Sarangapani Temple Kumbakonam tamilnadu

This temple is about two thousand years old.
The Presiding deity is Sri Sarngapani Swami. Sarngam = bow pani=hand. The deity is having a bow in the hand.
Hemarishi in days of yore, had the unique privilege of Darsan of this Lord. In later days Tirumalaisai Piran and other eminent ecstatic Alwars also had the same privilege.
In the sanctum there is a beautifully carved out 12 pillared mandapa going by the Tirumamani mandapam reminiscent of the similar Mandapa at Sri Vaikuntha and hence it is axiomatic to call this kshetra a Bhuloka Vaikuntha like Sri Rangam. 

Situated in between the rivers,the Cauvery and the Arisolar, Kumbakonam. The sacred kshetra is famous from time immemorial. The temple is two kilometres from the Kumbakonam Railway Station and the Bus Stand.

Ofthe 108 Vishnavaite temples this is third in order, next only toTirupathi and Srirangam. 

Seven Alwars, besides Kambar have sung in praise of the Lord. The consort of the lord is Komalavalli Thayar.

NACCIYAR SRI KOMALAVALLITHAYAR

The repository of beauty and grace,with a smile exuding compassion with the face turned to the east abides to the right of the sanctumsanctorum of Sri Aravamudan is a seperate shrine. A darsan at this shrine is equally insatible indeed. It is customary to worship the Divine mother, Sri Komalavalli Thayar, before we have a darsan of Sri Aravamudan.

THE MODE OF WORKSHIP

PANCHARATRA AGAMA - VADAKALAI

Some other features of this shirine

The immensely lofty tower 150 feet in height and 90 feet and 51 feet in length and breath shall speak a lot about the grandeur of the gopugam and the splendour of Sri Sarangapani who abides therein. 

There is no Paramapadavasal to the temple. The Uttarayana and Dakshinayana are the two gateways of this temple.The one in the north will be open from 14th January to 15th July and the one in the south from 15th July to 14th January. So it is indeed meritorious to enter through either of these two gateways for worshipping the Lord.

There was a devotee by name Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swami. During his life time he was ever engaged in the Nityakanikarya of the temple.With the help got from kings and the wealthy,he was able to procure oranaments for the deities, landed properties to the temple. He also had the big tower, Raja Gopuram,a marvel of beauty,and other extensive mandapas,built for temple.When the devotee breathed his last on a deepavali day, the Lord himself ordered to perform the funeral rites of the deceased as he had no heirs. Even to this day on every Deepavali day shraddha is performed to Sri Lakshi Narayanaswami on behalf of the Lord. Sri Rama performed the funeral ceremonial rites once to Jatayu.

But Sri Amudan continues to perform the Shraddha ceremony every year. Will there yet be an individual who can sustain and experince such a meritorious situation executed with the grace and compassion of the Lord !