Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi
| Sri Vidhya Rajagopalaswamy Temple | |
|---|---|
Champakaranya Kshetram | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Tiruvarur |
| Deity | |
| Festivals | Panguni Brahmotsavam, Thiruvadipooram, Teppotsavam, Thirupavithrotsavam, Navaratri Utsavam, Kolatta Utsavam, Deepotsavam, Adhyayana Utsavam, Dolotsavam, Etc. |
| Features |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Mannargudi |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Coordinates | 10°40′1″N 79°26′32″E / 10.66694°N 79.44222°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Tamil architecture |
| Creator | Kulothunga Chola I, Later Chola Kings |
| Elevation | 46.93 m (154 ft) |
| Website | |
| https://hrce.tn.gov.in/hrcehome/index_temple.php?tid=14267 | |
Sri Vidhya Rajagopalaswamy temple is a Vaishnava shrine located in the town of Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Rajagopalaswamy, a form of Krishna and his consort Lakshmi, who is worshipped as Sri Sengamala Thayar. The temple is spread over an area of 9.3 ha (23 acres) and is an important Vaishnava shrines in India. The temple is called Champakaranya Kshetram, Dakshina Dwaraka (Southern Dvaraka) along with Guruvayoor by Hindus, Vanduvaraapathi and Vasudevapuri. It is considered first among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
Originally this ancient temple was first constructed by Kulothunga Chola I at 10th century and Chola Kings Rajaraja Chola III, Rajendra Chola III and later expanded by Thanjavur Nayaks during the 16th century. The temple has three inscriptions from the period and also mention in the religious texts. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and seven of its nine bodies of water. The wall is celebrated in Tamil as “Mannargudi Mathil Alagu”, meaning "the beauty of the walls," highlighting its grandeur and cultural significance. The temple has a 47 m (154 ft) rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower. The temple is associated with nine theerthams (sacred water bodies): Haridranadhi, Durvasa Theertham (also called Gajendra Theertham), Thirupparkadal, Gopika Theertham (also known as Gopralaya Theertham), Rukmini Theertham, Sanghu Theertham, Chakkra Theertham, Agnikunda Theertham, and Krishna Theertham, along with the Pambani River. Among them, Haridra Nadhi, the temple tank associated with the temple is outside the temple complex and is considered one of the largest temple tanks in India.
Pundarikakshan is believed to have appeared as Krishna to sages Gopillar and Gopralayar.
Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March–April), being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.