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.
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
Aarani to Padavedu – 23 km
Contact:
Mr Vasudeva Bhattar at 91596 32669 / 04181 248303
TVS office (04181-248279 or 04173-320444)
No comments:
Post a Comment