Home

          This Divyadesam is located in Tirucherai, near 4km north Kodavasal and 15 km south of Kumbhakonam on the Kumbakonam-Tiruvarur road.

Deities: The Moolavar here is Saranathan, in a standing posture facing east; Taayaar is known by the name Saranayaki.

Legends: Vishnu here is believed to have been worshipped by Markandeya and Kaveriamman. This legend states that the river Kaveri in the form of Kaveri Amman meditated upon Vishnu with the desire of obtaining the stature of the river Ganga. Vishnu appeared in front of Kaveri with his consorts Sreedevi, Bhudevi, Neeladevi, Saara naayaki and Mahalakshmi and granted her request.

         Lord Vishnu blesses the devotees with 5 forms of Lakshmi here Mahalakshmi, Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Neeladevi and Saranayaki. Kaaveri had sat in penance here to attain more prominence than Ganga. The presiding deity Saranatha Perumal had granted the wishes of Kaaveri on Thai Pusam Day and hence the deities are taken in procession on that day.

        King of Tanjore by name Azhagiya Manavaala Nayakkar and his minister Narasa Bhoopaalan are said to have renovated this temple. The legend says that the King sent several loads of stones to Mannargudi, to renovate the Rajagopalaswami temple there. His minister wanted to renovate Thirucherai temple also on the way. Hence the minister decided to unload one stone per load enroute to Mannargudi, at Thirucherai to renovate the temple there. On hearing this, the King visited Thirucherai and the Lord Saranathan here appeared to him as Rajagopalan, responding to the prayers of the minister.