Thiru Saranatha Perumal Thirucherai

Thiru Saranathan Perumal temple  at Thirucherai , is a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu , is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu . Its one of the Cholanadu divyadeshams .
This temple is about 24 Km from Kumbakonam town on the way to Thiruvarur and is very near to Nachchiar Koil . Thirucherai – Sri Saranathan Perumal Temple, Kumbakonam is one of the temples, located near Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, about 24 Km, from Kumbakonam on the way to Thiruvarur and 10 Km, from Nachiar Koil.

There was a dispute between Ganga and Cauvery as to who was superior . They approached Brahma for a solution . During the Thrivikkrama Incarnation, the feet of Perumal extended upto Sathyalogam . As Ganga performed Thirumanjanam to the feet of the Lord , it flooded into Ganges. Hence Ganga said that she was Holy . Cauvery, who became sorrowful hearing the account of Ganga , performed rigorous penance under a tree at Sarapushkarani. Lord Perumal on the day of the Poosam star in Thai , appeared as a baby and began to crawl . Cauvery looking at the incomparable brightness of one crore Suns , worshipped the baby calling it Perumal . Thirumal appeared equipped with the chakra and the conch flanked by Sri Devi , Bhoomadevi , Neeladevi , Mahalakshmi and Saranayagi. He blessed ‘Cauvery as holier than Ganges’. There is a separate shrine for Cauvery here. In this shrine Markandeya attained eternity.

Moolavar is Sri Saranatha Perumal

Thayar name Sri Saranayagi.

Moorthy : Saranathar.

Theertham : Sarapushkarani.

Temple Tree : Shenbagam.

Thirumangai alwar has sung praising this Lord .

This is a pancha sara kshetram: Kshetram – Sarakshetram; Temple tank – Sarapushkarni; Vimanam – Saravimanam; Lord – Saranatha; Goddess – Saranayaki. Saram in Tamil means “essence” or “concentrate”.