Tanjai Mamanikoyil

Temple Information

How to reach: The three temples are 200 meters apart and are all located on the outskirts of; Tanjavur.

Shrine Locations

Sthala Puranam

The legend is said to have taken place in Kṛta Yugam. Parāshara Maharshi was said to have been performing tapas when three demons by the name Thanjakan, Dhandakan, and Gajamukhan started to interrupt him. It is then that Parāshara Maharshi asked Lord Vishṇu to intervene and help him. The Lord mounted Garuḍan and first released his Sudarshana Chakram to deal with Thanjakan. On his deathbed, Thanjakan asked the Lord to name the land where he died to be named after him. Thus the land where he died became Tanjavur.

Next, the Lord went after Dhandakan. The Lord took the form of Varāha and bore his teeth into Dhandakan and dug through the land, emerging out of Shrīmushṇam. Dhandakan asked for the land where he was buried to be named after him. Thus emerged the Dhandaka Vanam. The last demon Gajamukhan was killed by the Lord in his Narasimha form. Thus the three temples were put together to form one kshethram known collectively by the name of Tanjai Mamanikoyil.

Azhwar Pasuram

ThirumangaiAzhwar – 3 Pāsurams

NammAzhwar – 1 Pāsuram

Bhūtath Āzhwār – 1 Pāsuram

Total – 5 Pāsurams

Shrines