Sri Sarangapani Swamy Temple- Kumbakonam

Address

Sri Sarangapani Swamy Temple Sarangapani North Madavilagam, Valayapettai Agraharam, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu 612001 Phone no 0435 243 0349

Diety

Sarangapani Permual Amman: Komalavalli

Introduction

Sarangapani Temple is dedicated to Vishnu, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.This temple is along Kaveri and is one of the Pancharanga KshetramsThe temple is believed to be of significant antiquity with contributions at different times from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagar Empire and Madurai Nayaks. The temple is enshrined within a huge granite wall and the complex contains all the shrines and the water bodies of the temple. The rajagopuram (the main gateway) has eleven tiers and has a height of 173 ft (53 m). The Potramarai tank, the temple tank, is located opposite to the western entrance of the temple. Theertham : Hemavalli Pushkarini, Cauvery and Arisil Rivers

Puranic Significance

Sage Brugu came to Vaikunda to test the patience and tolerance quality of Lord Vishnu by hitting on His chest. Lord did not prevent the sage nor grew angry against him. But simply smiled. Mother Lakshmi asked the Lord how He could allow other male to touch Her also while hitting Him as the chest of Lord is Her home. The sage fell at the feet of Mother Lakshmi and said that he was given the job of finding a God so soft in nature for conducting a Yagna to whom it was to be dedicated. I hit Lord for this test and meant no motives. He also begged Mother that she should be born his daughter. Mother Lakshmi happily blessed the sage. She promised the sage to leave Lord for him and advised him to take on penance to realize his wish. The sage performed penance in Kumbakonam and found Mother on the Hema Pushkarini Theertha on a Lotus. He took the child and named Her Komalavalli. He gave his daughter to Perumal in a grand wedding. Perumal came to wed Mother holding a bow-Sarnga, hence is praised as Lord Sarangapani. The place, thus is revered as the Avatara Sthalabirth place of Mother Komalavalli-Lakshm

Beliefs

Lord Santhanakrishna blesses the devotees in a shrine before the sanctum sanctorum. Devotees pray here to realize their wishes. It is the belief that the prayer will certainly bring them what they desire and expect.

Special Features

The temple is enshrined within a huge wall and the complex enshrines all the water bodies of the temple except the Potramarai tank. The rajagopuram (the main gateway) has eleven tiers and has a height of 173 ft (53 m). There are five other smaller gopurams in the temple. The rajagopuram has figures depicting various religious stories. The temple faces east and the Potramarai tank is located outside the western entrance. The central shrine of the temple is in the form of a chariot drawn by horses and elephants, with openings on either side, showing the descent of Sarangapani from heaven in the chariot.

Festivals

Chithrai Utsav : March (or) April. Vaikasi Vasanth UtsavMay – June Thai Sankaraman Utsav : January – February. Masi Float Festival : February – March. Vaikunda Ekadesi : December – January.