Thanjai Mamani Koil - Where Three Temples Make One Divya Desham!

 

In this article, we will read about not one, but three temples which are together considered as a single Divya Desham of Maha Vishnu. The set of temples is referred as Thanjai Mamanikoil and is located near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Maha Vishnu graces the devotees in three forms: Neela Megha Perumal, Manikundra Perumal and Veera Narsimha Perumal. All these temples are located at very short distances from each other. 

The temples' legends are as interesting as the temples.

Once upon a time, there lived three Asuras in the earth named Thanjagan, Thandagan and Gajamukhan. These three demons worshipped Lord Shiva and asked Him for immortality. Lord Shiva blessed them that they could be defeated only by Maha Vishnu and by no one else.  

The Asuras grew arrogant with their new-found power and started harassing everyone on the earth. At that time, many places on the earth were facing draught and famine. But there existed one place where the earth was still fertile and blooming, and that was the Ashram of Sage Parashar. The Asuras came to know about this and attacked the Ashram along with their army. The sage fervently prayed to Maha Vishnu for assistance. 

The Lord sent His Sudarshana Chakra to get rid of the Asuras. All the demons in the army were killed, except for the three demons who had attained the boon from Lord Shiva. Maha Vishnu had to Himself appear in the Ashram to get rid of them.

The Asuras realized their mistake very late. As Maha Vishnu beheaded Thanjagan first, the Asura, in his last moments, requested the Lord to forgive him for his sins. Considering his repentance, Maha Vishnu forgave the Asura and granted him liberation. The place came to be called by the Asura's name Thanjagan Ooru, which later became Thanjavur / Tanjore. 

The other Asura named Gajamukhan too met his end at the hands of Maha Vishnu who took the form of Narsimha and repented during his last moments. The place where he died came to be called as Thanjai Yali Koil (Yali meaning elephant).

The third Asura Thandagan fled to Paatala Loka to escape Maha Vishnu. The Lord took the form of a boar, Varaha, dug deep into the earth and killed the Asura. This place came to be called as Sreemushnam.

Maha Vishnu is present as Neela Megha Perumal in the temple Thanjai Mamanikoil and His consort is Devi Sengamalavalli Thayar. He is present as Manikundra Perumal in Manikundram temple and His consort is Devi Ambujavalli Thayar. In the third temple i.e. Thanjai Yali Koil, He is present as Lord Narsimha with His consort Thanjai Nayagi Thayar. 

Some more beautiful legends are associated with this place. After Maha Vishnu stayed in this place in different forms, Kubera asked Vishwakarma, the celestial architect to construct a city around this place in the form of a flying Garuda. It is believed that Garuda protects this place even today. The river that flows in this city is considered as the same river that flows in Paramapadam, which is believed to be the last Divya Desham of Maha Vishnu. Also, as Maha Vishnu in all His three forms watches over Thanjavur, the set of temples came to be called as Thanjai Mamani Koil. 

Om Namo Narayana! Om Devyai Namaha!