Saranathan Temple, Thirucherai

The Saranathan Temple at Thirucherai, on the outskirts of Kumbakonam, is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Vishnu, praised in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. Vishnu is worshipped here as Saranathan and Lakshmi as Saranayaki. Legend says Brahma made a pot from Thirucherai's sand to keep the Vedas safe through the cosmic dissolution, and that the river goddess Kaveri did penance here to win equal standing with the Ganga; Vishnu appeared to her as a child. The temple is unusual in giving the presiding deity five consorts and in having a shrine to Kaveri.

Medieval Cholas, the Vijayanagara Empire and the Madurai Nayaks all contributed to the temple, and an inscription of Parakesari Varman (906–946) records grants. A granite wall encloses the shrines and three of its four water bodies, and the five-tier rajagopuram rises 120 ft. A metal Sita image is thought a fine example of 9th–10th-century Chola art. The chariot festival in Chittirai (March–April) is the main event.