Sri Saranadha-Perumal at Thiruserai-Kshetram (4)

Features of this temple:-

• This is the only Vaishnavaite temple where darshan of five Vishnu Sakthis is possible among the 108 Thrupathis.
• The idol of Vishnu is with five sakthis.
• Sri Vishnu accepted River Cauveri as his mother and is sitting on her lap as a baby.
• This is the only Vaishnavaite temple celebrating Thaipoosam festival ( a Shaivaite festival )
• This is the place Markandeya attained Moksham (Libration achieved through god realization).
• This is the deity worshiped by Brahma, Siva, Pakshiraja, and river Cauveri in all four yugas.
• This abode (Kshethram) is called "Panchasaara-Kshetram" meaning :
  1.The deity is called Saranadhar.
  2. The consort of Vishnu here is Saaranayaki.
  3. The temple tower is called Saara-Vimanam
  4.The Threertham ( temple tank ) is called Saara-Pushkarini
  5. This kshetram is called Saara-Kshetram.

Legend: Once River Cauvery did penance for three thousand years. Her intense penance generated unbearable heat that spread all through the universe. The trinity of gods were wondering how to stop Cauvery's panance. Vishnu appeared before cauvery as a child and called her Amma.(mother).

Cauvery's panance was distrubed and she became annoyed. She opened her eyes and saw a baby touching her holding a feather. She cooled down as soon as she saw the baby. Immediately with out any hesitation she took the baby and kissed him. She was happy and forgot about her panance completely. She became very proud because she was holding god as a child on her lap She thought that she was luckier than river Ganga who was just vaxing and waning on god's locks. River cauvery did pranams to the child god and asked three boons from him:
1.Lord Vishnu should live permanantly in this place.
2. Whoever comes to this place for Lord's darshan they should get Moksham(Libration achieved through god realization)
3. Cauvery should be better than Ganga.
The Lord said so be it.
That day was Thai-poosam. This is the reason why they are celebrating thai poosam festival here.

This temple is situated in Mannagudi in Tamil Nadu. This temple was renovated by Tanjavoor King Azhagiya Manavalan Nayakar and his minister Narasaboopalan.
There is a small story behind this temple renovation. The king of Thanjavoor was sending loads of building stones to Mannargudi Sri Rajagopalasway temple.On the way the minister took one stone for saranathar temple from every load that was being sent to Mannargudi. The king came to know about the minister's action and angrily he started to go to Thirucharai to see the theft for himself.. Hearing this message the minister became afraid of the king's wrath and prayed to Lord Saranathar.
When the King entered the Saranathar temple it was amazing that he saw Lord Rajagopalasway in place of Saranathar. He knelt down before the diety god and prayed. The monarch of Tanjavoor undertook the whole renovation of the temple. There is an inscription in this temple about this incident.

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