CHENNAI: Manimangalam, a small village of historic importance, situated approximately 20 km from Sriperumbudur, is home to two ancient Vishnu temples which date back to the Chola times or perhaps even earlier. The presiding deity of the larger temple is Rajagopala Perumal seen in a standing posture, flanked by Goddesses Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. An unusual aspect of the deity here is that He holds the Sudarsana chakra in his left hand and the sankha in His right hand and not the other way around as is usually seen.
This temple has two prakaras, the inner covered one, supported by numerous pillars running around the main sanctum. The shrines for Goddess Lakshmi, worshipped here as Senkamalavalli Thayar and Andal are seen in the outer prakara. Near this temple is another ancient Vishnu shrine for Vaikunthanatha which is as old as the Rajagopala Perumal temple. The huge idol is seen in a seated posture with the right leg placed in front and left leg bent and placed on the pedestal. The inscriptions record the different names of Rajagopala Perumal across centuries. He was known as Tiruvayppadi-Krishna Perumal, Srimad-Dvarapati, Vanduvaraapati Tiruvaykkulatt-azhvar and Vanduvaraapati Emberuman. The village of Manimangalam too was known by various names during the rule of different dynasties. The names Chaturvedimangalam and Agrahara are indicative of the fact this village, like many others in this area, was donated by royalty to scholars learned in the Vedas and other sacred lore.
The epigraphs offer an idea of the association of the kings of dynasties with this temple. They mention the maha sabha or the administrative unit of this village, taxes collected, fines, land assessment, writing of sale deeds, standard weights and measures and many other important details from times bygone.
(The writer is a historian who focuses on temple architecture)
