Sarangapani Temple

Sarangapani Temple is the largest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam and one of the 108 Divya Desams. It is also counted among the Pancharanga Kshetrams, the five Vishnu shrines along the Cauvery. The deity, Sarangapani, also called Aaravamudhan, rests in the Uthana Sayana pose, as if rising from a reclining position.

The temple is believed to date back to the Pallava era and was expanded over the centuries by the Cholas, the Vijayanagara rulers and the Nayaks. According to tradition, its sanctum represents the chariot in which Vishnu descended from heaven to wed Goddess Lakshmi.

Temple Timing

The temple is typically open in the morning from around 6 AM to 12 noon and again in the evening from about 4 or 5 PM to 9 PM, with rituals through the day. Timings may vary on festival days, so please confirm before you go.

Temple Festival

The chariot festival is the temple’s most prominent celebration, and its twin chariots are among the largest in Tamil Nadu. The Brahmotsavam, the spring festival, Navaratri, Ratha Saptami and Akshaya Tritiya are also observed, and the Mahamaham brings special pujas every twelve years.

Architecture

The eleven-tier rajagopuram is the tallest temple tower in the town, and five smaller gopurams complete the complex inside a granite wall. The central shrine is shaped like a chariot drawn by horses and elephants, and the Potramarai temple tank lies opposite the western entrance.

How to Reach