Thirucherai is traditionally enumerated as number 9 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.
This place is one of the divya desams of Chola Nadu. It is about three miles from Nachiyar koil in Tanjore District and about seven miles to the south east of Kumbakonam. The moolavar here is known as Saranathan. He is seen in a standing posture facing east along with Goddess Kaveri, Markandeya rishi, Sri Devi, Bhoodevi and Neela devi. The Thayar is known as Sara Nayaki. The theertham is known as Sara pushkarini. The vimanam is Sara vimanam. God appeared here before Kaveri and Markandeya rishi.
This is a small village but with great puranic and historical references,
The sthala purana of this place is related in Brahmanda puranam in a conversation between Lord Siva and Narada (1 to6 adyayas). Bhavishya purana also mentions this story in its Madhya kandam, again in the course of a conversation between Lord Siva and Narada (68 to 72 adyayas). At the time of yuga pralayam, Brahma, the Creator was called by Maha Vishnu and asked to make a good pot and keep in it for safe custody the vedas, the agamasastras and the puranic texts. Brahma accordingly visited each of the divya desams took the mud and made a pot. But to his chagrin, everywhere the pot would break. He was a very worried man. He rushed to Maha Vishnu and asked Him to give him a solution. Lord Vishnu told him that there are twelve swayam vyaktha kshetrams on earth and he should go to one amongst those swayam vyaktha kshetrams viz. Sara kshetram and take the mud out of the pushkarini in that kshetra and make the pot. Lord Brahma acted accordingly. The pot did not break. It is believed that Sara kshetram is being guarded by Brighu, Sounaka, Vyasa, Markandeya, Parasara, Vainatheya and other rishis who were doing penance on its banks. Thus, with the grace of God, Brahma was able to safeguard veda agama saram and hence the word ’sara’ was attributed as a prefix to this theertham and also the vimanam and the murthi here. This place is therefore known as Sara kshetram, the tank as Sara pushkarini, the vimanam i.e. the tower over the garbhagriha as Sara vimanam, the God and the Goddess as Saranathan
and Saranayaki. The place is therefore known as Pancha Sara kshetram.
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