Rajagopala Swamy Temple, Mannarkoil – History
In the
10th century A.D., after the Chola conquest of Pandyan country, the riverine of
Tamirabarani - Ghatana Nadi was established as a Chola colony.
Jatavaraman alias Sundara Chola Pandya (1017-18 A.D), aka Chola Viceroy
(feudatory of the Rajendra Chola I) formed new townships and converted
the forest lands for cultivation. Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Azhwar
temple, a Chola temple in the land of Pandyas, was built by Chera
king Rajasimha (1028- 1043 A.D.) with the permission of Rajendra Chola I. The
Chera has also donated land to the temple at a later date.
The
village is also known as Rajendra Chola Vinnagaram, named after the Chola
monarch Rajendra Chola I, who has made significant contribution to the temple.
Jatavarma Chola Pandya has also made considerable contributions. Finally there
are contributions from Nayaka rulers. The temple has a very unique
architectural design. Unlike the majority of the temples which have only one
main sanctum enshrining the presiding deity, Mannarkoil has three
vertically aligned sanctums, all facing east, one above the other, each housing
one image of Lord Vishnu. The canonical texts call this style as Ashtanga
vimana.
The
inscriptions at the Veda Narayana Perumal temple at Mannarkoil village
informs us that the big Brahmadeyam village of 'Rajaraja Chadurvedi Mangalam'
in Mullinadu in the 'Mudikonda Chola Valanadu' of Raja Raja Pandinadu was
made over to Brahmins as gifts. The hamlets of 'Ilangokudi'
(today's Ambasamudram), Kallidaikurichi, Aththala Nallur, Vazuthiyoor,
Alwarkurichi and Pappankurichi were parts of this big Brahmadayam village (now
Brahmadesam).