the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Vishnu

Manimangalam finds a place in the history of Tamil Nadu as the place where Narasimha Varma Pallava defeated the Chalukyas in the 7th century A.D. This fact is mentioned in the copper plates discovered at Kooram. Kalki has written about the Manimangalam battle in Sivagamiyin Sabatham. He describes how Mahendra Varma Pallava was injured in the battle at Manimangalam, and how his son Narasimha Varma Pallava and his trusted lieutenant Paranjoti vanquished Pulikesin's army. The presiding deity at this ancient temple is Sri Rajagopala, who is seen in a standing posture facing east, with His consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. There is a separate sannidhi for Senkamalavalli Thayar. A peculiarity of the deity here is that He holds the conch in His right hand and the Sudarsana Chakram in His left hand. His lower right hand is in the Abhaya Hasta mudra and He holds the mace in His lower left hand.