Sri Ramanatheeswarar Temple / Sri Ramanatha Swamy Temple / இராமனதீசுவரர் கோயில், Ramanatheecharam / இராமனதீச்சரம் / திருக்கண்ணபுரம் – Thirukkannapuram, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 194^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 77^th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. This place is now called Thirukkannapuram. This place was called Rama Nandheecharam which was corrupted into Ramanatheecharam. This temple place is part of Thirukkannapuram.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruchengattankudi. In that he didn’t mention this temple in particular, instead mentioned other Shiva temples on the way.

சீரின் மலிந்த சிறப்பின் மேவும் சிறுத்தொன்டர் நண்புடன் செல்ல நல்ல

வேரி நறும்தொங் கல்மற் றவரும் விடைஅரு ளப்பெற்று மீண்டபின்பு

நீரின்மலிந்த சடையர் மேவிநிகழும் பதிகள் பலபணிந்து

பாரின் மலிந்து நிறைந்த செல்வம் பயில்புக லூர்நகர்ப் பாங்கு அணைந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

சங்கொளிர் முன்கையர் தம்மிடையே

அங்கிடு பாலிகொள்ளும் அவான்கோபப்

பொங்கரவு ஆடலோன் புவனியோங்க

எங்குமன் இராமன தீச்சரமே

…….. திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                             -“மித்தையுற்ற

காமனதீசங்கெடவே கண்பார்த்தருள் செய்த

ராமனதீசம்பெறு நிராமயனே”

…… திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Ramanatheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Soolikambal, Sri Sarivar Kuzhali.

Some of the important features of this temple are…..

The temple faces east with a recently built entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of Sanctum Sanctorum.  There is an arch at the entrance of the sanctum with stucco images of Shiva’s family. Moolavar is a little big and tall on a big circumference avudayar. (Jyothi can be seen on the moolavar during harathi). In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the outer prakaram Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Kala Bhairava, Suriyan and Chandran. Chandikeswarar is in the inner prakaram.

The urchavar Somaskandar is kept at Thirupugalur for safety reasons. Nandhi is in the hands of Ambal and there is a legend associated with this.

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

கன்னல்மொழிப் பின்னளகத் தன்னநடைப் பன்னவுடைக்

            கண்ணவிரச் சுறாவீட்டு                                                           கொண்டையாளைக்

கன்னமிடப் பின்னிரவிற் றுன்னுபுரைக் கன்முழையிற்

            கன்னலையிற் புகாவேர்த்து                                                    நின்றவாழ்வே

பொன்னசலப் பின்னசலச் சென்னியினற் கன்னபுரப்

            பொன்னிநதிக் கராநீர்ப்பு                                                        யங்கநாதா

பொன்மலையிற் பொன்னிநகர்ப் புண்ணியர்பொற் பொன்மவுலிப்

            பொன்னுலகத் திராசாக்கள்                                                      தம்பிரானே 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. A 3 tier vesara Vimana is over the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. The same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during Thanjavur Nayaks / Marathas.

As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called Rama Nandheechara mudayar, Ramanatheecharamudayar. Kulothunga Chozha gave a gift to a Village called Sivapadasekara Mangalam for worship at this temple.

Rajarajan-III’s 16th-year inscription records that Rajathirajavalanattu Thaniyur PerumpaRRappuliyur Temple ( Chidambaram Temple ) officials and this temple officials assembled at Devan Thiru mandapam took some decision regarding … 50 Veli land was gifted to this temple to celebrate 2 Brahmotsavam in a year, Monthly festival and to meet required expenses for naivedyam, poojas. In addition to that it was felt that the nivandhams / wages to the people working in the temple were very low and arrangements were made to increase the same. To meet this it was decided that all the temple officials depending on the status belonging to Chozha mandalam, Rajaraja Pandiya Mandalam, Naduvil Nadu, and Thondai Mandalam have to give some amount through Madams if not through the Village sabhas.    

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 10^th reign year inscription records that the temple was reconstructed (maybe as a stone temple) on the same place, ThirumuRRam (inner prahara) and Thirumadaivalakam (the place around the temple) and donation if ¼ land and 5 Veli land to this temple for worship and pooja. 

The inscription at Thiruchengattankudi refers to this temple’s reconstruction… as given below…

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s period inscription belongs to Thirukannapuram Sri Ramanatheeswarar temple. Since that temple was not a stone temple (Brick temple), the inscription was inscribed in this temple. To construct a stone temple the King issued an order during his 2^nd reign year with a gift of land. Also during the 5^th and 10 reign years, the land was gifted as irayili, to construct SriKoil (Sanctum Sanctorum), Thirumadaivilakam, Temple tank, ThirumuRRam, Thirunandavanam. Swamikannu Pillai refers to this inscription belonging to the 22^nd Year of the King and not the 11^th year.   

Konerimeikondan Kulothunga Chozha period inscriptions record that the conflict between the priests on conducting the poojas was solved. The privilege was given to do the pooja for Thirumannu Chozha Brahmarayan and Mazhavarayan. ( As per the experts, since the poojas at Thiruvarur temple are being conducted by the sect of Brahmarayars, this temple also might have been done by them ).

Pandya King Srivallaban’s 32^nd reign year inscription records that a donation was made to this temple by Thirumalai Deivanayagam. The purpose of the donation is not known. Since it is inscribed on the wall of Maha mandapam, this mandapam might have been built by him. 

As per the order of the king, the Thillai Maheswaras arranged Padday, gold, etc, during drought in this area, from the temples of Rajarajapandiya mandalam, Veera Chozha mandalam, Naduvil nadu and Jayankonda Chozha mandalam.

The Vijayanagara King  Thirumalai Mahadevarayar saka 1397 ie  1475 CE inscription records that an official called Vikramathithan had done some renovations. The land was gifted to this temple for worship and Naivedyam.

Vijayanagara King Chaluva Thirumalaiya Deva Maharayar allotted all the taxes received from Kallanai nadu for Gopura Thirupani, Sacred Bath/Thirumanjanam, Garlands, etc,.

Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11^th November 2012 after renovations and mandala pooja was in progress during my visit. This temple is under the administrative control of Velakurichi Adheenam.

LEGENDS

Rama worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get relief from the sin caused by to Killing of Ravana, hence called Ramanatheecharam and Lord Shiva is called Ramanatheeswarar. It is believed that when Rama came to this temple, Nandhi obstructed him and Ambal asked Rishabam to move to the side. Ambal also gave darshan to Rama. Rama worshiped Lord Shiva after taking a dip in the theertham. Hence this place was called  Rama+ Nandheecharam which turned into Ramanatheecharam. To prove the same, In Somaskandar, Nandhi is in the hands of Ambal.  This Somaskandar is kept at Thirupugalur.

It is believed that Sage Agasthiyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and also he installed Bhairavar.  It is further believed that Durvasa and Kamadhenu also worshiped Lord Shiva at this temple.

It is believed that all the 4 Ambals / Goddess ( The four Ambals are, Sri Karundhar Kuzhali at Thirupugalur temple, Sri Vanduvar Kuzhali at Thirumarugal, Sri Sarivar Kuzhali at Ramanadeecharam and Sri Vaaitha Thirukuzhalal nayaki at Thiruchengattankudi ) helped a pregnant lady for a delivery. Hence all 4 Ambals are praised by a common name as “Sri Choolikambal”- Chool – Karu- fetus. After this instance, all 4 Ambals returned to their respective temples and stayed a little away from the moolavar sannadhi. 

This is one of the seven Lord Shiva temples and all of them are Paadal Petra Sthalams, which ends with “Charam”.

Thiru Mundeecharam

Thiru Patteeswaram

Thiru Naraiyur Siddheecharam

Thiru Kondeecharam

Thiru Pugalur Vardhamaneecharam

Thiru Ramadeecharam and

Thiru Ketheecharam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makar Sankranti and Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

Mobile and landline numbers  +91 94431 13025, +91 4366 - 292 300, and +91 4366 29157 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Buses are available from Nannilam and Thirupugalur.

The temple at Thirukkannapuram is 2.5 KM from Thirupugalur,  3 Km from Thiruchengattankudi, 20 KM from Thiruvarur, 5 KM from Thirumarugal, 21 KM from Karaikal, 27 KM from Nagapattinam, 42 KM from Kumbakonam and 336 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Thiruvarur. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---