Sri Saranatha Perumal Temple (Thirucherai)
Thirucherai and Thirukkannamangai divya desams are approximately 110 km east of Srirangam and just south and southeast of the temple town of Kumbakonam. Both are located in small villages about 20km apart.
Location
This village is located just north of Kudamuruti river just south of Kumbakonam and Natchiyarkoil.
Sri Saranatha Perumal Temple – Google Maps Location.
Sthalapuranam
Lord Brahma was concerned during pralaya about saving the Vedas and all other things required to restart creation. He prayed to Lord Vishnu about it. He was told to make a strong earthen pot and store all his needs in it. It was the earth he found at Thirucherai that proved to be strong and good.
Saranathan – Saranayaki – Sara Theertham
Due to his role in saving all this,
- the Lord is known as ‘Saranathan’,
- the universal mother is ‘Saranayaki’, and
- the place is ‘Sarakshetram’ (Panchasara kshetram).
The temple pond is called ‘Sara Theertham’.
When asked which was the best of rivers, Lord Brahma informed Kaveri that since he washed Trivikrama’s feet in the waters, the Ganges is the most superior of all rivers. Kaveri desiring the same status did penance for Lord Vishnu who granted her wishes – to remain in Thirucherai always and that during Tula month (Oct-Nov) she would be deemed the best of rivers.
It is also said that the temple was built by one of the ministers of Naik kings who secretly constructed it using material meant for Rajagopalaswamy temple at Mannargudi. An angered king visited to inspect and found a Rajagopalan shrine which appeased his anger.
Special features
The temple is from the middle chola period and there is a mention of this temple in ancient writings from 6th century of the current era. Since the Lord appeared as a child to Kaveri to test her devotion, she is seen in this temple as a mother with a child in her lap. Here the Lord is seen holding a Padmam (Lotus) in his hand which is a posture associated with Paramapadham.
Mangalasasanam
As in quite a few cases, Thirumangai Alwar is the only one who has done mangalasasanam at this temple. Thirumangai Alwar says that whoever sees the Lord in Thircherai and appreciates that he is just as he is in Paramapadham with his dark cloud-like form with buzzing bees around him will always have his attention also.
He identifies the bhaktas as those who worship the Lord at Thirucherai as the bhaktas of the Lord who drew the life out of Puthana and made her fall dead on the ground; the same Lord who has the flower-eyed and flower resident Mahalakshmi on his chest; the same Lord as the one who in Rama avatar chopped the nose and ears off cruel Soorpanakha.
Only a sample of thirteen pasurams is presented here.
CLICK HERE for the list of 108 Divya Desams.
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