Kothanda Ramaswamy Temple / Sri Pattabi ( kothanda ) Ramar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோதண்ட ராமஸ்வாமி திருக்கோவில் / ஸ்ரீ பட்டாபி ( கோதண்ட ) ராம ஸ்வாமி திருக்கோயில், and Dharba Sayana Sethuramar Temple / Pon Vilaintha Kalathur / P.V. Kalathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy Temple at P. V. Kalathur was a part of  Maha Vishnu and Shiva Temples visit at Singaperumal koil, Kolathur ( Appur, Vembakkam ), Mettu Pudupakkam  and Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, on 24^th October 2021. The temple complex consists of Sri Pattabi ( Kothanda ) Ramar temple and Thirupullani Darba Sayana Perumal Temple.

SRI PATTABI ( KOTHANDA ) RAMAR TEMPLE.

Moolavar  : Sri Pattabi Ramar

Utsavar    : Sri Kothanda Ramar

Thayar     : Sri Sita

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with an entrance mandapam. Stucco image of Ramar and Sita in Pattabisheka kolam and Lakshmana and Anjaneyar are in the top of the entrance mandapam. A small Vilakku Thoon / Garudathoon, balipeedam Dwajasthambam / kodimaram and Garudan are after the entrance mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum.   Moolavar is in sitting Posture with Sita in Pattabisheka Kolam. ( The unique feature of this temple is Sita is on right side and Lakshmanan is on the left side, since Ramar is in Pattabisheka kolam.)  Lakshmana and Anjaneyar’s are in the Sanctum sanctorum. No deities are in the Koshta niches.

In Praharam, Thayar, Srinivasan with Sridevi and Bhoodevi, Alwars, Sri Bhaktha Anjaneyar, Sri Sudharsanar with Narasimhar ( sanctum is in Round shape ) and  Nagars / adhiseshan.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a three anga upa peedam with a patti is shown. A 3 tier Nagara Vimana is on the adhistana. The Vimana koshtam’s too do not have images.

Three shallow koshta niches with makara thoranas are shown on the sanctum walls.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple authorities claimed that the temple is more than 1000 years old and reconstructed latter. During Pallava and Chozha period this place was called as Kalanthai, latter turned to Kalathur and after Desikan’s Visit this place was called as Pon Vilaintha Kalathur. As per the Thondai mandala sathagam, the Poet Pukazhenthi, who was born at this place holds the position of Royal Poet of Vikrama Chozha Pandyan. Also the 17^th Century Anthakakavi Veeraraghava Mudaliar, a blind and a great poet belongs to this place. 

The inscription along with a Man and a woman, the Donors, are on the entrance mandapam records that Pattabi Ramar Koil Kaingaryam was done by Chakravarthiyasarirar.

On 24^th May 1900, Anur Kuppusamy Mudaliar’s son Thiruvenkatasamy Mudaliar has  gifted some thing and the details are known.

On 23^rd March 1958, the Dwajasthambam was renovated by Anur Thiruvenkada Mudaliar, Venu Gopala Mudaliar and Srinivasa Mudaliar.

The Bhaktha Anjaneyar Sannidhi was constructed by Sri Neeradi Ananthasiriya’s son K Srinivasa Raghavasari on 31^st January 1963.

On 24^th June 1984, Kalyana manimandapam construction was started in memory of P V Kalathur hereditary trustee Yagna Deekshithar’s son Narasimha Raghava Deekshithar’s 100^th year.

It is believed that the original temple may be 1000 years old and reconstructed, by Jeer of Ahobila mutt and others.

On 09-10-1989, Utsava idols of Sita and Hanuman was burgled away by thieves and the same were got back. Since both were found in damaged condition new idols were made ( From Kumbakonam ) and installed back  on 16^th March 2000, samprokshanam was also carried out.

During 16^th March 2000, samprokshanam, dwajasthambam was repaired /renovated in memory of Urupattur Sri Srinivasachariyar, Uru. S Seshadri, Uru. S Kannan and Uru. Indra Sampath.

On 1^st May 2000, Chakkarathalwar sannidhi was constructed by Tirunelveli Perungulam Kaviraya Venkatachariyar’s grand son and Sri Krishna Ayyangar’s son Sriman Pe. Ki. Maya kooththa Ayyangar’s family.

On 11^th September palalayam was carried out for Dwajasthambam and new one was replaced after 113 years on 22^nd November 2013. 12^th March 2014, Dwajasthamba prokshanam and Maha samprokshanam was carried out.

The annual income of the temple as per the records of HR&CE is: for Fasli 1402 - Rs.10, 442/-, for Fasli 1403 - Rs.11, 917/- and for Fasli 1404-Rs.17, 993/-. A Board of trustees manages it. The temple is under the control of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department.

LEGENDS

As per the legend Sri Nikamantha Mahadesikan stayed one night in  this Village along with his daily worshiping Vigraha, Hayagreevar. On that night the farmers found that a horse was grazing in the paddy field. When they chased the horse out of paddy field, it ran in to the house where Desikan stayed and disappeared. Next day when the farmers reported, Sri Desikan went along with the farmers, to asses the farmers statement. At the paddy field He and the farmers found that all the paddy beads had turned in to golden beads. Sri Desikan concluded that the horse which grazed in the previous night was nothing but Hayagreevar. Hence this place was called as  Pon Vilaintha Kalathur ( Pon – Gold ).

SRI DARBA SAYANA PERUMAL TEMPLE.

Sri Darba Sayana Sethuramar temple is on the north side of Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy Temple with an interconnecting entrance through the Sri Pattabi ( Kothanda ) Ramar Temple. The temple is facing north. Moolavar is in sayana kolam.

ARCHITECTURE

Since Moolavar Sri Darba Sayana kolam ( Ramar is in sayana kolam on Darba grass ) similar to Thiruppullani near Rameswaram, the Sanctum sanctorum is of rectangular in shape. Stucco bas-relief images of Sri Ramar with Sita and Lakshman, Ramar in sayana kolam with Periya Thiruvadi Garudan and  Siriya thiruvadi Anjaneyar are on mukha mandapam facia walls. 

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. A three tier Stucco Vimanam is on the adhistana. The temple was constructed with stone from Upana to prastaram. The adhistanam is on a upana with lotus petals pedestal. The adhitana is a simple padabandha adhistana and prastaram is with Valabi. Koshta niches are empty. Koshta makara thoranas has the bas-relief images of Ramar in Sayana Kolan, Garudan, Ramar Pattabisheka Kolam etc,. The two Komukhas / pranalas on the west side looks cute. The temple was constructed in Vijayanagara style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Sethuramar’s Utsava Vigraha was got from the well in front of the temple, about 60 years before. An inscription of “Danushkoti Ramar” was found on the greedam. This Darba Sayana Sethuramar Temple was constructed by C Vijayaraghavachariyar at a cost of Rs 50000.00. An additional amount of Rs 20000.00 was received from R T Parthasarathy and his Group and the Temple’s construction was completed. Maha samprokshanam was done on 03^rd February 1977.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Rama navami, Hanuman Jayanthi, and Bramotsavam in the month May, Vaikunta Ekadasi,Pavithra Uthsavam, Navarathri and Parivettai.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 08.30 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Land line and mobile numbers +91 44 27441142 and Kasturi Rangan Bhattar +9194437 06842 may be contacted for further details.

Sri Rama Kaingarya sabha +91 44 27441112 and mobile number +91 9445307531 and +919500386319 may be contacted for temple activities.

HOW TO REACH

This place Pon Vilaintha kalathur is 10 KM from Chengalpattu, 44 KM from Tambaram and 71 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---