VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Sarngapani Temple / ஸ்ரீ சார்ங்கபாணி கோவில், கும்பகோணம் / Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

Thursday, 10 March 2016

Sri Sarngapani Temple / ஸ்ரீ சார்ங்கபாணி கோவில், கும்பகோணம் / Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Sri Sarngapani Temple at Kumbakonam is one of the 108 Divya Desam Temples and the 12th Divya Desam of Chozha Nadu. The temple is also one of the Pancha Ranga Kshetrams, called Bhaskara Kshetram. Also, this is one of the Pancha kshetras, where Maha Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi. The 5 kshetras are, Sarngapani Temple, Kumbakonam, Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Salem, Nachyar Coil, and Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. The Potramai kulam is on the western side entrance of Sri Sarngapani Temple and on the other side is the Sri Kumbeswarar Temple.

Mangalasasanam was done by Periyalwar (73, 177, & 188), Andal (628), Thirumazhisai Azhwar (807 – 812 & 2417), Thirumangai Alwar (27 pasurams, and some of them are.. 949, 954, & 991,… ) Bhoothath Azhwar (2251, 2278), Peyazhwar (2311, 2343) and Nammazhwar (3194.. 3204), in Nalayira Divya Prabandham. Since Nammalvar praises moolavar and calls him “Aravamude ..”, hence Moolavar is called Aravamudhan.

Mangalasasanam was done by Periyalwar (173, 177, 188 ), Andal ( 628 ), Thirumazhisai Azhwar ( 807 – 812 &, 2417 ), Thirumangai Alwar ( 27 pasurams, and some of them are.. 949, 954, 991,… ) Bhoothath Azhwar ( 2251, 2278 ), Peyazhwar ( 2311, 2343 ) and Nammazhwar (3194.. 3204 ), in Nalayira Divya Prabandham. Since Nammalvar praises moolavar and calls him “Aravamude ..”, hence Moolavar is called Aravamudhan.

177

ஆலத்திலையான் அரவினணைமேலான்

நீலக்கடலுள் நெடுங்காலம்கண்வளர்ந்தான்

பாலப்பிராயத்தே பார்த்தர்க்குஅருள்செய்த

கோலப்பிரானுக்குஓர்கோல்கொண்டுவா

குடந்தைக்கிடந்தார்க்குஓர்கோல்கொண்டுவா

….. பெரியாழ்வார்

628
பாலா லிலையில் துயில்கொண்ட

பரமன் வலைப்பட் டிருந்தேனை,

வேலால் துன்னம் பெய்தாற்போல்

வேண்டிற் றெல்லாம் பேசாதே,

கோலால் நிரைமேய்த் தாயனாய்க்

குடந்தைக் கிடந்த குடமாடி,

நீலார் தண்ணந் துழாய்கொண்டென்

நெறிமேன் குழல்மேல் சூட்டீரே

……. ஆண்டாள்

2417

நாகத் தணைக்குடந்தை வெகா திருவெவ்வுள்,

நாகத் தணையரங்கம் பேரன்பில், - நாகத்

தணைப்பாற் கடல்கிடக்கு மாதி நெடுமால்,

அணைப்பார் கருத்தனா வான்.

…. திருமிழிசைப்பிரான்

991

ஊராங்குடந்தையுத்தமன் ஒருகாலிருகால்சிலைவளைய,

தேராவரக்கர்த்தேர்வெள்ளம்செற்றான் வற்றாவருபுனல்சூழ்

பேரான், பேராயிரமுடையான் பிறங்குசிறைவண்டறைகின்ற

தாரான், தாராவயல்சூழ்ந்த சாளக்கிராமமடைநெஞ்சே

…… திருமங்கையாழ்வார்

2251

தமருள்ளம் தஞ்சை தலையரங்கம் தண்கால்,

தமருள்ளும் தண்பொருப்பு வேலை, - தமருள்ளும்

மாமல்லை கோவல் மதிட்குடந்தை யென்பரே,

ஏவல்ல எந்தைக் கிடம்

……. பூதத்தாழ்வார்

2343

விண்ணகரம் வெகா விரிதிரைநீர் வேங்கடம்,

மண்ணகரம் மாமாட வேளுக்கை, மண்ணகத்த

தென்குடந்தை தேனார் திருவரங்கம் தென்கோட்டி,

தன்குடங்கை நீரேற்றான் தாழ்வு.

….பேயாழ்வார்

3204

தளிர்நிறத்தால் குறைவில்லாத்

தனிச்சிறையில் விளப்புற்ற,

கிளிமொழியாள் காரணமாக்

கிளரரக்கன் நகரெரித்த,

களிமலர்த் துழாயலங்கல்

கமழ்முடியன் கடல்ஞாலத்து,

அளிமிக்கான் கவராத

அறிவினால் குறைவிலமே.

…. நம்மாழ்வார்

Moolavar : Sri Aravamudhan

Thayar : Sri Komalavalli

Utsavar : Sri Sarngapani

Some of the salient features of this temple are ….

The temple is facing east with an 11-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Garudan are in the open mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas Santan and Prasandan are on both sides of the jolly / stone window. Moolavar is in reclining posture / Sayana kolam with Sridevi and Bhudevi at his feet. The Sayana kola is called Udhana Sayanam. Moolavar is holding a Sarngam - சார்ங்கம்- a bow, hence called Sarngapani, people used to misspell as Sarangapani - சாரங்கபாணி- which is not correct.

( "சாரங்கம் மானும் வண்டும் சாதகப் புள்ளும் ஆமே" என்பது சூடாமணி. சாரங்கபாணி என்றால் மானை ஏந்திய சிவ பெருமான் எனக்கொள்ளலாம் என்கின்றார் திரு குடவாயில் பாலசுப்பிரமணியம் அவர்கள். அதனால் சாரங்கபாணி என்பது திருமாலைக் குறிக்காது ).

In kostam Varahar, Venu Gopalan, Gajendra Moksham, Vaikunta Nathar, Vamana, Sarangapani, Narasimhar, Utha Narasimhar, Vatha Narasimhar, Yoga Narasimhar.

Inpraharam Desikar, Patala Srinivasan, Senai Mudalvar, Ramar, Palliyarai, Thanjavur Paintings of Ramar Pattabhishekam, Srinivasan, Thirumalai nimbi, Palliyarai.

Thayar Komalavalli is in a separate sannadhi and we have to worship thayar first before going to moolavar sanctum.

Chakrapani is in a separate temple. He is with 8 hands/Ashta Bhuja and is believed to be the younger brother of moolavar Sri Aravamudhan.

Stucco Bas-relief at Oppiliappan Temple praharam

Patala Srinivasa Perumal ( in the praharam )

Inner praharam entrance

Dwarapalakas and jolly work at the center of the sanctum- we have to enter through the side after Thayar darshan

Left side Dwarapalaka

ARCHITECTURE

The 11-tier Rajagopuram measures 173 feet ( 63 meters) tall, In addition to this there are 5 more small Rajagopurams. The main Rajagopuram was built by the Chozha Kings, and completed during the Vijayanagara period, with the stucco images of Natya Karanas.

The Sanctum Sanctorum is built like a Chariot form with wheels pulled by horses and elephants. The sanctum sanctorum has two entrances and is used to allow for darshan during the Uttarayana and Dakshinayana periods. Some of the Bharatanatyam 108 karanas are sculptured around the sanctum Sanctorum base and Rajagopuram base.

The Vimanam is called Vaideeka Vimanam. It is believed that the Vimana is a similar and improved version of Srirangam Pranava Vimanam.

Bharata Natya Karanas / Postures

Pallava Lion Pillar
Mandapam like Chariot - Pulled by Elephant and Horse.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple was constructed during the Pallava period 07^th to 08^th Century, and Reconstructed during Vijayanagaras, Madurai Nayakas. The temple has received contributions from medieval Chozhas, Vijayanagara Empire, and Thanjavur Nayaks.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Kulothunga Chozha –III, Vijayanagara King Sadasiva Maharaya ( 1482 CE), and Raghunatha Nayak (1551 CE).

The Kulothunga Chozha-II’s inscription ( 294 of ARE 1927,p 49 ) 1178 A.D belongs to the nearby Somanatha temple built by Kulothunga Chola.

The inscription 293 of ARE -1927, on the outer prahara wall on the base of the mandapa, belongs to Sadasiva Deva Maharaja of the Vijayanagara Dynasty ( 1482 CE ).

The Inscription ARE 1959, p.64, on the central shrine mantapa belonging to Krishna Devaraya, records the endowment towards worship of Sarangapani.

Another inscription on the base of a hall connected to Sarangapani matha reads about the contributions of Ragunatha Nayak (1551 A.D.) of Tanjore.

Ref:

Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy (ARE-1927, p.49)

Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy (ARE-1959, p.64)

A New Dwajasthambam was installed and Prathista was done on 30^th October 2020.

A 20th-century inscription on a stone slab installed on the left side of the Rajagopuram records an endowment and the money deposited in the Government treasury, by Kanchipuram Pachchaiappa Mudaliar. The inscription records further that the endowment is not continued, it has to be reported to the sabha.

LEGENDS
It is believed that Moolavar stood up from Sayana Kolam, as per the request of Thirumazhisai Alwar.

As per the legend, Brighu Maharishi came to Vaikuntam, when Mahavishnu was with Maha Lakshmi. Since, the Maharishi was not being welcomed by Maha Vishnu, out of arrogance Brighu Maharishi kicked Maha Vishnu on his chest. Maha Vishnu didn’t object to the arrogant behavior of Bhrigu Maharishi. Angered by this action of Maharishi, Maha Lakshmi left Vaikunta came off Earth, and stayed on the banks of Hema Pushkarini.

Brighu Maharishi was born as Hemarishi, in the next birth. He did a penance on Maha Vishnu for a daughter. As per Maha Vishnu’s boon, Maha Lakshmi was reborn to the Maharishi in the Lotus tank. As promised, Maha Vishnu as Sarngapani married Maha Lakshmi at this place.

Painting of Sarangapani & Maha Lakshmi marriage- above Palliyarai

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Annual Brahmotsavam in the months of Thai and Chithirai, Vasanthotsavam in the month Vaikasi, Pavithrotsavam, Navaratri, Masi Magam, and Dolotsavam in the month Margazhi, and Theppotsavam.

Thiru Ezhu Kootrukai

This is one of the 5 Maha Vishnu Temples, that participates in the Mahamaham Theerthavari festival, which occurs once in 12 Years. The list of 12 Shiva temples and 5 Vaishnava temples of Kumbakonam used to join and celebrate this Mahamaha festival இச் given below.

Shiva Temples are…

1. Kasi Viswanathar Temple,

2. Adi Kumbeswarar Temple,

3. Someswarar Temple,

4. Nageswaraswamy Temple,

5. Kalahasteeswarar Temple,

6. Gauthameswarar Temple,

7. Kodeeswarar Temple,

8. Amirthakadeswarar Temple,

9. Banapuriswarar Temple,

10. Abhi Mukheswarar Temple,

11. Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and

12. EkambareswararTemple.

The Maha Vishnu Temples are…

1. Sarangapani Temple,

2. Chakrapani Temple,

3. Ramaswamy Temple,

4. Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and

5. Varaha Perumal Temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline and mobile numbers of the temple are: 0435-2430349 and 9443524529.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Ceiling bas-relief

View through grill – moolavar vimanam

Ramar sannidhi

Maybe the King's bas relief on the Nasi

Stucco images of the front of Rajagopuram

The temple's chariot used the 2016 Mahamaham Theerthavari festival

Potramarai Kulam - Mahamaham 2016.

This is an updated post of my previous post after the Mahamaham 2016 visit. The second time also visited a Divya Desam Temples Visit organized by Culture Circuits. on the 10th and 11th of February 2024.

After the holy dip in Mahamaham tanks and darshan of Sri Chakrapani, went to Sri Sarangapani Temple, during this MAHAMAHAM 2016. The general Q was very long due to the holiday and the Mahamaha crowd also added. So Purchased a quick darshan ticket for Rs 30 and had the darshan of Sri Sarangapani and Sri Kamalavalli Thayar.