VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple / Eri Katha Ramar Temple / ஏரிகாத்த ராமர் கோயில், Madurantakam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple / Eri Katha Ramar Temple / ஏரிகாத்த ராமர் கோயில், Madurantakam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

11^th November 2018.

This Kothanda Ramar temple at Madurantakam is popularly known as Eri-katha Ramar temple, probably from 1795 CE, when Sri Rama and Lakshmana had done a miracle by saving the Eri / lake and People from the flood, for the prayer of then British Collector. The place Maduranthakam is also called as Vakularanyam & Maha Devi Kshethram. Madurantakam is also called as Madurantaka Chaturvedi Mangalam, Vaikunta varthanam, Thirumathurai, Karunakarapuram, etc,.

PC - Website

Moolavar : Sri Kothanda Ramar ( aka ) Eri - Katha Ramar Temple.

Thayar : Sri Janaka Valli Thayar

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram without much stucco images. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudalwar are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Anjaneyar Sanadhi is opposite to Kothanda Ramar Temple. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum.

In the Sanctum moolavar Ramar ( Ramar is holding the hands of Seetha ), Seetha and Lakshmana. Since Ramar is holding the hands of Seetha ( kalyana Kolam ), moolavar is called different names as Kalyana Ramar, Seetha Ramar, Seetha Lakshmi Samedha Sri Kothanda Ramar. Urchavar is Sri Bhoomi Neela samedha Sri Karunakara Perumal.

In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Narasimhar, Chakkarathalwar, Janakavalli Thayar ( Daughter of Janaka Maharaja ), Andal, Vishwaksena, Udayavar ( The conch and Chakra given during panchasamaskara to Sri Ramanujar by Sri Periya Nambi and the Kannan idol are kept in the sannadhi ), Periya Nambikal and mandapam under a Vakula Tree called Pancha Samskara mandapam. There is a tunnel through which the lake water flows to the temple tank ( passes through the Temple mandapam ).

ARCHITECTURE

The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, maha mandapam and a Mukha mandapam. The Vimanam above the sanctum is called as Pushpaka Vimanam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta Kumudam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Chozha period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam. This place may be named after the Chozha King Parantaka Chozha's son Madurantakan and the eri was called as Veera chozha Pereri. This place was mentioned in the 7th - 8th Century Pallava period inscription on a stone slab at Kadaperi Shiva Temple. This place was suit for living by the Brahmins ( may give as gift ) who was well versed in 4 vedas, hence called as Madurantaka ChaturVedi mangalam. The temple also received the contributions from the Vijayanagars.

As per the inscriptions Kothanda Ramar Temple was called as "Ayodhya Perumal Vinnagaram - அயோத்திய பெருமாள் விண்ணகரம்". This place was called as Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Kalathur kottathu Thaniyur alias Madurantaka Chaturvedi mangalam. The 5 inscriptions recorded by Archaeology Department, includes the Kulothunga Chozha's son Parantaka, who ruled Vengi region. One of the inscription mentions Karunguzli alias PidagaipaRRu on the north of Madurantakam. During Chozha period Madurantaka Cheri, Irumudi Chozha Cheri and Thina Chinthamani Commercial shop street are existed. Veeranarayana Street, Veera Chozha vaikkal, Veera Chozhar Perangadi are existed in the name of Parataka's title names.

PerunguRRi sabha gifted land to this temple as Thiruvidaiyattam. During Vikrama Chozha's period the Peruvazhis - பெருவழிகள் are 3 kol width.

Vijayanagara King Venkatapathy Raya's period ( 1600 CE ) inscription records the gift of Madurantakam, Uthiramerur to Velukottiyachamar for conquering Velu Lingi reddy.

In 1073 CE Pakkathottam was gifted to this temple as Thevadhanam.

Vikrama Chozha's period ( 1125 CE ) inscription records that the gift of 4 Padaka dry lands after converting in to cultivated lands. Another inscription of the same King records the Kothanda Ramar's name as "Ayodya Peruman".

The Madurantaka Pereri was excavated during Parantaka's period. Some Historian's claims that the eri was excavated during Kulothunga Chozha's son Parantakan, Please refer SII V N 0093, for more details.

Ref:

Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram Mavattam, by Sa Krishnamurthy.

Inscriptions

LEGENDS

As per the legend Suga Maharishi and Vibhandaka Rishi lived here. The visitathwaitham philosopher Sri Periya nimbi initiated the Panchasamsakaram ( Tapam, Pundram, Namam, Mantram and Yagam ) to Sri Ramanujar under the Vakula Tree ( Makila tree ). This event was referred in Vaduka Nambi in his Ethiraja Vaibhavam. After the initiation Udayavar was called as Ramanujar.

Thirumazhisai alwar attained siddhi in this Place.

An Udumbu / monitor lizard got relieved from a Curse in this temple.

Drawing of Ramanujar initiation

A miracle based event was happened in this temple. During British Rule, the Madurantakam lake bund was about to breach, due to heavy rain and flood. If it happened, the complete village with peoples might have been washed away. After his effort failed to protect the bund of the lake, the helpless District Collector Lionel Place Durai, prayed Sri Kothanda Rama to save the people and the Village from this calamity. On the same day night, the collector had seen from the lightning light, Sri Rama and Lakshmana walked along the bund with bright light. Next day the rain was stopped and flood was also under the control. From this incident onwards Sri Kothanda Ramar was called as Eri- Katha Ramar (Ramar who saved the lake ). As a token of thanks giving the British District Collector renovated Sri Janaka Valli Thayar sannidhi.