Sri Kothandaramar Temple / Ramar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோதண்டராமர் கோயில், Unamancheri / ஊனமாஞ்சேரி , Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kothandaramar temple at Unamancheri, was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu temples visit on the west and east sides of GST Road from Old Perungalathur to Chettipunyam on 14^th November 2021. The Vijayanagara emblem on Google Maps created my interest to visit this temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Kothanda Ramar

Thayar     : Sri Sita.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with Garudasthambam/Deepa Sthambam, Balipeedam and Garudan.  The temple tank is on the back side of the temple. Mahavishnu in Sayana Kolam is on the top of the sanctum sanctorum entrance instead of Gajalakshmi. In Sanctum Sanctorum Ramar is Pattabhisheka kolam, Sita is on the right side of  Ramar and Lakshmanan is on the left side. Bharathan, Sathrukkan ( both are in Anjali hastam )and Hanuman are also in the sanctum.  The Hanuman is with faces on the front and back. ( It was told that during Pattabhishekam, Ramar asked to show his face to Visitors / Guests who attended also. Hence he has the face on the back side also ). The Utsavar Kothanda Ramar has 9 moles on his body which was shown by Bhattacharya.

Hanuman ( is facing north ), Madapalli, and Vahana mandapa are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

Stucco images of Ramar with Sita and Lakshmana are on the top of the front mandapam. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam. A single tier Nagara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. In Greeva koshtam stucco images of Lakshmi Narasimhar, Kalinga Narthanar, and Lakshmi Narayanar.

There is no Koshtam around the sanctum sanctorum. Since the floor is concreted around the sanctum sanctorum, the style/type of adhisthana is not known.

The Pillars has the bas reliefs of Donors, Kalinga Narthanar, Clowns, Floral designs, animals, Hanuman, a Lady warrior, Rishis, a Peacock with a snake, Garudan, lotus medallions, etc,.   The inner ardha mandapam ceiling has the bas relief of the Solar / Lunar eclipse of a Snake swallowing the Sun / Moon, fish, crane lizard, birds, etc,.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per Purana, this place was called Unam Maikkum Cholai. ( A forest with good trees/garden, which makes to disappears the disability  ). The same has corrupted to the present name of Unamancheri. It is believed that the temple is more than 1000 years old. There is no evidence to prove its antiquity. From the style of the structures the temple belongs to the 15^th to 16^th century Vijayanagara period ( May be reconstructed ). The bas relief Vijayanagara Dynasty's emblem of boar, dragger, Sun, and Moon, on the Ardha mandapam wall, it is clearly indicates that the Ardha mandapam and Mukha mandapam were built during the Vijayanagara period.

Some recent period inscriptions are also found on the mandapam wall. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 25^th April 2012.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, The Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya’s brother Achyuta Deva Raya was born with disability / handicapped. Ramar came in his dream and asked him to come to this temple and offer his prayer. So Achyuta Deva Raya came to this place, created the temple tank, and worshiped Lord Rama and Sita. After some time he was cured of his disability. Hence as a part of thanksgiving, Achyuta Deva Raya extended the temple with ardha mandapam, Mukha mandapam, etc,. Hence this place is called as Unam + Maikkum + Cholai ( ஊனம்+ மாய்க்கும்+ சோலை ).

People with disability worship Rama to get cured and people pray for Child Boon. People applied turmeric powder on Kalinga Narthanar and prayed for child boon.    

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Oru kala pooja, special poojas are conducted on Ram Navami, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Krishna Jayanthi, Hanuman Jayanthi, and all Vaishnavite functions.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The following mobile numbers +91 9444077148 and +91 9444077151 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This Kothandaramar Temple is 2 KM off from Vandalur to Kelambakkam main road.

The temple is 6.6 KM from Vandalur railway station, 11 KM from Tambaram, 28 KM from Chengalpattu, and 38.5 KM from Chennai Central.

The nearest Suburban Railway station is Vandalur and the bigger station is Tambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

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