17th November 2019.
This Nedungunam Sri Yoga Ramar
Temple’s visit was a part of the Thirumukkudal Temples Visit scheduled on the 16th
and 17th of November 2019.
After Singavaram Sri Ranganathar darshan our plan was to visit Nedungunam and
Devikapuram. It was around 11.30 hrs when we reached Nedungunam and had the
darshan of Sri Yoga Ramar. The place was called Nedungundram and the same
was corrupted to the present name of Nedungunam. Nedungunam signifies the high
or noble qualities of Rama.
Moolavar : Sri Yoga Ramar / Sri Ramachandra Perumal
Urchavar : Sri Vijaya Raghava Perumal
Consort : Sri Sengamala Valli
Some of the salient features of this
temple are….
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are after the 1st
level Rajagopuram and before 5 tier second level Rajagopuram called Kili
Gopuram, named in honor of Suka Brahma Maharishi. The sanctum sanctorum
consists of a sanctum, antarala, ardha mandpam, and muka mandapam. Garudan is in
the mukha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Ramar is in a sitting posture. His right hand is
near the chest with chin mudra. Eyes are closed in a yoga state. Rama does not hold
any weapons. On the right, Lakshman is with a bow and arrow. Sita is on the left side
in a sitting posture. Hanuman is sitting at the feet of Rama, reading out the
“Brahma sutra” from the manuscript holding in his hands. There is a
circumambulatory path below the sanctum
sanctorum. It was told that the opposite
hill is called Dheergachala and looks like a parrot head.
The Urchavar Sri Vijaya Raghava
Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. There are two sets of Urchavars (The old set
was stolen and recovered). The koshtas are empty. In praharam
Chakkarathalwar, Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal, Sanjeevi Hanuman and Thayar
Sengamala Valli. Alwars are in Artha mandapam. There is a special sannadhi for
Vykanasacharyar who founded the Vaikhanasa Agama. The Rajagopuram entrance side walls have bas-reliefs of
scenes from the epic Ramayana and Dasavathara of Vishnu. Vali fights with
Sugriva, and Rama shoots Vali through 7 trees, etc, which are intricately carved in the form of bas-reliefs.
There are two Vijayanagara period mandapas
with beautiful yazhi pillars, called Kili mandapa named in honor of Suka Brahma
Maharishi, and another one is the Muthu mandapam named after a Devadasi for her
excellent devotion and performance to this temple. It was told that
Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple and Devadasi Muthu had given a
performance.
Yoga Rama
ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum is on an upana
and the adhistana contains padmam, Silambu kumudam, kapota, and patti. The
bitti or the sanctum walls are supported with pilasters and kumbha pancharas
are shown between pilasters. Koshtas are like sannadhis. The prastaram is
of kapota style with viyyalavari over the prastaram. The kapota has the nasikood. Various reliefs of Vishnu, Hanuman, and Dancers are in kudus. A single
tier stucco vimana is over the prastaram.
The mandapa are built during the Vijayanagara period with their specialty yazhi pillars. The kodungai looks
beautiful.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is
believed that the temple has existed since the 7th Century and was built
during the Pallava period and reconstructed during the Vijayanagara period.
Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the walls of the sanctum and
mandapam, recorded in SII Volume 17-761 - 767. As per the inscriptions this place was called Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Padaiveettu Rajyaththu Kuzhaippalur Nattu
MurugumangalapaRRu Palkundra Kottathu MeRkundra Nattu Nerkundram and the
Presiding deity was called as Ramachandra Perumal.
The 1544 CE
Achutadeva Maharaya inscription records that the Village Tennarampattu alias
Ramachandrapuram, which had been granted as tiruvidaiyattam by Mallappa Nayaka
of Veppanpattu was reendowed for Sarvadhyayana by authorities of the
Ramachandra Perumal temple at Nedungunram and Mallappa Nayaka was to maintain
12 Srivaishnavas taking part in the tiruvadhyayana.
The 1614 CE
inscription records the gift of 3 kuli land in Torrampattu Village by Sonadri
Ayyan the agent of Raghunatha Nayakkarayyan as ( per manyam ) to Muttu daughter
of Attagiri, one of the Devaradiyar belonging to the Vaduga group on the
occasion of conferring the title of Vijayaraghava Manickam on her, during the
festival in the month of Vaikasi, in the Periyannan Mandapam of the temple.
The 1611 CE
Inscription records the gift of land by Sonadri Ayyan, the agent of Ariyappa
Aiyyan, Tirumalai Ayyangar, the Srikaryam officer of the temple and the
officers of the temple treasury as per manyam to Ramachandra Manickam (conferred
the title of Ramachandra Manickam Ref 762 inscription).
The 1616 CE
Inscription records the gift of 6 panam per month and 150 kuli of land to
Margashaya Panditar, a Physician by Donadri Ayyan, the agent of Raghunatha
Nayakar, Tirumalai Ayyangar, the Srikaryam officer of the Ramachandra Perumal
Temple and the Sribhandarattar.
Ref
South Indian Inscriptions Volume- 17. Nos from 761- 767.
epic Ramayana scene
LEGENDS
As per the legend, the parrot faced
Suka Brahma Maharishi had done penance at this place on lord Rama. Rama was
pleased by the penance of Suka Brahma and gave darshan on the way to Ayodhya
after killing Ravana in Sri Lanka. Stayed at this place for a day along with
Suka Brahma Maharishi.
Rama & Sita with Lakshmana and Maharishis
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, the 10-day Ramanavami Brahmotsavam, Garuda Seva
on Vaikasi Visakam, and Adi Pavithrotsavam are celebrated in a grand manner.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open
between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Badri Bhattacharya may be contacted on his
mobile at +916380947204 and + 919445215776
for further details.
Trustee +9194871 20139.
Email: contact@nedungunamramar.com.
HOW
TO REACH
Nedungunam is about 55 KM from Thiruvannamalai,
24 KM from Arani, 4.8 KM from Chetpet, 25 KM from Vandavasi, and 590 KM from
Tindivanam.
The nearest Railway Junction is
Tindivanam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Vishnu's Dhasavatar
Dwarapalakas
Vali & Sukreevan fight
Vishnu's Dhasavatar
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Thanks a lot for the divine photos and info.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Comments
DeleteThis is a beautiful temple, one of the rarest forms of Sri Rama. The poojari garu is also very kind to explain us about the temple and a bit about the history of the temple. A must visit for all the devotees travelling around Tiruvannamalai. Temple is very close to Chetpet as mentioned. A perfectly written blog, thankyou for the detailed information.
ReplyDelete