Thanjai Mamani Koil is a grouping of three Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 Vishnu temples worshipped by the Alvars, the 12 poet saints. Unlike other Divya Desams, where a single shrine is mentioned, this group of temples is mentioned in all of the pasurams (holy hymns).

All three temples are :

1.Thanjai Mamanikoil Narasimha Perumal Temple
Deity: Narasimha Perumal / Veera Narashimhar

2.Thanjai Manikundra Perumal Koil
Deity : Manikundra Perumal

3.Thanjai Neelamega Perumal Temple
Deity: Neelamega Perumal

These are all 3 temples forming 1 Divya Desam. There were 3 asuras – Thanjakan, Gajamukhan and Dandhakan. Lord Vishnu destroyed these 3 in different avatars – Vishnu, Narasimha and Varaha respectively. These 3 temples are next to each other. This is one of them. The Lord is in the Narasimha avatar in a sitting posture.

Story/Legend of the Thanjai Mamani Koil

The temple’s hallowed origins can be traced back to a narrative in the Brahmanda Purana. During the Treta Yuga, three demons named Tanchakan, Tantakan, and Kacamukan were blessed by Shiva and became extremely powerful. They became haughty and bothered the sage Parashara, who was performing penance at this location. Vishnu killed Thanjakan with his Sudarshana Chakra, a discus. Tancakan begged Vishnu to release him from the curse, and Vishnu named the location Thanjavur after him. Vishnu, in the shape of a legendary creature called a Yali, killed Kachamukan. Vishnu adopted the form of Varaha the boar to kill Tantakan, the third demon who escaped to Srimushnam. This temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams.

What is Divya Desams– A Divya Desam or Vaishnava Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu and Lakshmi temples recorded by the Alvars, the poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnava faith. 105 of the 108 temples are in India, one is in Nepal, and the final two are thought to be in space, in Tirupparkatal and Vaikuntham. They are distributed over the Indian states of Tamil Nadu (84), Kerala (11), Andhra Pradesh (2), Gujarat (1), Uttar Pradesh (4), and Uttarakhand (3). Muktinath, Saligramam is Nepal’s sole Divya Desam. The 12 Alvars respect the Divya Desams in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil hymns.

History of Thanjai Mamani Koil

The Thanjai Mamani Koil are thought to be of substantial antiquity, with donations from Mediaeval Cholas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and Madurai Nayaks at various eras. The temples are ensconced behind granite walls, and the three complex houses all of the temple’s shrines.

Architecture of Thanjai Mamani Koil

The temples sit on the banks of the Vennaaru River. Manikunram features a tiny east-facing shrine that houses both the Lord and his consort. This shrine is mentioned in all of Thanjai’s Nammalvar pasurams (poems). Maamanikoil has a modest east-facing shrine with the Manikundra Perumal and consort seated in the same sanctuary. The shrine is housed in a raised building. This shrine is mentioned in all of Thirumangai Alvar’s pasurams (poems) of Thanjai. There is a separate shrine dedicated to Ambujavalli. Rama Theertham is the name of the body of water associated with the temples.

The sanctum of the Neelamegha Perumal temple faces east and includes a three-tiered rajagopuram. Neelamegha Perumal, the presiding god, is depicted in a veetrirunda stance. Sengamalli Thayar has a separate shrine. The temple’s water body is known as Amrutha Theertham. The sanctum is surrounded by images of Hayagreeva, Vedanta Desikar, Alvars, and Garuda.

Thanjiyali Nagar, also known as Veera Narasimha Perumal, features a tiny east-facing shrine that houses both the main god and his consort. This shrine is mentioned in all of Thanjai’s Bhoothathalvar pasurams (poems). The temple comprises a single precinct and a flat entry tower. Veera Narasimha Perumal is sculpted in a seated posture, offering sage Markandeya darshan. The temple above the sanctum is known as Vedasundara Vimana, and the water body that surrounds it is known as Surya Pushkarani.

Facts about Thanjai Mamani Koil

• Thanjai Mamani Koil near Thanjavur is a set of three Vishnu temples, together called a Divyadesam.
• The Thanjai Mamani Koil has a local origin story that is based on one of Lord Vishnu’s many canonical stories.
• Lord Vishnu is primarily adored in his Narasimha avatar, which he primarily used to slay the evil monarch Hiranyakashipu and save his disciple Prahlad.
• The Thanjai Mamani Koil is classified as a Divya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples mentioned in the book.
• The temple provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see three abodes of the Lord at the same time, as well as deities of his consort and other connected gods.
• People come here for a variety of reasons. Goddess Lakshmi sits on the right side of a furious Vishnu in one of the shrines, symbolising that kindness cannot endure when there is unrestrained fury.
• Lord Vishnu destroyed the demon’s graces in three separate temples Neelamegar, Manikundra Perumal and Veera Narasimha in three forms.

Famous Festivals In Thanjai Mamani Koil

• Brahmmotsavam is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• Diwali – Diwali is one of the most admired and auspicious festivals in the town.
• Chitra Poornima is also a significant occasion for celebration in the temple.
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi – Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) is the major festival celebrated in the temple.

How to reach Thanjai Mamani Koil

Thanjai Mamani Koil Temple is situated in the historic town of Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu, quite close to one another.

By Air: Trichy International Airport is about 70 kilometres from Thanjavur. People can travel by road from there to the temple.

By Railway: Thanjavur is a busy railway station, which is only a few kilometres away from the temple.

By Roadways: People can travel to Thanjavur and the temple by buses and other vehicles, from various places.

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