MANNARKUDI RAJAGOPALASWAMY TEMPLE.
Rajagopalaswamy temple is suituated in Mannarkudi Town (Old name of Mannarkoil). It is a Vaishnavite shrine located in the town of Mannargudi. The presiding deity is Rajagopalaswamy, a form of Lord Krishna. The temple is spread over an area of around 25 acres and is one of the important Vaishnavite shrines in India. The temple is called Dakshina Dwarka by Indians. Mannarkudi is a town located in Trivarur District, TamilNadu, India.
Temple View
The image of the Temple presiding deity is 12 feet tall. There is a big tank at the entrance of the shrine where rain water is collected. The temple complex has 16 Towers, 7 outer courtyard, 24 shrines, seven mandapams and nine sacred temple tanks. The utsava(festival deity) is a bronze figure from the Cholar period.The temple tank is called Haridranadhi, 1,158 feet long and 837 feet broad, making it one of the largest temple tanks in India.
History of Mannarkudi Temple
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 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 an 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 Nagaswaram were commonly used in the temple service.
Panguni Festival
Panguni Thiruvizha (பங்குனி திருவிழா) is a festival celebrated during the Tamil calendar of Panguni (Mid of Mar-Mid of Apr) and is attended by thousands of devotees.The festival is celebrated for 16 days and the seventh day has the enactment of the famous story of Krisha taking away the dress of bathing females, the females requesting the clothes back and Krishna singing the flute.The festival is placed in the pinnai tree, the branches of which are hung with garments and ornaments.At that time of Festival Government arranged All facilities to Mannarkudi like Extra bus, Train facility.
Pooja Details
Vishwaroopam 6am, Thiruvananthal 7am, Kaalai Santhi Poojai-9am,
Uchi Kalam-12noon
Thirumalai Purapadu- 6pm, SayaRakshai-7pm,
Irandam Kalam Poojai-8pm, Artha Jamam-830pm
Location and Route
Mannarkudi has the Bus and Train facility
Bus route - 30 km from Trivarur, 40 km from Tanjore, 40 km from Kumbakonam
Train route - Trains available from Chennai, Trichy , Tanjore , Nagapattinam
Nearest Airport - Trichy
For more details http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajagopalaswamy_Temple,_Mannargudi
Tanjore - Periyakoil Tanjore Big Temple.
TANJORE BIG PRAGATHESWARWA TEMPLE
The Brihadeeswarar temple (also spelled Brihadeshvara Temple or Birhadeeshwara temple), originally called as Peruvudaiyar Koil in Tamil, is an ancient Hindu temple located at tanjore in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. This 10th century CE temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples", is a prominent example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The central temple known as the Periya Kovil (Big Temple) stands within a fort, whose walls were later additions built during the 16th century. The name periya kovil came from its original name "periya aavudayar kovil" (aavudayar being a local name of Lord Shiva). The vimana (main tower) of the temple is approximately 65 m (215 ft) high and is the tallest in the world. It was so designed that the vimana never casts a shadow at noon during any period of the year.
From the Preface to Rajarajesvaram, the Pinnacle of Chola Art by B.Venkataraman, 1985. For the Cholas, temple building was not merely an outpouring of artistic talent but also away of life, for the entire fabric of the society was woven round the temple.
Towering Gopurams
The Gopurams display some of the finest examples of Dravidian art. The Gopuram tower of the temple is 216 feet high and is topped by a block of granite 25 feet square and 80 tons in weight. This stone was hauled four miles over an inclined plane and put on top of the tower. The dome carved from a single stone weighing 80 tons, is surrounded by 250 arcades, each containing a lingam. It is rightly said of the Cholas that they conceived like giants and finished like jewellers.
source:http://www.tamilnation.org/
Transport Facilities to Tanjore:
By Bus : Tanjore has the big and well bus stand. town buses available from Tanjore main bus stand to Tanjore Big Temple (Periya Koil).
By Train : Tanjore has the railway junction. It has the train faculities from Chennai, Trichy , Banglore, etc. From Railway station to Tanjore big Temple (Periya Koil) buses and autoes are available.
By Air : Trichy is the nearest airport. It is just 60 km distance from Tanjore Periya Koil.
Hotel Facilities For Tanjore Temple:
Tanjore is an ancient city, It was once a stronghold of the Cholas. It was they who made Tanjore a center for learning and culture.Tanjore is particularly known for its handicrafts. In fact, Tanjore is a major exporter of local handicrafts worldwide. The entire Tanjore region is drained by the mighty river Cauvery. It is the presence of this water body that makes the entire region fertile and hence favorable for rice cultivation. Tanjore is hence fondly called the Rice Bowl of South India. A city deeply involved in arts, Tanjore patronizes Carnatic music and arts. The culture of the region is well reflected in the Navagraha Temples in Tanjore. Tanjore is a big town. It has well Boading and Lodging facility. So many lodges are available near Tanjore temples. There are the lodges in tanjore listed below
Ideal River View Resort
Hotel Gnanam
PL.A. Residency
Hotel Sangam
Hotel Ramanath Thanjavur
Hotel Parisutham
Adithya Hotel
Hotel Tamilnadu
Raja House
Ashok Lodge
Tanjore Temples
There are so many temples to be visited in Tanjore District. Especially So many temples are located near Tanjore. Not only Hindu's Temples, Famous Churches and Mosque are also suituated in Tanjore District.
1.Ganapathy Agraharam near Thiruvaiyaru
2.ThiruVeezhiMizhalai ( Padikkasu Vinayagar)
3.Thiruchengattangudi near Nannilam
4.Punaani nallur maariyamman temple near thanjavur
5.Sikkal near Nagappatinam
6.Ettukkudi
near Thiruvarur ( 23 kms )
7.Thiru chaikkadu near poompuhar ( Murugan has a Bow instead of Vel)
Vaiteeswaran Koil ( Muthukkumara swamy )
8. Ramar temple near Thiruvaiyaru( 12 kms from tanjore ).
9.Kannayiramudaiyaar Koyil-Vaiththeeswaran Koil
10.Andhisamrakshaneeswarar Koyil-Mayilaaduthurai
11.Aabhathsagaayar Koyil-AAyyampaettai
12.PanchaNadheeswarar Koyil-Thanjaavoor
13.KruthaPureeswarar Koyil-Thanjaavoor
14.VyaagraPureeswarar Koyil-Thanjaavoor
15.Vajrathambaeswarar Koyil-ariyaloor 16.SemmaeniNaathar Koyil-tanjore.
16.Ganapathy Agraharam near Thiruvaiyaru
17.Sivan temple thiruvidamaruthur,thirukkuvalai taluk..
18.Velankanni Church
19.Nagore dharga.
TANJORE DISTRICT TEMPLES
Tanjore, also known as thanjavur, is a city and a municipality in tanjore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. tanjore is also the capital of the tanjore District and lies 322 km to the southwest of Chennai. The city lies on the south bank of the Kaveri River. tanjore was the capital of the Mutharayars and Cholas when they were at the peak of their power. Since then, tanjore has been one of the chief political, cultural and religious centres of South India. tanjore is home to the famous Brihadeeswara Temple, one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites tanjore derives its name from Tanjan - an asura (demon) who according to local legend caused devastation and was killed by Sri Anandavalli Amman and Sri Neelamegapperumal. Tanjan's last request, that the city might be named after him, was granted.
tanjore paintings
tanjore medical college
tanjore chola temple
Under the Cholas
Tanjore or Tanjapuri as it was called in the ancient times was chosen by the Mutharayar king and later conquered by Vijayalaya Chola. Vijayalaya built a temple for his favourite goddess Nisumbhasudani in the city. Although subsequent emperors made Kanchipuram a subsidiary capital, tanjore maintained its position as the chief city. The great Brihadisvara Temple, built by Rajaraja Chola I was completed around 1010 CE. It remained the centre of the Chola administration for many years, channelling the state revenue into a number of civic projects. It also acted as a repository of the empire's records, as the great Rajaraja had its walls covered with numerous inscriptions recording his conquests and his endowments to various charities. The impression we get from the inscriptions is of a wealthy, progressive city, although totally dominated by the temple.
tamil University
tanjore district
