Thanjai Mamani Koil / Sri Thanjai Manikundra Perumal Temple,/ தஞ்சை மாமணி கோயில் / மணிகுன்ற பெருமாள் கோவில், Vennatrakarai, one of the 108 Divya Desam, Thanjavur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

10^th May 2019.

This is one of the 108 Divya Desam Vishnu Temples on the banks of River Vennaru. There are three temples from one Divya Desa  Temple, which are 200 meters to 300 meters apart from each other, called Thanjai Mamani Koil. Mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai alwar, Nammalwar and Bhoodhathalwar. The other two are Sri Narasimha Perumal Temple, Yazhi Nagar, and Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple. In ancient days, this place was called Manikundram. 

Mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Alwar ( 953, 1090, 1576, ) Nammalwar (3139 ) and Bhoothathalwar ( 2251 )

953

எம்பிரான் எந்தை என்னுடைச்சுற்றம்

எனக்கரசு என்னுடைவாணாள்,

அம்பினால் அரக்கர்வெருக்கொளநெருக்கி

அவருயிர்செகுத்தவெம்மண்ணல்,

வம்புலாஞ்சோலைமாமதிள் தஞ்சை

மாமணிக்கோயிலேவணங்கி,

நம்பிகாள் உய்யநான் கண்டு கொண்டேன்

நாராயணாவென்னும்நாமம்.

1090

உடம்புருவில் மூன்றொறாய் மூர்த்திவேறாய்

உலகுய்ய நின்றானை, அன்றுபேய்ச்சி

விடம்பருகு வித்தகனைக் கன்றுமேய்த்து

விளையாட வல்லானை வரைமீகானில்,

தடம்பருகு கருமுகிலைத் தஞ்சைக்கோயில்

தவநெறிக்கோர் பெருநெறியை வையங்காக்கும்,

கடும்பரிமேல் கற்கியைநான்கண்டுகொண்டேன்

கடிபொழில்சூழ் கடன்மல்லைத் தலசயனத்தே

1576

என்செய் கேனடி னேனுரை யீர் இதற்

கென்று மென்மனத் தேயிருக் கும்புகழ்,

தஞ்சை யாளியைப் பொன்பெய ரோன்றன்.

நெஞ்ச மன்றிடந் தவனைத்தழ லேபுரை

மிஞ்செய் வாளரக் கன்நகர் பாழ்படச்

சூழ்க டல்சிறை வைத்து இமை யோர்தொழும்,

பொன்செய் மால்வரை யைமணிக் குன்றினை

அன்றி யென்மனம் போற்றியென் னாதே

…. திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார் பெரிய திருமொழி

3139

மாதர்மா மண்மடந் தைபொருட் டேனமாய்,

ஆதியங் காலத் தகலிடம் கீண்டவர்,

பாதங்கள் மேலணி பைம்பொற் றுழாயென்றே

ஓதும்மால், எய்தினள் என்தன் மடந்தையே.

…… நம்மாழ்வார் திருவாய்மொழி

2251

தமருள்ளம் தஞ்சை தலையரங்கம் தண்கால்,

தமருள்ளும் தண்பொருப்பு வேலை, - தமருள்ளும்

மாமல்லை கோவல் மதிட்குடந்தை யென்பரே,

ஏவல்ல எந்தைக் கிடம்

..... பூதத்தாழ்வார் அருளிச்செய்த இரண்டாம் திருவந்தாதி.

Moolavar : Sri Manikundra Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Ambujavalli

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple faces east, with an entrance arch. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Garudalwar are immediately after the entrance arch.

Moolavar Sri Manikundra Perumal is in a sitting posture with Sridevi and BhooDevi. Moolavar is holding Sankha and Chakra in the upper hands, and the lower hands are in abhaya & varada hastam. Thayar Ambujavalli faces east in a separate sannidhi with a small vimana. The Sannadhi abuts the south wall of the ardha mandapa. The Reliefs of Garudalwar and  Anjaneyar are at the entrance of the sanctum artha mandapam. The Paramapatha Vayil is on the north side with steps. 

Utsava murti, along with Sridevi and Bhudevi, are kept at Narasimha Perumal Temple for safety reasons. 

ARCHITECTURE: 

The temple was built like a madakoil, a little above the ground level.  It was told that this temple was built on a small hill ( Kundru). Hence, it is called Mani Kundra Koil. 

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum was built with upanam and Adhistanam. This adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattika. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. The Kostams are found empty. In the prastaram Kapotham with nasi koodu. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu's various avatars are on the first level. The sikaram is of Vesara style. The Vimana over the Sanctum is called Manikoodam.

HISTORY  

The original temple belongs to the 7th Century and was reconstructed during the 16th and 17th Centuries. 

The temple is under the administrative control of Thanjavur Palace Thevasthanam. 16^th to 17^th Century, a fragment of Tamil inscriptions was found on the walls of the temple.   

An 1892 CE Inscription tablet installed on the steps records the paving of the praharam floor, balipeedam, Garudan Sannidhi, Doors, and compound wall. The inscription further mentions the works done like the construction of the compound wall and paving of the praharam floor at Sri Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal temple (where is this temple is not known... ?).

Maha Samprokshanam was conducted on 16^th March 2000 and 21^st March 2022. 

LEGENDS 

As per the legend,  Parasara Maharishi, with his disciples, lived in the ashram on the banks of the Manimuthar River, now called Vennar. The demons Thanjaka, Thandeka, and Tharakasuran gave troubles to the Sage Parasara Maharishi  and his yagam. So, Maharishi requested Lord Shiva to protect them from demons. Lord Shiv, in turn, sent Kali (another avatar of Sri Parvati). Tharakasuran was killed by Kali, but he couldn’t kill Thanjaka and Thandaka. When the sage Parasara approached Vishnu, He took the form of Narasimhar (with a lion’s Face – Yazhi face) and killed Thanjaka. 

As per his request, Sri Narasimhar stayed in Yazhi Nagar. On seeing this, Thandaka hides in the Pathalaloka. Now, Vishnu took the form of Varaha (Boar) and killed the demon Thandaka. After killing the demons, Lord Vishnu gave darshan in the form of Neelamega Perumal to Sage Parasara Maharishi. Lord Vishnu blesses us in three different names in three temples close to each other. In Neelamega Perumal Temple, Lakshmi is sitting on the left lap of Perumal, but in Yazhi Nagar, Goddess Lakshmi is sitting on the right side since Lord Vishnu looks ferocious.

Perumal gave darshan to Markandeyar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas, Narasimha Jayanthi and the annual 10-day Brahmotsavam are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs and 12.00 hrs and between 17.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Bhattar Sampath's mobile number, +91 9701948622, may be contacted for further details. 

HOW TO REACH :

The Temple is on the main road, 5 km from Thanjavur, on the way to Thiruvaiyaru—Vennatrakarai. After Kodi Amman Temple, get down.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The Third Visit to this temple was a part of the Divya Desam Temples Visit, near Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, organized by Culture Circuits.  Thanks to Mr Balakumaran. 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---