for its periodical festivals and specially the golden Garuda seva that lures lakhs of people, who convert this into a virtual Dwaraka, the earthly abode of Bhagawan Krishna.

The icon of archamurti popularly known as Rajamannar is a specimen of master craftsmanship that raises hands and lifts the souls of the viewers instantly. The image is Chaturbhuja Vasudeva in standing posture and is facing east. He is flanked by his choicest spouses Ruknuni and Satyabhama, whose floral decorations interspersed with dazzling diamond studded jewels offer a feast to the eyes. There are many forms of the Mulavirat installed in the well-built shrines with his Deveris, like Himamba, Champalakshmi. There is another enchanting image of Santana Rajagopalan in recumbent posture worth an indispensable darsan. There are as many as ten sacred thirthas in the vicinity of the temple, like Ruknuni sarovara, Chakra thirtha, Krishna thirtha, Durvasa thirtha, Haridranadi thirtha, Tiruppar kadal, Pambani thirtha etc. Close by flows the river Haridra adding sanctity to the sacred shrine. And each has a hoary legend. The divine sports of the Lord emancipated devout bhaktas in number numerous, inclusive of the highest celestials, Maharshis and Maharajadhirajas. The eminence of the temple, says a local devotee defies description. Elaborate daily puja in accordance with agamic tenets is offered with great devotional zeal. Enjoying abundant transport facilities from every nearby town, it is attracting a steady influx of devotees throughout the year.

It lies about 55 km off Tanjore, a famous town in Tamilnadu, accessible by bus.

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