Image source: Anil Kongovi
About Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple
Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple, or Mannargudi Temple, is a historic Hindu temple located in Mannargudi in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, worshipped here as Rajagopalaswamy and also referred to as the ” Dakshina Dwarka ” (Southern Dwarka).
History and Architecture
Kulothunga Chola I from the Chola Empire was the first who started the construction of the temple. He made a major contribution in the form of 24 shrines, 7 mandapams, 9 theerthams, 16 gopurams, and 7 prakarams. Successive Chola kings made subsequent additions to the temple and later expanded it by the Nayak kings of Thanjavur . A famous 1000-pillared hall was constructed by Vijaya Raghava Nayak.
Spread over an area of 23 acres, the temple is one of the largest temple complexes in Tamil Nadu. It’s built in the Dravidian architectural style, where Rajagopuram (main tower) stands at 154 feet, showcasing intricate carvings.
In the temple premises , there is a temple tank called Haridra Nadhi. It’s one of the largest temple tanks in South India.
The temple houses the deity of Rajagopalaswamy in a majestic form of Lord Krishna holding a flute, with a cow and other celestial beings depicted around him. It also features his consort, Rukmini , and other deities such as Satyabhama
It has been a spiritual hub for devotees and scholars of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.
Festivals
The most significant festival is the Panguni Brahmotsavam , celebrated for 18 days during March and April. During the festival, a bronze idol of the Lord Krishna is taken out from the temple into the chariot festival.
Other notable events include Vaikunta Ekadashi, Krishna Janmashtami , and the Float Festival .
Temple Timings
Open from 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
How to Reach
By Air : The nearest airport is Trichy International Airport, about 105 km away.
By Train : Mannargudi has a railway station with good connectivity to major cities.
By Road : Regular buses and private vehicles connect Mannargudi with nearby towns and cities.