SRI RAMA DARSHAN - PUNNAINALLUR

Salagrama Kothandaramar Koil Punnai Nallur

The Only Ramar temple in India with all the moolavar deities made of the sacred ‘Saligramam’ Stone 1400 year old Utsavar idols of Raama, Sita and Lakshmana

‘Salagarama Kothandaramar’ Koil is located in Punnai Nallur, about 7kms East of Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam, on the Thanjavur-Nagapattinam Highway and about ½km North of the Thanjavur Mariamman koil. This temple is said to be the Abhimaana Sthalam of Neelamegha Perumal of Thanjai Maa Mani koil.

 

Salagrama Moolavar

This is possibly the only (Raamar) temple in India where the moolavar deities of Raama, Sita, Lakshmana and Sugreeva have been made of the sacred ‘Salagramam’ stone. One normally finds the black Salagramam (stone) in the shape of a small stone. Here at the Kothandaramar temple, each of the big sized moolavar archa-vigraha (all of them are in Standing Posture) is from the Salagramam stone. It is believed that a Nepal king (who was the son in law of Thanjavur) presented the sacred ‘Salagramam’ stones to the Thanjavur king.

Historical Utsavar Archa Vigraha

The utsavar archa-vigrahas of Raama, Sita and Lakshmana that one sees today are said to be 1400 years old. These were found buried at Puvanur village near Needamangalam about 25kms from here.

Special Status for Vaanara King Sugreeva

Another feature at this temple is the special status assigned to the monkey king Sugreeva. It is believed that Raama, in recognition of Sugreeva’s help in finding Sita, wanted the Vaanara King by his side.

Construction of the temple

 
The temple was built by the Maratha king Pratap Singh, who lived in the 18th century and who contributed in no small way to a number of Vishnu temples in and around Thanjavur. There are references to the fact that the Maratha queen Emunaambal Bai set aside a lot of fertile land for the Kothandaramar temple. She also contributed in various other ways to the progress of the temple. Maratha King Shivaji and Kaamatchiamba Bai also contributed in a big way to this temple.

Sun Signs – Another speciality

Lord Hanuman is seen in a separate sannidhi in a standing posture facing South with a lifted right hand and with a lotus in his left hand.

On the upper wall of the Hanuman sannidhi, one finds stone carvings of the 12 sun signs. The belief is that devotees who stand under their respective sun sign and offer sincere prayers to the Lord will be relieved from all the difficulties relating to their sun sign.

HayaGriva Sannidhi

It is also believed that Lord Hayagriva will assist in the education and intellectual learning for those who invoke his blessings here at the Kothandaramar temple on the Thiruvonam day every month.

Management of the temple

The Kothandaramar temple is under the management of Shri. Babaji Rajah Bhonsle, the current prince of the Thanjavur Palace.

A couple of other Kothandaramar koil in Tamil Nadu are Eri Kaatha Ramar koil in Madurantakam
and Ramar Koil in Vaduvur on the Thanjavur-Mannargudi highway

Quick Facts

Moolavar Deities : Salagrama Kothandaramar Standing Posture with Sita, Lakshmana, and Sugreeva

Utsavar : Raamar with Sita Devi and Lakshmana
Temple Time : 7am to 12.30pm and 5pm to 830pm
Priest : C. Venkatesa Bhattar @ 97897 42778

Contact Address : 4/32 Ramar Sannathi Street Mariyammankovil(PO) Thanjavur 613501
 

Festivals : 9 day Rama Navami Utsavam in Panguni – Brahomotsavam
 

Garuda Sevai on Chaturthi day, Chariot procession on Navami day

SRI RAMA DARSHAN - PADAVEDU - PART - 1

Sri Yoga Ramachandra Swamy Temple (Padavedu)

India - Tamil Nadu - Kannamangalam - Padavedu 

 his temple, constructed before 12th Century AD has Lord Rama in a uniquely seated yoga posture in Artha Padmasana with a “Chin Mudra”, Seetha Devi and Lakshman by his side and without his usual Kothandam. Unusually Lord Hanuman is seated in front of Lord Rama reading Palm leaf manuscripts. The combination of the clean and properly illuminated (without bright focus lights like an Exhibition as you see normally) sanctum sanctorum and the beautiful deities is really marvelous.
Nithya (Daily) homams take place here.

Note: Ramar in a meditative posture are seen only in 3 places and all of them are in this region. Apart from this temple, they are Nedungunam and a small temple at Ragunatha Samudhram, 5 kms from Nedungunam.
Legend: After the destruction of Ravana, Lord Rama was requested to destroy the demon, hundred headed Mahi Ravana. On behalf of Lord Rama, Hanuman fought with Mahi Ravana. The intense battle witnessed the fall of his (Hanuman) soldiers at the hands of the demon. In spite of his best efforts, Hanuman could not locate Mahi Ravana. At that time, Seetha Devi informed Hanuman that Mahi Ravana was a staunch devotee of Goddess Renuga Devi and his life force was hidden in a lotus flower of a Pond at Kundalipuram and he had been protected by Goddess Renuga Devi. 

When Hanuman went to Kundalipuram, Goddess Renuga Devi made the lotus Pond to disappear to safeguard Mahi Ravana. Hanuman got angry and fought with Goddess Renuga Devi but Lord Rama intervened and pacified both. Then Lord Rama and Hanuman prayed Goddess Renuga devi to help them in destroying Mahi Ravana. Pleased by the prayers, Goddess Renuga Devi granted the boon and Mahi Ravana was destroyed.

The Scenic Village

Padavedu, is a calm and scenic place that consists of 17 villages encircled by Jawadu hills, river and other water bodies, paddy, coconut and plantain fields. There are more than 10 ancient temples with Renugambal temple as the most popular of them. This is one of the Sakthi sthalams of Thondai mandalam. This is one of the cleanest places I have ever seen and is a definite model for other temples.

Just imagine this scene – a temple outer praharam with around 3 feet width brick platform neatly laid out all around for people to walk. Trees and flower plants in a row at the edge near the compound walls and the entire outer praharam filled with fine river sand absolutely clean without even small stones, single leaf, or any other plant waste! Just relaxing by sitting on the sand with the family by itself is a real pleasure. That’s marvelous and that’s how TVS is maintaining ALL the temples here. Hats off to them.

History of the place

During 13th and 14th Centuries, the Sambuvarayar chieftains ruled this region under the patronage of the Pandyas. For a short time they became independent and subsequently came under the rule of Kempagowda. Padavedu was the capital of their empire and so this was a big commercial place during that time. There were two forts – Big fort and Small fort with moats (Agazhi in Tamil). Number of sages performed penance and attained salvation here. It is said that there were 1008 Shiva temples and 108 Vishnu temples here (though it is difficult to believe). Out of these except the Yoga Ramar temple and the Renugambal temple, all other floor temples have disappeared due to the natural disasters. During the 1990s, many temples have been unearthed and renovated. These were built at various points of time, but most of the improvements and decorations appear to have been done when the Sambuvarayar came under the sway of the Vijayanagar Empire. There are many inscriptions from Vijayanagara periods.

Legend of the place

Renuga devi, an incarnation of Parvathi devi, traveled the whole world accompanied by her friends and an army in search of a suitable husband. Finally, she arrived at Kundalipuram, where saint Jamadagini was doing penance. Since Renuga devi camped near the Ashram with her soldiers, the sacred place was named “Padai Veedu” (army encampment). Here, Renuga devi saw Saint Jamadagini, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. At that time a war broke out between the disciples of the Saint Jamadagini and the soldiers of Renuga devi. Durga (Chamundeeswari) who accompanied Renuga devi, effected havoc by producing fire from her third eye. Seeing this, the Saint Jamadagini brought all the Teerthas available in three worlds in his kamandalam (water jug used by ascetics) and dropped it. The water from kamandalam transformed into a huge river and extinguished the fire brought out by Chamundeeswari. This river is known as “Kamandala Nadhi”. Later Renuga devi and Saint Jamadagini married and gave birth to Parasuramar, one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Highlights

• Padavedu is the avatara sthalam of Parasuramar, one of the Dhasavadharams of Mahavishnu
• There are more than 10 ancient temples of 12th century
• Sri Renugambal Temple is one of the important Sakthi Sthalams
• Ramar is seen in a meditative posture with ‘Chin mudhra’ in Sri Yoga Ramachandra moorthy temple
• Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple and Sri Ammayappar temple were once buried under the sand and have been excavated and renovated
• In Subramanya Swamy temple, Lord Subramania is seen standing on his peacock. Legend has it that Lord Subramania was conferred the title “Deva Senapathi” only on this hill top at the behest of Goddess Renugambal.
• Sri Lakshmi Narsimhar temple is having Goddess Laskhmi seated on the right lap of Lord Narasimhar (usually She will be on the left lap)
• Sri Kailasa Vinayagar temple where the Vinayagar is about 5.5 feet high
• Sri Kailasanadhar Temple is where Lord Shiva is seen with Uma devi in human form but unfortunately in a vandalized condition.
• Sri Venugopla Swamy Temple that is on a picturesque hill en route a beautiful forest with a few hanging bridges
• Vel Temple is where ‘Vel’ consecrated by Siddhar Bhogar is present
• Sri Veera Anjaneyar temple is where there is a beautiful 8 feet tall Anjaneyar

Distance:

From Chennai

Chennai (Adayar) to Vellore Highways junction – 142 km
Vellore Highways junction to Santhavasal – 37 km
Santhavasal to Padavedu Renugambal Temple – 6 km

From other places:
 

Thiruvannamalai to Padavedu – 55 km
Aarani to Padavedu – 23 km

Contact:

 
Mr Vasudeva Bhattar at 91596 32669 / 04181 248303
TVS office (04181-248279 or 04173-320444)