Mannachanallur
Mannachanallur is about twelve kilometers from Trichy. Local buses are available to
this place from the Chatroom bus stand in Trichy. You will see some excellent
landscapes while on your way to this kshetra from Trichy. The place itself is a very
busy town with lots of activity. This town is the base for trading many agricultural
products.
Business in Mannachanallur
All the agricultural products produced from nearby villages are brought here since this place is a centre for trading. The trading of these commodities is the main business activity here. There are many oil mills in this town. The Chettiyars who are traders by nature buy rice and pulses from here. They had a strong presence here from the early days. This trading community had established a wide network of business contacts throughout the South. Nayaks, Nawabs of Karnataka, French, and British fought many wars for supremacy in the nearby areas like Samayapuram, Trichy, etc. This influenced the traders to make their contacts wide.
Temples of the Mannachanallur
As you enter the town you will be welcomed by Sri Bhoominather temple. The legend as to why this town is called Mannachanallur is linked to this temple. While there are many other temples here, it is worth mentioning that there are two temples for Lord Anjaneya [Hanuman]. While the first one is on the main road near Vaaniyar Sangam, the other one is in Mela Agraharam. Before we proceed to know about the ancient Hanuman temple let us see the legend as to how this place got the name Mannachanallur.
Legend:
Andhakan was a powerful demon [asura] and was frightening Devas and others. Devas
prayed to Lord Siva to get rid of the demon. Lord Siva on the request of Devas
vanquished Andhakasura. When the demon was killed, a drop of sweat fell on the
battleground from the forehead of Lord Siva. That drop had turned into a demon and
started eating everything it could find on the battlefield. The hunger of the demon
was not fulfilled by these. It prayed to the Lord Siva since the Lord had created
him, he is duty bound to feed him. Saying so, the hungry demon started eating the
earth. Seeing this, all the Devas together pinned the demon to the ground and did
not allow it to get up. The demon started complaining that he was hungry and asked
them to feed him. The Devas replied to the demon that he would remain pinned to the
ground by the force of forty-five Devas always. But during certain days and at
particular times he will be freed for one Nazikai [24 minutes] to seek his food.
Devas further said that people who are constructing new houses on the ground would
offer food during this time and as a reciprocation he will protect/guard the
building from all evil forces. Any offering made in the yagnya without observing the
prescribed rules will also serve as food for him. He will henceforth be known as
“Vastu Purush”.
There is a stone with an epigraph in the mandapam and the inscriptions on it date back to the year 1704 and relate to this temple. The unique stone pillar and the inscription were put together to establish that the temple is at least around three hundred years old.
Temple for Sri Sanjivirayar
The trading community known as Vaaniyar of this town or more popularly Chettiyars is now maintaining an ancient temple built around three hundred and fifty years ago. This ancient temple for Lord Hanuman [Anjaneya] is named “Sri Sanjiviraya Perumal Temple” establishing the influence of Nayaks. The temple is in the heart of the town, and at a walkable distance from the Sri Bhuminathar temple. The temple is built on a huge area and a has a big compound and the three- tier gopuram [not too tall] with three kalasam welcomes you. This is one of few ancient temples exclusively built for Sri Hanuman which has Rajagopuram. Sanjivirayan temple, Iyen kulam of kanchipuram, Moolai Anjaneyer temple of Thanjavur are the other two that we have covered earlier. The main arch in the entrance has Sri Rama seated along Sri Sitadevi and Sri Baratha, Sri Sathruguna standing beside the couple, and Sri Anjaneya and Sri Lakshmana sitting near the Sri Rama Charanam. This assemblage is flanked by Sri Vibishana and Sri Sugriva on either side.
Sri Sanjiviraya Perumal Temple Complex
Lord Hanuman of this kshetra is called Sri Sanjivirayan and the temple is
known very uniquely as “Sri Sanjiviraya Perumal Temple”. Entering through the
gopuram which is north facing one will step into the huge open
prakaram of the temple. Entering from the gopuram one can see a stone
pillar. The stone pillar is encompassed by a huge hall with a tile roof. The
temple is built east-west and from the main hall one could see the
garbhagraham after the mun mandapam. At the western end of the
main hall facing the Lord, there is a Tulsi plant in a madam. The vimanam
above the garbhagraham has Sri Garuda on all four corners. Sri Vishnu
with His concert Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhoodevi in seated posture is on three
sides of the vimanam.
The Stone pillar
The sixteen-sided stone pillar in front of the garbhagraham presently looks as if it is the koti kambam. These stone pillars are a unique mark of the Nayaks period which can be seen in Ariyalur, Mannargudi, Kanchipuram, Vallam Srirangam etc. It is said that there was a vigraha of Lord Anjaneya on the top of the pillar, which is now placed in the main garbhagraha of the temple.
Inscription
As you enter the mun mandapam from the main hall there is a stone with an
epigraph in the mandapam and the inscriptions on it date back to the year
1704 and relate to this temple. This again establishes that this temple is an
ancient one. The unique stone pillar and the inscription put together establish that
the temple is at least around three hundred years old and was built during the
period when this kshetra was under the influence of Nayaks of Vijayanagar
patronage rule.
Deities in the garbhagraham
From the mun mandapam, one can see the garbhagraham in which the following deities are installed: Sri Garudazwar, Sri Anjaneya [two in number], Navaneetha Krishnan, and a Nagar. As stated earlier one of the Sri Anjaneya vigraha was installed on the top of the stone pillar. Poojas are conducted for all the deities. The utsava murti of Sri Sanjiviraya is also kept here.
Sri Sanjiviraya Perumal
Lord Sri Sanjiviraya Perumal is about two and a half feet in height. The Lord is seen in standing posture with ‘Anjali hasta’ [folded hands]. His tail is coiled and rolled down along his leg. The Lord is seen wearing ornaments on His ankle, leg, hand, wrist, and neck. His eyes are bright and looking straight. The ‘diirga kataksham’ of the Lord bestows all happiness to the devotee.
Kumbabishakam and Festivals
The utsava murti of Sri Sanjiviraya in Panchalooka was made in 1929. Kumbabishekam was done on 20.01.2002 and earlier to that it was on 14.09.1972. Every Saturday a special ‘Tirumanjanam’ is performed. Sri Anjaneya Jayanthi is celebrated on a great scale during the Tamil month Margazi [Dec-Jan]. Sri Sanjiviraya is taken out on procession during Puratasi – Thiruvoonam.
Location of the temple: "Sanjiviraya Perumal Temple, Mannachanallur, Trichi"
Experience
The temple provides the devotee with a great atmosphere for meditation and to contemplate on the Lord. Lord Sanjiviraya of this kshetra is sure to bestow all happiness to His devotees.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [January 2012]
Updates: [Jan 2025]