Introduction
Sri Rajagopala Perumal Temple is a noteworthy Vishnu temple in Manimangalam, housing Lord Rajagopala Perumal. Manimangalam is a tiny village of great historic importance situated in the interior of Kanchipuram district, approximately twenty kilometers from Sriperumbudur. It is venerated as the birthplace (avatarasthala) of Sri Ramanuja. It is the home of two very ancient Vishnu temples which date back to the Chola times, or perhaps even earlier. However the historical researches made it clear that the temple is the traditional and antique in its form and existence.
Image of Sri Rajagopala Perumal Temple
The image of Sri Rajagopala Perumal temple is the chief attraction of the temple. The presiding deity of the larger temple in Manimangalam is Sri Rajagopala Perumal, who is enshrined in the main sanctum facing east. The imposing image is immensely captivating and is seen in a standing posture. The deity is found to be holding the conch (sankha) and discus (chakra) in His upper hands, with His lower right hand in abhaya hasta and lower left hand resting on a mace (gada), flanked by Ubhay Nachiyar (Sri Devi and Bhu Devi).
A very unusual and unique aspect of the image of the Lord here is that He holds the Sudarsana chakra or discus in His left hand and the sankha or conch in His right hand. In almost all the other temples for Vishnu, this deity holds His chakra in His right hand and the conch in His left hand. The processional deity (utsava murti) of four-armed Vishnu is in the usual pose of having the chakra in His right hand and sankha in His left, flanked by His two consorts. The alcove on the outer walls of this sanctum contains beautiful images of various forms of Vishnu. Interestingly, in most of these sculptures, Vishnu holds the chakra in the prayoga position as though He is just about to release it. Also seen here are many excellently wrought miniature sculptures like Yoga "Nrisimha and Kalinga Narthana Krishna, among others. In another separate niche by the side of the sanctum is an image of Vira Anjaneya holding His right hand upraised and his left hand holding a lotus. The image of Lord is utterly fascinating and his posture follows the episode from the legendary stories associated with the temples.
Architecture of Sri Rajagopala Perumal Temple
The architectural craftsmanship of the ancient artists is revealed from the wonderful carvings and artistic trappings that adorn the temple and the images in temple. In front of the main sanctum there is erected a mandapa with pillars of the Chola age which indicates that this mandapa as also many of the other structures in this temple-complex were constructed in the reign of the Imperial Chola kings of Tanjavur (9th-13th centuries A.D.), who ruled over this area and gave numerous grants for the maintenance of this temple. The architectural grandeur is more evident from a very big and beautiful golden-colored Garuda vahana, kneeling with his palms outstretched, ready to carry the Lord on festive occasions is seen in this mandapa. The shrines for Goddess Lakshmi, worshipped here as Senkamalavalli Thayar. The image of Andal is seen in the outer enclosure (prakara), facing to the east. At the entrance to the temple is erected an unfinished gopura completed only up to the ceiling of the doorway. This temple has two prakaras; the inner one is covered, supported by numerous pillars running around the main sanctum. In the outer prakara of the temple, which also serves as the temple`s garden (nandavana), are innumerable rose-bushes in full-bloom, presenting a very beautiful sight. The architectural decorations thus provide an additional ornamentation to the natural beauty of the temple.
Vishnu shrine of Sri Rajagopala Perumal Temple, Manimangalam, South India : Situated near this temple is another tiny and ancient Vishnu shrine dedicated to Vaikunthanatha. This shrine too is as old as the Rajagopala Perumal temple as the inscriptions on its walls records. The gigantic form of the Lord is seen here seated with His right leg placed in front and His left leg bent and placed on the pedestal. His upper hands hold the conch and discus, His lower right hand is in abhaya hasta and the left palm is bent inward and placed on His lap. The Ubhaya Nachiyars are seen on either side of the God. The processional images (utsava-vigrahas) of this temple are kept in a separate sanctum in the Rajagopala Perumal temple for safety reasons.
Inscriptions of Sri Rajagopala Perumal Temple
The inscriptions stamped over the temple walls emphasized the traditional importance of the Sri Rajagopala Perumal Temple. The place Manimangalam was associated with the fortunes of many of the ruling dynasties of ancient Tamil Nadu. The inscriptions stamped on the temple walls relate to many facts about the temple. The place of Manimangalam is famous for the war, which was fought between the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I of Kanchipuram and the Chalukyan ruler Pulikesin II of the ancient Karnataka area in the 7th century A.D., and Narasimhavarman I won the battle. Later, the Cholas and Pandyas ruled over this area as the Tamil inscriptions found here depicts. The historical researches relate that some of the inscriptions are more than a thousand years old. The main temples are the specimen of the superb architectural skill of the contemporary artists. The walls of the main sanctum and the mandapa of the Rajagopala Perumal temple are profusely studded with a very large number of ancient historical inscriptions which belong to these ages. These inscriptions provide an idea of the association of the kings of these dynasties with this temple. The inscriptions provide information about the benefactions made to the temple by the celebrated kings of the dynasty.
The inscriptions on this temple also point to an important facet related to the temple. The inscription provides a fascinating account of the numerous names by which Rajagopala Perumal was known during different times in the ancient days. He was known as Tiruvayppadi-Krishna Perumal, Srimad-Dvarapati, Vanduvaraapati Tiruvaykkulatt-azhvar and Vanduvaraapati Emberuman. The village of Manimangalam too was known by various names. It was once called Loka-mahadevi Chaturvedimangalam, Raja-chudamani Chaturvedimangalam, Grama-shikamani Chaturvedimangalam, Pandianai-irumadivenkanda-Chola Chaturvedimangalam, Ratnagrahara and Ratnagrama. The names chaturvedimangalam and agrahara are indicative of the fact that this village was donated by royalty to scholars learned in the Vedas and other sacred literary texts.
But in the present times the village, Manimangalam has shrunk in size and affluence. The village which was once so well-populated and prosperous has nothing left of its former magnificence and the Rajagopala Perumal and Vaikunthanatha temples which once enjoyed immense royal patronage now stand isolated with only a handful of people visiting them and very few festivals celebrated.