Santhanaramar, Needamangalam

God

Santhanaramar with Lakshmana and Seetha, facing east

Goddess

Seetha with the main deity

Other Deities

To be updated

Santhanaramar, Needamangalam is a small and beautiful east facing temple with a 3 tier Rajagopuram at the entrance. There is a large temple tank on the eastern front. This village used to be called Neeradumangalam in the early days. It is also known as Yamunambalpuram after a Queen.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Saagetha Pushkarini – Pond, Vennar – River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Mango (Mangifera indica)

History

Santhanaramar, Needamangalam was built by Prathapasimha Maharaja in 1761 CE. Muthuswamy Dikshithar, one of the carnatic music trinity, has sung a hymn in praise of the lord of this temple. The holy mango tree here broke and fell in a storm in 1972 and since then a copper armor has been covering the stump of the tree.

Mythology

The queen of the Maratha King Sarabhoji I, Yamunambal, is believed to have merged with a Mango tree in this area while she was pregnant. Later the temple is said to have been built around this tree.

Directions

Santhanaramar, Needamangalam is about 25 kilometers west of Thiruvarur in the Thanjavur road.

Stay and Food

Needamangalam has a few tea and snack shops. Thiruvarur or Thanjavur would be the closest for stay.