Arulmigu Shri Ramaswamy Temple (South Ayothi) ஶ்ரீ ராமசுவாமி கோயில் ( தக்ஷின அயோத்தி ), Kumbakonam, Kumbakonam District, ( Thanjavur District ), Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Ramaswamy Temple also known as South Ayothi, close to Mahamaham Tank, at Kumbakonam was a part of Divya Desams around Kumbakonam and Thanjavur Visit on 10^th and 11^th February 2024, organized by Culture Circuit. This is one of the 5 Vishnu Temples, that participates in Kaveri theerthavari festival, which celebrates once in 12 years.

Moolavar  :  Sri Rama

Consort    :  Sri Sita

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing North with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Garudan, dwajasthambam are in the mukha mandapam after the 1^st level Rajagopuram. The second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Moolavar Ramar is about 6 feet tall with Sita in sitting posture, holding shankha and chakra in the upper hands and lower hands are in vara hastam and kadi hastam. Lakshmana, Bharatha holding umbrella, Shatrughan holding a chamara, Garuda and Hanuman holding a Veena.

In kostam, Vinayagar, Murugan on Elephant vahana, Varahar, and various forms of Maha Vishnu.

In praharam Srinivasa Perumal, Venugopalan, Alwars, etc. The Walls are painted with more than 200 episodes of Epic Ramayana. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha upanam and Pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrutha kumudam, and pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The Pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and vettu / poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and viyyala vari. The temple from upanam to prastaram was built with stone and the superstructure above prastaram is of 4 tiers built with bricks. The Sigaram is of vesara style. Maha Vishnu’s various forms are on the first tala and greeva koshtams.

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Some of the mandapas are vavval nethi mandapas built during Thanjavur Nayakas / Maratas.

The mukha mandapam pillars ( 62 nos ) have reliefs related to Vaishnavam, like Dwarapalakas, Rama, Sita, Lakshmi Varaha, Anjaneyar, Garudan, Mahavishnu on Garuda, Madhanika, Krishna, Gajendra Moksha, Ramar Pattabhishekam, Sapta Rishis, Thiruvikrama, Ramar, Vamana, Rama’s Coronation, Vijayanagara, Chieftain, King and Queen who built the mandapa, with some erotic sculptures too.

Hanuman

Maha Vishnu on Garuda and Kalinga Narthana 

Rama

Sapta Rishis

Madanika 

Sugreeva's coronation

Thiruvikrama

Thiruvikrama

Venugopalan

Gajendra Vardahar

Rama & Sita marriage

Dwarapalaka

Dwarapalaka

Rama

Rama

Thanjavur Nayaka Queens

Thanjavur Nayaka King & Queen

The man is holding two ladies without knowing to the other lady. 

Epic Ramayana episode paintings are on the praharam wall and Thanjavur Painting of Hanuman and Ramar pattabhishekam are at the end of the wall paintings. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may belong to the 8^th to 9^th Century, and was reconstructed during the 16^th Century by  Govinda Deekshitar, a minister to Thanjavur Nayakas Achuthappa Nayaka’s & Raghunatha Nayaka, and also received contributions from Maratas.

Maha samprokshanam was conducted on 30^th August 1987, 19^th August 2009, and 9^th September 2015.

PC - Uma G - Govinda Deekshidar and his wife Nagambigai

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Rama and Sita during their exile came to Kumbakonam. After knowing the sanctity of the Mahamaham tank they took a bath. The Amirtha kalasa / pot appeared from the tank with a divine voice. It said that they are the incarnation of Mahavishnu and MahaLakshmi and will stay at Kumbakonam as Ramaswamy and bless the Devotees. As per the divine voice Rama and Sita were stationed in this temple after they returned from Sri Lanka. 

In another legend, every year a Golden lotus will bloom in the tank, hence the tank is called Potramarai kulam. It is believed that the Lotus is the manifestation of Rama. It has not appeared in recent years.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Rama Navami in the month Chithirai, a 10-day festival of Rama Navami Brahmotsavam, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Thai Pongal, Masi Magam Theerthavari, Gokulashtami, Navaratri, Pavitra Utsavam, Unjal Seva, etc,.

This is one of the 5 MahaVishnu temples, that celebrates the Masi Magam theerthavari in Mahamaham tank and the Mahamaham festival which occurs once in 12 years. The list of 12 Shiva temples and 5 Vaishnava temples of Kumbakonam used to join and celebrate this Mahamaha festival is given below.

Shiva Temples are…

1.          Kasi Viswanathar Temple,

2.          Adi Kumbeswarar Temple,

3.          Someswarar Temple,

4.          Nageswaraswamy Temple,

5.          Kalahasteeswarar Temple,

6.          Gauthameswarar Temple,

7.          Kodeeswarar Temple,

8.          Amirthakadeswarar Temple,

9.          Banapuriswarar Temple,

10.      Abhi Mukheswarar Temple,

11.      Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and

12.      EkambareswararTemple.

The Maha Vishnu Temples are…

1.          Sarangapani Temple,

2.          Chakrapani Temple, 

3.          Ramaswamy Temple,

4.          Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and

5.          Varaha Perumal Temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline number +91435 2401788 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is 1 KM from Kumbakonam Railway Station and Kumbakonam Bus Stand.

The temple is about 36 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 44 KM from Thanjavur, 47 KM from Thiruvarur and 282 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

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Koshtam - Murugan on an Elephant Vahana

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---