Thirumandankudi

Vaishnavite Temples, Thanjavur District

God

Srinivasa Perumal, facing east with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi

Goddess

Renganayagi Thaayar, facing east

Other Deities

Thondaradi Podi Azhawar, Vishwasenar, Vibranarayanar, Ramanujar

Thirumandankudi is a small east facing temple with a 3 tier Rajagopuram at the entrance built in the birth place of one of the 12 Azhwars, Thondaradi Podi Azhwar. There are separate shrines for the goddess and for the Azhwar.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Thirumandankudi is the birth place of Thondaradi Podi Azhwar (placed between 5th and 9th Century CE). He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and he even used to shower himself with the dust (podi) of devotees (thondar) feet (adi) and thus his name is Thondaradi Podi Azhwar. He spent a lot of time in Srirengam, nurtured the garden there and all his hymns are on Sri Renganadar. He is known for his compositions ‘Tirumaalai’ and ‘Tiruppalli Ezuchi’. One of his famous verses starts with “Pachaimamalai pol meni” and is very popular.

Legend

The deity at Thirumandankudi is in standing posture as a response to Thondaradi Podi Azhwar’s ‘Thirupalli Ezhuchi’ – meaning the waking up of the Lord.

Directions

Thirumandankudi is about 13 kilometers north west of Kumbakonam off the Thiruvaiyaru road. There are a few possible approaches and the area has many temples. Please refer to our map below for exact location and to plan other nearby temples.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Kumbakonam.

Vaishnavite Temples

Srinivasa Perumal, Thirumandankudi