Rajagopala Swamy Temple, Mannarkoil – The Temple
The east
facing temple has single entrance and two prakarams, an Ardhamandapam, Mahamandapam, connecting Mandapam surrounded
by a cloister mandapa around the main sanctum. The temple is situated in
between the Tamirabarani river in south and Kadana river in north. Presiding
deity Lord Vedanarayana Perumal’s idol is made of Sudha type with herbals. He
blesses the devotees from the sanctum sanctorum in a standing posture holding
the conch (sankha) and discus (chakra) in his upper hands.
The
lower right hand is in abhaya hasta mudra and lower left hand resting on his
hip and flanked by Ubhaya Nachiyar (Sri Devi and Bhu Devi). The two sages
Markandeya and Bhrigu also appear with folded hands. He appears in sitting
posture in the first stage of the Ashtanga Vimana and in reclining posture in
the stage still above – thus Perumal graces devotees in three postures – standing,
sitting and reclining. The place is named Vedapuri as the sound of Vedas
is always heard here.
Opposite
the Sitting Perumal, there is a small hole called Pillai Thondu – Thondu means
way in Tamil. Women seeking child boon pass through this hole to realize
their wish. On the roof of the wooden Mandapa opposite the Reclining Perumal,
all the 12 zodiac signs are sculpted so realistically. The temple is built with
lime mortar mixed with palm sugar – Karuppatti in Tamil. Around the
Sitting Perumal is the prakara called Yanai Thondu (broad elephant path) and a
small path called Poonai Thondu (narrow cat path) around reclining
Perumal.
The
Rajagopalaswamy, the bronze processional deity appears along with goddess Andal
and Garuda in the main sanctum. Also there are bronze icons of Sri Rama,
Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman found in this sanctum. A small and cute Garuda
idol is located before the main sanctum. Also there are flagstaff and Balipeeta
before the sanctum. There are separate
shrines for goddesses Vedhavalli and Bhuvanavalli in the circumambulatory
path. The circumambulatory path also has separate shrines for Lord Narasimha
and Visvakshena.
The
stucco images of both the goddesses appear seated. Vaishnava saint Kulasekara
Azhvar (stucco image) is enshrined in a separate shrine in the northern prakara
with separate flagstaff and Balipeeta before the sanctum. The sanctums of two
Vaishnava Acharyas Ramanuja and Manavala Mamunigal are located in two
separate Mandapams. This elaborately decorated structure
exhibits typical of the Nayaka architectural
style with exquisitely carved composite pillars. Sthala Vriksham is
Jack tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus). Theertham of this temple are Tamirabarani
river, Ghatana river, Bhrigu Theertham.
There
are life size statues of Lord Rama and other gods, kings with folded hands
forming part of the monolithic pillars. Just above the foundation inscriptions
at regular intervals are little squares of about 5" x 5", which have
scenes of Ramayana sculpted on them, like Gopurapatti. A few other scenes were are
present. The yali row was indeed exquisite. Some of them had riders on
them. In their midst were some elephants as well.
Ashtanga
Vimana (Eight limbs or organs) architecture, one of the very ancient styles of
temple construction, is radically distinctive vimana style of this temple. It
is structural different from Sashtanga (six limbs or organs) vimana. Both the
vimana and koshtam has Dhakshinamoorthi (a form of Lord Shiva). Vali worshiping
Shivalingam and a dancing Ganesha sculpture are a masterpiece here.
