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Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi
Krishna (Rajagopalaswamy) · Dakshina Dwaraka · Tamil Nadu
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
The Rajagopalaswamy Temple at Mannargudi is one of the largest Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Krishna as Rajagopala, the royal cowherd. A vast walled complex with a great tank and tall gopuram, it is revered as Dakshina Dwaraka, the Dwaraka of the South, and was built and enlarged across the Chola, Nayaka and Thanjavur Maratha ages.
The royal cowherd
Krishna is worshipped here as Rajagopala, the prince among cowherds, standing with a cane and the gentle grace of the lord of Brindavan. The temple is so grand that it is called Dakshina Dwaraka, likening Mannargudi to Krishna’s own city, and the lord is the kuladevata, the family deity, of many across the Kaveri delta.
A temple-city and its tank
The complex spreads over many acres within high walls, entered through a towering eastern gopuram, with long pillared corridors and shrines. Beside it lies the Haridra Nadi, one of the largest temple tanks in the south, its waters held sacred for the float festivals of the lord. The temple grew under the Cholas and reached its grandeur under the Thanjavur Nayaka and Maratha kings.
The eighteen-day festival
The great Panguni festival, lasting eighteen days in the spring, is the temple’s grandest season, when the lord is borne in procession on a succession of vahanas and the tank fills with light for the float. Through the year Mannargudi keeps the steady round of a major Vaishnava shrine, drawing pilgrims from across the delta.
How to reach the temple
- By road: Mannargudi is in Thiruvarur district, about 30 km from Thanjavur and Thiruvarur.
- By train: Mannargudi has its own railway station.
- By air: Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) airport is about 90 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rajagopalaswamy?
Rajagopalaswamy is Krishna as the royal cowherd, worshipped at Mannargudi standing with a cane in the grace of the lord of Brindavan.
Why is Mannargudi called Dakshina Dwaraka?
For the grandeur and sanctity of the temple, Mannargudi is likened to Krishna’s own city of Dwaraka, and so is called Dakshina Dwaraka, the Dwaraka of the South.
How large is the temple?
It is among the largest Vishnu temples in Tamil Nadu, a walled complex of many acres with a towering gopuram and the great Haridra Nadi tank, one of the largest temple tanks in the south.
Who built the temple?
It was built under the Cholas and enlarged by the Thanjavur Nayaka and Maratha kings between the 10th and 16th centuries.
What is the main festival?
The eighteen-day Panguni festival in spring is the grandest, with processions on many vahanas and a float festival on the temple tank.
How do I reach Mannargudi?
Mannargudi is in Thiruvarur district, about 30 km from Thanjavur, with its own railway station; Trichy airport is about 90 km away.
॥ जय श्री कृष्ण ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Krishna as Rajagopala (the royal cowherd) |
| Significance | Dakshina Dwaraka; among TN’s largest Vishnu temples |
| Tank | Haridra Nadi (one of the largest temple tanks) |
| Builders | Chola, Nayaka, Thanjavur Maratha |
| River | Kaveri delta |
| Main Festival | Panguni (18 days) |