Sri RajaGopala Swamy Temple History

This shrine dedicated to Rajagopala, is a vast temple complex with a 1000 year old history. Referred to as Dakshina Dwaraka and as Champakaranyam, this temple is located in the town of Mannargudi, and is well connected by rail and road to Thanjavur, Kumbhakonam, Tiruvarur and other towns in the erstwhile Thanjavur district.

The innermost sanctum here about a thousand years old although the first stone structure here was built only during the reign of Kulottunga Chola I (1113 AD); this temple is also referred to as Kulottunga Chola Vinnagaram. Most of the outer structures date back to the later Vijayanagara period marked by a spate of temple construction projects in Tamilnadu. None of the Alwars have sung of the glory of this shrine, as this temple came into existence only at a later date. However, Manavala Maamuni has sung praises of this temple; so has Muthuswamy Deekshitar (18th century)- one of the revered composers in the Karnatic Music idiom. Oothukkaadu Venkatasubbaier, (who preceded the Karnatic Music trinity), another composer in the Karnatic Music idiom made Rajagopala (Krishna) of Mannargudi the center of the multitude of his compositions (as did Jayadeva with Jagannath of Puri,in his Geetagovindam). Labeled Krishna Gaanam, several of Oothukkadu Venkatasubbaiyer's compositions in Tamil and in Sanskrit have attained popularity during this century. Muthuswamy Deekshitar's kriti Santhaana Gopala Krishnam in the Raga Khamaas, eulogizes this shrine at Mannargudi, as do his kritis Sree Rajagopala in the Raga Saveri, the kriti Sree Venugopala in the Raga Kurinji and the kriti Sree Vidya Rajagopalam in the Raga Jaganmohini. Deekshitar refers to the annual float festival in the Haridranadhi tank, and to the Mohini Alankaram in the annual Iraappattu Utsavam in his kritis, and also describes Krishna as an embodiment of the Sree Vidya Mantram.

According to the Brahmandapuranam of Veda Vyasa, the origin of this place is traced to two sages Gopralaya and Gopila, the sons of an ancient saint "Vahnimukkar" As legends would have it the sage Gopralaya performed severe penance in the Dwaparayuga to seek the boon of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in his infinite mercy granted the boon and settled down as a cowherd Gopala in the same fashion as he did in Dwaraka in the north. Hence this place is also known as Dakshinadwaraka". Yet another ancient name for this place is "Champakaranyam" as this place was once a blooming Champaka forest. Lord Brahma was said to have worshipped the Lord in the Krita Yuga to recover his memory power with regard to His creation of the cosmic lives. In the Tretayuga Sage Bhrighu and Mahalakshmi worshipped the Lord to rid themselves of curses. As a result the Lord took her in Marriage and she came to be known as Vasudeva Mahishi, Champakavalli and Sengamala Thayar. In the Dwapara Yuga the god Agni offered penance on the banks of the sacred Gopralaya tank and regained his heat.

Later on in Kali Yuga, different kings like the Sowrastra Kings like the Sowrastra King Rajesekara, who was absolved of his sin of ingratitude through chanting the Dwadasakeshara Mantra after taking a dip in the vast Haridranathi Tank sanctified by Lord Krishna's physical contact during his Rasakridai in the tank with 16,000 Gopis in his final lila to the Gobila Brothers. Kulothunga Chola-1 first renovated the shrine followed by Pandya. Hoysla, Nayaks and Maharatha rulers of Thanjavur King Vijayaragava was devout Bhakta of Sri Rajagopala and has written many Telugu verses in his praise under the name of Mannardasa.. The alwars and Acharayas also did not lag behind these Gods, sages and Kings in praising Mannar Two Chapters (IV-6 & V-3) of 22 verses in Esoteric Language of Verivilakku and Madal turais of Thamil Grammar have been sung by the doyen of Alwars, Sri Satagopa Therein he was referred to as the Lord in His 4 manifestations of Vanduvarapathi Mannan. Manivannan, Maniyi Ani Nira Mayan and vasudevan. All these names are engraved on the basis of these pre-historic idols. It is sheer ignorance to call it a place not sung by Alwars Tiirumangai Alwar has adored Him in his stanza 'Ponnanai' (Stanza 10 in Tirunedunthandakam) as "Gunabalamathayanay) and the great Commentator Periyavachan Pillai refers to Sri Ramanuja's views that it refers to Sri Mannanar only. This Alwar having got some tips in his China tour was able to lift up the Monoithie Garudasthamba of sixty feet height to a vertical position by using cotton bales. Kulasekhra Alwar who is shown special honours in this temple is a devotee of Gopala and lauded Him in his Mukunda Mala. Sri Andal was so enamoured of gopala's form as to choose Him for her consort in the name of Rangamannar, as she was jealous of Gopala's promiscuity with the Gobis. Among Acharyas Tirukkachi Nambi has visited this place. The last of the great Acharyas. Sri Manaval Manunigal spent some time in this shrine and regulated the mode of worship by enjoying the recital of the 2nd psalms in Tiruvoimozhis in the daily routine. He has sung the Gopala Vimsadhi (Gopala Vimsadhi of Sri Desika is in adoration of Sri Gopala in the Tiruvaiyindirapuram temple only) and Kamala Sthuthi adoring Sri Rajagopala and his cousin. The Nayak kings who ruled over the Thanjavur Kingdom were also great devotees of Sri Rajagopala. Among them King Raghunatha nayaka and king Vijaya raghava nayaka had associated themselves with enriching the temple's architecture. Vijayaraghava Nayaka was so immersed in the bliss of the Lord that he called himself "Mannarudasa" and is said to have composed many verses in Telugu, notable among them being 'Rajagopala Vilasamu' 'Champakavalli Parinayamu', 'Dakshina dwaraka sthala varuanamu' and 'Rajagopala Dandakamu'. The history of the temple and the association of the chola and Nayak kings have all been brought out in the inscriptions of Madras Presidency Vol II (page 1294) and the Tanjore Gazetteer-Vol.I.

The great Vaishnavite saints Alwars and Acharyas have adored Sri Rajagopala. The doyen among the Alwars Sri Satagopa has referred to the four manifestations of the Lord as Vanduvarapathi mannan, Manivannan, Maniyil Ani Nira Mayan and Vasudevan. Thirumangai Alwar and Kulasekara Alwar were also attracted by the divine bliss of the Lord and had sung in His praise. The last of the great Acharyas Sri Mannavala Mamunigal was reported to have regulated the daily mode of worship in this temple. His Gopala Vimasadhi. 'Rajagopala Mangalam' and 'Kamala stuthi' are all in, praise of Sri Rajagopala. Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar of the musical trinity of the South, Keshtragnya and the eminent scholar Sri Raju Sastrigal have adored the Lord in their compositions.