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 It is known as Senbagaranya Kshetram, Vasudevapuri, Dakshina Dwaraka, Vandu-vara-pati and more. The temple is in Mannargudi, in Thanjavur with Vasudeva as the presiding deity accompanied by His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi.
Mannargudi abounded with the Senbaga trees, their boughs heavy with Senbaga flowers and hence is known as Senbagaranya - or a forest of Senbaga trees. It is known as Vasudevapuri, after the presiding deity,
Paravasudeva.
The temple is situated in a sprawling 6 acres of land and was built by
Raja Raja Cholan (1018-1054 AD) and hence was called as the Raja Raja
Vinnagaram. His successor Kulotunga Cholan (1074 - 1125 AD) renovated the temple. The temple was known as Kulotunga Vinnagaram for this reason. The Nayak kings who followed the Cholas took interest in renovating temples and Vijayaraghava Nayak, son of Ragunata Nayak (1634-1675 A.D.) renovated the temple after the Cholas. The temple therefore is one of the proud and rich legacies that are more than a thousand years old that the country has.
The temple finds a reference in Brahmanda Purana, Sriranga Purana and Tirupati
Purana.
The Dwaraka of the South
 As the Krishna temples of Udupi, Guruvayur etc., Mannargudi also is associated with Dwaraka and the legend is that two sages by name Gopila and Gopralaya desired to have a darshan of the Lord and to worship Him in person. They were directed by ethereal voice to reach Dwaraka for fulfillment of their prayer.
The Dwapara Yuga was drawing to a close at that time. The sages who were journeying by foot to Dwaraka were not aware of this and were traveling during day time, resting in the nights and observing their daily rituals on their way. By the time they could reach Dwaraka, the Dwapara Yuga had ended, Dwaraka had submerged in the sea and the Lord had completed his avatar on earth and had returned.
Narada appeared before the sages when they were crossing the River Yamuna and told them that the Lord had completed His mission on earth and had returned to Vaikuntham. The sages were stuck by thunder at these words. Narada comforted them and instructed them the Deva Darshana Mantra. He advised them to go south, to Senbagaranyam and performing penance, chanting the Deva Darshana Mantra taught to them, on the banks of River
Haridra.
The Lord was pleased with the penance of sages Gopila and Gopralaya and appeared before them. The sages requested the Lord to re-enact all his Lilas before them. He was only too pleased to fulfill their desire. That earned the name Dakshina Dwaraka or the Dwaraka of the South to
Mannargudi.
It is said that bees - though abound the place - do not touch the Senbaga flowers for their honey, leaving them pure for being offered to the Lord and therefore the name
Vandu-vara-puri.
Rajagopalaswamy
 More than the presiding deity, it is the processional deity that is popularly known. The processional deity is known as Rajagopalaswamy - the Cowherd King. He is seen in his favourite posture, before the cow with His consorts Rukmini and
Satyabhama.
The Lord is also worshipped in His form as Santana Rajagopalaswamy, the lad lying on his Adisesha sucking His right toe. The idol in bronze is just grand. Devotees have the staunch belief that whoever holds the image of Santana Rajagopalaswamy would without fail be blessed with a child. Many devotees quote the example of King Swanasigamani, son of King Rajasekhara, who was blessed with a child when he worshipped Santana
Rajagopalaswamy.
Other deities
There are a number of other shrines around the main temple, dedicated to Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Garuda, Panchamukha Anjaneya etc. The pillar of Garuda installed before the Lord's shrine measures 54 feet high and is carved out of a single stone.
Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the month of
Panguni (March-April).
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