This temple finds a reference in the Parasara Kshetra Mahatmiyam with Sage Vashishta having performed penance invoking the blessings of Perumal
The Maratha Prince found the current Moolavar Idol beneath the Ayyan Kulam a few centuries ago
One of the 88 temples under the administration of the Thanjavur Palace, Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple finds a mention as Minmalai Venkatesar in the Thanjai Vellai Pillayar Kuravanji literature alongside Thanjai Maa Mani Koil (Divya Desam), Raghunatha Perumal and Aadhi Kesava Perumal (South of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal).
The Moolavar idol that one finds today was located by the Thanjavur prince centuries ago in Ayyan Kulam following an invisible message from the Lord directing the Prince to that tank.
Parasara Kshetra Mahatmiyam refers to the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple as being located 4miles South of Panchanatheswarar temple (Thiruvayaru) and South West of Vashishteswaram (now Karanthai). As per the legend, Sage Vashista undertook penance here in this Kshetram invoking the blessings of Perumal who happy with the penance provided darshan to the Sage. A beautiful temple tank and a Nandavanam was created at this place.
Parasarar performed his pooja with the sacred water and flowers presenting 108 names of Prasanna Venkatesan.
Following the killing of Thanjakasuran, Perumal acceded to his request of naming this place after him as ‘Thanjai’.
Muthuswamy Dikshithar has also presented verses in praise of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal “Prasanna Venkateswaram Bajarey, Vaadi Vasantha Bairavi Nutham Shri”.
This section had featured a story on Venkatesa Bhattar, archaka at Saligrama Kothandaramar temple in Punnai Nallur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/06/punnai-nallur-kothandaramar-temple.html). His younger brother Srikanth Bhattar has been performing the role of the archaka at the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple in Thanjavur over the last two decades after the Vaikanasa Agama initiation from Dr. Muthu Bhattachar for four years.
He has just sent his 10 year old son to the Agama Patshala in Kudavasal and is hoping that he would continue the temple service in the future.
The two big annual utsavams takes place in Chitrai and Puratasi.
As with other temples under his administration, Babaji Rajah Bhonsle (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/thanjavur-palace-babaji-rajah-bhonsle.html), the current Prince of the Thanjavur Palace takes good care of the Priest with a fair salary and other benefits. Currently, the Prince is actively involved with the restoration of the Venugopalaswamy temple on the Southern Banks of Cauvery in Thiruvayaru (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/thanjavur-palace-venugopalaswamy-temple.html).
Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple is located near the Ayyan Bazaar Street in the heart of Thanjavur and about 3kms South West of Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/08/thanjai-maa-mani-divya-desam.html).