Mannar Rajagopalaswamy Temple Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli

SRI MANNAR RAJAGOPALASWAMY TEMPLE

Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India

God

This temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu and is worshipped as Rajagopala Swamy and Vedanarayan Perumal. The idol of the Lord is of 15 feet height in a sitting posture with four hands flanked by Vedavalli and Kumudavalli Thayar in the sanctum.

Goddess

Goddess Sridevi and Bhoodevi are the consorts of Lord Vishnu.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (35°C during day and 24°C during night)Average - May (26°C during the day and 22°C during night)Lowest - December to February (28°C during day and 21°C during night)Monsoon season – July to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.

Smoâ€‹king is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
High Ground Bus Stand	2.8 KM	9487523432
Palayamkottai Railway Station	2.4 KM	139
Tuticorin Airport	35.8 KM	0431-2341810

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Palayamkottai Railway Station	2.4 KM	139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Tuticorin Airport	35.8 KM	0431-2341810

Architecture

The temple is built with a blend of Tamil architecture and that of the Mathura Sri Krishna temple. Inside the Maha Mandapam on the walls, one finds exquisite mooligai paintings sketching the Ramayana story. Inside this mandapam, one sees fish shaped sculptures on most of the pillars, another indication of the construction of the temple during the Pandya rule. The temple of Sri Vedanarayana is huge with spacious inner and outer prakarams. There is a Mukha Mandapam facing in the east where devotees can see Dwajasthambam, Bali peetam and Garuda. There is a separate sannidhi for Garuda and the Garuda is known as ‘Moolai Garudan (Corner Garuda) in this temple. There is a separate sannidhi for the Lord Hanuman and there are separate shrines for Goddess Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhudevi here named as ‘Vedavalli’ and ‘Kumudavalli’ respectively behind Sri Vedanarayana Sanctum in the first prakaram. An interesting feature at this temple is that the madapalli has a gopuram. There are no Andal and Nammazhvar Sannidhis in this temple. There are shrines for Shenbaga Vinayaka, Dasavathara of Sri Vishnu, 12 celebrated Alwars, Paramapatha Nathar, Lakshminarayana, Lord Aadi Varaha with his consort Sri Bhudevi and Anjaneya in the temple. 50 feet high Kodi Maram (temple flag) along with the 5 tier Raja Gopuram can be seen from the Thirunelveli Bye Pass road gives this temple a majestic look. The Raja Gopuram also has sculptures relating to Vishnu and Shiva Puranam.

Religious Significance

Lord transformed a female child to male child : A priest by name Vishnu Priyan was performing archanas to the lord regularly. He wished to get a male child. But his wife delivered a female child successively and this irritated him. Hence the priest begged the lord to give him a male child. On the next delivery also his wife gave birth to a female child which angered the priest. Hence he threw the archana plate on the lord which caused damage to the lord’s idol. Then he moved towards his home and he found a male child. The lord transformed his female child as a male child. On seeing the lord’s grace he was frightened and moved towards the temple to seek pardon from the lord. He reached the temple and asked pardon. Lord Gopalaswami along with Bhama and Rukmini (his consorts) appeared before him. Hence the lord is known as Azhagiya Mannar Rajagopalaswamy.

Indra gave Gopalaswami idol to Arjuna : Once Demons troubled Indira who ruled over a kingdom of devas and devas. During that time Arjuna reached the kingdom of Indira to see him. Indira asked Arjuna to destroy the demons and further informed that the demons were found at Thoyamapuram (Ocean’s middle portion). Arjuna had also accepted it and moved to the demons and challenged them. Arjuna was surprised to see the demons fell dead in the war came alive. At that time Arjuna heard a voice which stated that Arjuna would get victory if he derided the demons at him. Hence Arjuna faked as if he retreats from the war which put the demons derided at him. Arjuna waited for that time and he launched Pasupatha weapon against the demons which erased all the demons. Indra was pleased with it and he gave Gopalaswami idol to Arjuna for his worship. Arjuna had also offered prayers to the lord daily. One day Arjuna got a dream in which lord asked Arjuna to put the idol in Ganges and Arjuna had also obeyed it. After several years Sripathy, Pandya king, fought against his enemies on the shore of Ganges and he found the idol. He took the idol and constructed a temple for the lord and he installed that idol in the temple. Then the lord is worshipped as Azhagiya Rajagopalan.

History

The temple is around 500 years old.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	06:00 AM - 11:00 AM	04:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757