Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi – History
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 Thanjavur Nayaks made the temple as their
dynastic and primary shrine and made significant additions.
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.). Raghunathabhyudayam, a doctrine by Nayaks explains the donation of armour studded with
precious stones to the main deity by the king. He erected the big tower in the
temple so that he can view the Srirangam
Ranganathaswamy temple from
the top of Mannargudi. The Nayaks were specially interested in music and it was
promoted in both the temples. Instruments like Mukhavina, Dande, Kombu,
Chandravalaya, Bheri and Nadhaswaram were commonly used in the temple service.
According to historian K.V. Soundararajan, the Ranganatha
temples in South India built during the 9th and 10th centuries
have a systematic arrangement of subsidiary deities as seen in this temple
along with the Appakkudathaan
Perumal Temple at
Koviladi, Sowmya
Narayana Perumal temple at
Thirukoshtiyur, Veeraraghava
Perumal Temple at Mannargudi and Rangantha
temple at Srirangapatna. This place is also known as Champakaaranya
Kshetram.
