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greater part of the Rājāgōpalaswāmi temple was Raghunātha Nayaka." From the works of Vijayaraghava and his contemporaries we know that Vijayaraghava was a great devotee of Rājagōpāla and is known as Mannarudāsa and works in various literary types relating to Vijayaraghava are styled as "Mannārudasa Vilasamulu″ Both father and son might have renovated the temple of Rajagopalaswami but the fact is not corroborated by literary or inscriptional evidence. The Mannargudi Kshetra must have been of sufficient antiquity as we hare still to identify King Rajaśēkhara of Gujerat, who first showed to the world the greatness of this shrine. It is stated in the work quoted above (Vol. II Page 294) that it was a Jain centre, and the ancient name of the place was Rājaraja Chaturvedi Mangalam. Perhaps it came to be known its Mannargudi from the time of Tanjore Nayakas who were great devotees of the Deity residing in this kshetra.
*[1] MANNĀRGUDI INSCRIPTIONS
The epigraphs of this ancient place are interesting; as they refer not only to the Cholas and Pāndyas but also to the Hoysalas. Tradition also connects the place with the latter who, it is said, had a palace here, the present hamlet of Mělavaśal being called after its western gate. The Jayaṅkoṇḍanātha and Rājarājēśvara shrines were founded by Rājādhirāja I (1018–53) and the Rājagōpāla temple by Kulōttuṅga Chōla I.
- ↑ 1. I am indebted to Sangita Kalāsikhamani Srı K Vasudeva Sastry garu of the Tanjore Palace Library for kindly bringing these to my notice.
