Mannar Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Palayamkottai – The
Temple
This
temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu and is worshipped as Gopalaswami and
Vedanarayana Perumal. This place was earlier called Thirumangai Nagar. The
temple is referred to as a ‘Thuvi Sthalam’- with the two tier structure below
the Ashtanga Vimanam (similar to Thiru Koshtiyur/Uthira Merur/Koodal Azhagar) -
the Varna Kala (idol) Veda Narayanan seen in a grand sitting posture with four
hands flanked by Veda Valli and Kumudavalli Thaayar. With one hand, Veda
Narayanan seems to be inviting the devotees to come to him, with the other he
is seen blessing those who come to offer their prayers. He is seen with a Conch
and Chakra in his other two hands.
There is
no abishekam for this Varna Kala Moolavar. Also, in the Sannidhi are Bhrigu and
Markandeya Rishis, who undertook penance at this place and had darshan of Veda
Narayanan. Urvasi and Thilothama idols are also seen inside the Sannidhi
alongside Veda Narayanan. Azhagiya Mannar is in Standing Posture with Bhoo and
Sri Devi (with exquisite paintings on all the four walls). The Lord graces from
the sanctum sanctorum as Vedanarayana Perumal with Mothers Sridevi and
Bhoodevi. In the inner mandapam, the Lord graces with Mothers
Vedavalli and Kumudavalli. On the tower, he graces as Azhagiya
Mannar Rajagopalaswamy with Mothers Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
The
temple is built with a blend of Tamil architecture and that of the Mathura Sri
Krishna temple. Inside the Maha Mandapam on the walls, one finds exquisite
mooligai paintings sketching the Ramayana story. Inside this mandapam, one sees
fish shaped sculptures on most of the pillars, another indication of the
construction of the temple during the Pandya rule. The Utsava Murthy (the
procession deity) of this temple is called as ‘Sri Rajagopala Swamy’ also known
as ‘Mannar’. In Tamil, a King is referred to as ‘Mannar’. Mother Goddess or
Thayar of this temple is Sridevi, Bhama, Bhoodevi and Rukmini.
The
temple of Sri Vedanarayana is huge with spacious inner and outer prakarams.
There is a Mukha Mandapam facing in the east where devotees can see Dwajasthambam,
Bali peetam and Garuda. There is a separate sannidhi for Garuda. The Garuda is
known as ‘Moolai Garudan (Corner Garuda) in this temple. There is a separate
sannidhi for the Lord Hanuman. There are separate shrines for Goddess Sri
Sridevi and Sri Bhudevi here named as ‘Vedavalli’ and ‘Kumudavalli’
respectively behind Sri Vedanarayana Sanctum in the first prakaram.
An
interesting feature at this temple is that the madapalli has a gopuram. There
are no Andal and Nammazhvar Sannidhis in this temple. There are shrines for
Shenbaga Vinayaka, Dasavathara of Sri Vishnu, 12 celebrated Alwars, Paramapatha
Nathar, Lakshminarayana, Lord Aadi Varaha with his consort Sri Bhudevi and
Anjaneya in the temple. 50 feet high Kodi Maram (temple flag) along with the 5
tier Raja Gopuram can be seen from the Thirunelveli Bye Pass road gives this
temple a majestic look. The Raja Gopuram also has sculptures relating to Vishnu
and Shiva Puranam.