Today, June 15, 2017 (Hevilambi Aani Avittam), Sri Rajagopalaswamy at Mannargudi had purappadu in the evening on the occasion of masa pirappu of Aani month.
About the temple:
When cruel Kamsa put his own sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva in prison, Lord Vishnu appeared before them and assured that He would be born to them. This is His first Leela-divine play Krishna Leela. He appeared as Vaasudeva to Gopilar and Gopiralayar then. His life in Gokhulam as a shepherd was the 32nd Leela. Based on these events, the presiding deity is Vaasudeva and procession deity as Rajagopala. While opening the Vaasudeva shrine in the morning, Gopuja-cow puja and Gaja puja-puja to elephant are performed. Procession deity is also called Rajamannar, hence the name of the place Mannargudi.
Lord Krishna appears as a shepherd boy with a whip on hand and turban wearing a dhoti. He has butter on the right hand, an ornament around the hip, key bunch, bangles in hand and jewels of children. There is cow and two calves by His side. Kamsa, His maternal uncle who kept his sister Devaki – Krishna’s mother – sent his royal elephant Kuvalayapeetam to kill Balarama – Krishna’s elder brother. Lord Krishna, as a boy killed the elephant breaking its tusks. As a reference to this episode, the Lord is holding the tusk in His left hand.
The temple has 16 Towers, 18 Vimanas, 7 prakaras, 7 mandaps and 9 sacred springs-therthas. In the 11 tier Rajagopuram there are no sculptures up to six stages from the base. All God sculptures are from the 7th stage only. This is a rare and different type of Rajagopuram in Mannargudi.For the beauty of temple cars-Raths-‘Ther Azhagu- in Tamil’ Tiruvarur stands as outstanding example. For the beauty of temple Compound Wall-‘Mathil Azhagu-in Tamil’ Mannargudi is numero uno. Theertham Tank is a little far from the temple.
For previous coverage of utsavams at this temple in Anudinam, please visit Mannargudi Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple
The following are some of the photographs taken earlier today…
Courtesy Sri Vicky
Wonderful adiyan