History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Thanjai Mamani Koil, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Thanjai Mamani Koil or Thiru Thanjai Mamani koil, located on the banks of Vennar River, in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu is group of the three Hindu Temples, Thanjai Maamani Koil, Thanjai Manikkunram Perumal Koil and Thanjayali Nagar Koil, solely dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. It is said that Lord Vishnu appeared in front of great sage Parasarar as Neelamega Perumal and give the blessing. Thus Neelamega Perumal is the presiding deity here in all these three temples. These three temples are closed to each other in around 1 km and in the form of the inverted L shape with each other. Unlike the other divvy desam where single shrine is consider, here group of three temples is referred as one of the Divya Desams, among the 108 temples of Lord Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints or alwars in Vaishnavite tradition. All the Three Perumals are in sitting posture and all the Three Utsavars are named as "Sriman Narayanan" only. All these three temple has small east facing shrine with the Lord and consort in the same sanctum. The temple details and importance along with legend are mentioned in Brahma Purana.
In this three temples the Lord Vishnu is in the form of Narasimha Avatar is worshipped, Narasimha incarnation was taken to kill Hiranyakashipu and to save great devotee Prahlad. As per Indian Mythology the great Sage Parasara was performing penance in his Ashram built near to the River Vennaru. The three demons- Thanjakan, Thandakan and Tharakasura were creating obstacles to the activities of the ashram. None of them were able to defeat them as they were blessed by Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu killed Thanjakan with his Chakra. Tharakasura was killed by Vishnu in the form of Yali, a mythical creature. Thandakan pleaded to Vishnu to relieve from his curse and Vishnu named the place after him, which formerly known as Thanjakoor and today known as Thanjavur. He was killed by Vishnu in the form of Boar.
Sreeman Narayanan gives the blessing to devotees in the three different temples as Sri Neelamaga Perumal, Thiru Manikundra Perumal and Veera Narasimha Perumal and sitting postures east sided idols are placed in shrine.
Brahmmotsavam is celebrated for three Perumals successively in the months of Panguni around in March-April, Chithirai around in April-May and Vaikasi around in May-June. Here in Thanjavur, these three temples offers great opportunity to see the three abode of Lord Vishnu at the same place. One of the temple where the Lord Lakshmi sits on the right side Lap of the Lord Vishnu instead of left and this shows the anger of Lord Vishnu while killing the demon. There are also other deities present such as Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad, Sage Parasara and Hanuman.
How to reach Thanjai Mamani Koil, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
As Thanjavur is major tourist attraction, district head quarter and major pilgrim center, it is very well connected to all major cities of Tamil Nadu and India via Road, Rail and Air network. The nearest airport is in Tiruchirappalli at around 61km from where you can get domestic and international flight. Thanjavur has major railway junction which is connected by rail with Tiruchirappalli, Nagaore, Thiruvauru, Tirupathi, Rameswaram, Mannagudi,, Madurai, Chennai, Bhuvaneswar, Goa, Mysore, Varanasi etc. Thanjavur is connected with all major cities by road from where you can get regular bus service and private vehicle which connects places of interest in and around Thanjavur.
