Sarangapani
Temple, Kumbakonam,
Thanjavur
Sarangapani Temple is a
Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Kumbakonam
Town in Thanjavur District in Tamil
Nadu. Presiding
Deity is called as Sarangapani / Pallikondaar / Aravamudhan / Utthanasayi
/ Abayaryaapthamiruthan and Mother is called as Komalavalli Thayar / Padi
Thanda Pathini. The temple is one of 5 Vaishnava Temples connected with the
Mahamaham festival, which takes place in Kumbakonam
every 12 years. The Temple is considered as one of the Pancharanga
Kshetrams. The Temple is situated between two rivers, Cauvery and
Arasalaru, in the heart of Kumbakonam.
The
temple is revered in Divya
Prabandham, the 7th – 9th century Vaishnava
canon, by Andal in
one, Periyalwar in three, Bhoothathalvar in
two, Peyalvar in two, Thirumazhisai Alvar in seven, Nammalvar in
eleven and Thirumangai Alvar in 25 verses. The
temple is classified as a Divyadesam,
the 108 Vishnu
temples that are revered in the Vaishnava canon, Nalayira Divya
Prabandham. Also, after Srirangam
(11) and Tirupathy
(10), the Sarangapani
temple has the maximum number of Azhvaars (7 of them) singing praise
of the Lord. The Temple is considered as one of the nine Vaishnava Navagraha Temples of Tamil Nadu and is associated with the planet Sun (Suryan).
Legends
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History
The Temple is believed to be around 2000 years old.
Some portions of the temple is believed to have been built in the 7th Century
AD by the famous Pallava King Mahendra Varma. Alwars Peyalvar, Nammalvar, Periyalwar,
Andal, Thirumangai Alwar and Bhoothathalvar had sung about the Lord of this
Temple. Thirumazhisai Alwar spent his last years and attained salvation here.
It is at this temple that the Vaishnavite Saint Nada Muni, was inspired to
compile the works of the Alwars, upon listening to the Tamil hymn Aaraavamudhe
composed by Nammalvar.
Nathamuni spent his last
years at the Chola capital of Gangaikonda Choleeswaram. Although the temple existed during the Pallava
period, the current structure is attributable to the period of Vikrama Chola
(1121 CE). Later Cholas built the superstructure of the 11-tiered gopuram, and
the tower was actually completed by the Vijayanagar rulers. The temple had been
extensively renovated by Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagar Empire and Madurai
Nayaks. The Mahasamprokshanam of the temple was held on 13 July
2015.
The
Temple
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Temple
Opening Time
The temple remains open from
7.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Festivals
The temple has six daily rituals
at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and twelve yearly festivals on
its calendar. Akshaya Tritiya - 12 Garuda Sevai
Chaitra Brahma Utsavam celebrated during the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr
- May), Vasantotsavam during Vaikasi (May - Jun), Pavitrotsavam - Ekadasi Jyeshotsavam during Adi
(Jul - Aug), Sri Jayanthi - Uriyadi
Utsavam during Avani (Aug - Sep), Navaratri Utsavam - Saraswathi
Puja – Vijayadashami during Purattasi (Sep - Oct), Deepavali -
Shraddha of Sri Lakshmi Narayanswami during Aippasi(Oct - Nov), Deepa
Utsavam - Oonjal Utsavam during Karthigai (Nov - Dec), Pakal
Pattu - Ira Pattu Pongal Sankramana Utsavam during Margazhi (Dec -
Jan), Kanu Utsavam – Amavasya
- Rathasaptami during Thai (Jan - Feb), Masi Magham - Float
Festival during Masi (Feb - Mar) and Brahmotsavam - Thiru
Kalyanotsavam during Panguni (Mar - Apr) are the festivals celebrated
in the temple.
The temple chariot festival is
the most prominent festival of the temple, celebrated during the Tamil month
of Chithirai (Mar – Apr). The grand float festival is conducted in Maasi Magam
(Feb – Mar) on the Hema Pushkarini (temple tank) in front of the temple. The
first day of Uttharayana, January 14th is celebrated with the silver chariot
procession in the Sarangapani temple which attracts hundreds of devotees. The
twin temple chariots are the third largest in Tamil Nadu, each weighing
300 t (660,000 lb).
Worship
Practices & Rituals
The temple
follows Pancharathra Agama & Vadakalai tradition. The
temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a
daily basis. Like other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the
Brahmin Vaishnavite sect, which is dedicated to Vishnu. The temple rituals
are performed six times a day; Thiruvanandhal at 8:00 a.m., Kala
Santhi at 9:00 a.m., Uchikalam at
12:30 p.m., Ntiyanusandhanam at 6:00 p.m., Irandam Kalam at
7:30 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 9:00 p.m.
Each ritual comprises three
steps: Alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering)
and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Sarangapani and Thayar.
The worship is held amidst music with Nadaswaram (pipe instrument)
and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in
the Vedas (sacred text) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in
front of the temple mast. The foods offering during the six times are curd
rice, Ven Pongal, spiced rice, Dosa, Ven Pongal and sugar
Pongal respectively.
Religious
Significance
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Literary
Mention
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Prayers
A visit to this temple, it is
believed, will help get rid of one’s past sins, just as a trip to Kasi in the
North, would. It is sacred to bathe in the lotus water bed in the temple
tank. Devotees pray here to realize their wishes. It is the belief that
the prayer will certainly bring them what they desire and expect. Devotees
perform Thirumanjanam to Lord and offer vastras.
Contact
Sarangapani Temple,
Kumbakonam,
Thanjavur District – 612 001
Phone: +91 435 243 0349 / 242 7218
Mobile: +91 94435 24529
/ 94863 10896
Email: sarangapanitemple@gmail.com
Connectivity
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