Thiruthanjaimamani Koil

Thiruthanjaimamani Koil is traditionally enumerated as number 16 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

The moment Tanjore is mentioned, it is only the Brahadeeswarar koil and the engineering marvel of a big circular stone on the top of the gopuram which strikes our mind.The Brahadeeswarar koil is a Saivite temple. Very few will believe that in the same town, there is a less known temple, but it is one of the 108 Vaishnavite divya desams. Actually this temple lies about 2.5 miles from Tanjore railway junction. There are three temples which constitute this divya desam.

The first temple is known as Tanjai Mamani Kovil. The moolavar is known as Neelamega Perumal. The Thayar is known as Sengamalavalli Thayar. The theerthams are known as Amrutha theertham, Kanaka pushkarini. The vimanam is known as Soundarya vimanam. God is seen in a sitting posture facing east. He appeared in response to the prayers of Parasara Muni.

The second temple is known as Tanjai Yali kovil. The moolavar here is Narasimha swamy. The Goddess is known as Tanjai Nayaki. The vimanam is Veda Sundara Vimanam. The pushkarini is known as Surya pushkarini and Sri Rama theertham. God is seen in a sitting posture facing east.

The third temple is Manikunra temple. The moolavar is knownas Mani kunra perumal. Thayar is known as Ambujavalli. The vimanam is Manikooda vimanam. Theertham is known as Sri Rama theertham. God is seen in a sitting posture facing east. God is said to have appeared in response to the prayers of Markandeya.

The utsavars in each of the three temples are known as Sriman Narayana.

Another notewrothy feature is that it was in this divya desam that Swami Desikan’s son Sri Nainar Acharya ordained that during Anadhyayanam period (when the Divya prabandhams should not be recited) Desika prabandhas should be recited in all the divya desas.

132 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desam - IIT