The
visit to the Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple at Chengalpattu was a part of “Shiva and
Vishnu Temples of Chengalpattu Visit”, on 27th July 2025. During
ancient times, Chengalpattu was called Sengazhunirpattu, which has now become Chengalpattu. This Sri Kothanda Ramar temple was inside the Chengalpattu fort
till 1885, where the Public Works Department offices, Chengalpattu Special Home
for Children, Juvenile Justice Court, and Juvenile Jail exist now.
Moolavar : Sri Pattabhi Ramar
Utsavar : Sri Kothanda Ramar
Moolavar : Sri Varadaraja Perumal
Thayar : Sri Perundevi Thayar
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a mottai gopuram. Stucco images of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana,
Bharata, Shatrughna, and Hanuman are on the top of the mottai gopuram. Deepa
sthambam, Dwajasthambam, and Anjaneyar are after the mottai gopurm. The
Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum
sanctorum, Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna, and Hanuman are in pattabhisheka
kolam. Rama is sitting posture of abhaya hastam. Sita is also in a sitting posture
with her right leg touching the ground and her left leg in uthkudi asana. The left hand
rests on the knee as pallava hastam. Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrugna are in a standing
posture with Anjali hastam. The Utsavar Kothanda Ramar is with Sita, Lakshmana, and Anjaneyar, holding a bow.
Sri
Varadaraja Perumal is in a separate sannidhi in the ardha mandapam. Sri Varadaraja
Perumal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. Utsavar Sri
Varadaraja Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Garudan is just opposite to
Moolavar sannidhi. Alwars are also in the ardha mandapam.
In
the inner praharam, Sri Venugopala Swamy (Both moolavar and Utsavar) and Andal
(both Utsavar and moolavar).
Andal
In
the outer praharam, 18 pillar mukha mandapa, 4 pillar mandapa, Sri Perundevi
Thayar, Veera Anjaneyar, who controlled Sani Bhagavan, Kannadi arai, Vahana
mandapam, and madapalli.
Sri
Perundevi Thayar is in a separate temple that faces east, on the south side of the
main temple. Thayar is in a sitting posture with abhaya varada hastam.
Sri
Veera Anjaneyar is in a separate sannidhi, faces east on the north side of the
main temple. Anjaneyar’s right hand is in abhaya hastam, and the left hand holds a
lotus bud. The Saniswaran is under his feet.
ARCHITECTURE
The
main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and mukha
mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on upanam. The pilasters are of Brahma
kantha pilasters. The vimanam above the sanctum sanctorum is of 3 tiers with vesara
sigaram. Maha Vishnu’s various avatar postures are on the tala and greeva
koshtams. The ardha mandapa and mukha
mandapa pillars have the bas reliefs of the donors, Maha Vishnu’s various
avatars, and some erotic sculptures.
The
Thayar’s temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam.
The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta
kumudam, and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The Pilasters are of
Vishnu kantha pilasters with a square base and naga bandham, kalasam, kudam,
lotus petals mandi, palakai, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of
valapi and kapotam. The two tala vesara sigara brick vimanam is on the sanctum
sanctorum. Stucco images of Thayar’s various forms are on the tala and greeva
kostams.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that Sri Varadharaja Perumal, along with the Thayar temples were existed
in this place. The murtis of Pattabhi
Ramar, his brothers, and Anjaneyar are shifted from the Chengalpattu fort and
installed in this temple.
There
are two inscriptions found in this temple. A 13th to 14th
century Pandya King Veera Pandya, period inscription is found on the south wall of Thayar’s
Temple. This inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by
Thiruvekambamudaiyan. The inscription also mentions Thirumallichuramudiya
Nayanar. Hence, the temple may belong to the Pandya period. After the shift of
Pattabhi Rama’s Group murtis, the Varadharaja temple was reconstructed in 1885
CE, keeping Varadharaja’s sannidhi in the ardha mandapam and Pattabhi
Rama’s group as presiding deities in the sanctum sanctorum.
Another 16th-century Vijayanagara King Sri Ranga Raya’s inscription near the
Anjaneyar Temple.
As
per the inscription on the right side of the Mottai Gopuram entrance, the Pattabhi
Rama and other images are inside the Vijayanagara Nayaka king Thimmaraja, built
fort, presently where the Railway Station exists. In 1885 CE, the Pattabhi Rama
Group of images was shifted to this reconstructed temple by Shri Venkata
Narayana Naidu and Shri Venkatachala Pillai. In 1887 CE, the mandapas, entrance
mottai gopuram, and Compound walls were constructed. The Maha Samprokshanam was
also conducted. The required funds contributors are Court Lawyers, Mangadu
Kuppusamy Naidu, Nemmeli Ramakrishnayya & parties. The other contributors
are Hindu Saswatha Paribala Nidhi, Hindu Kudumba Jeevanathara Nidhi, Moksha
Samprakskshiya Nidhi, and Sri Kothandaramaswamy Boshaka Nidhi.
Maha
samprokshanam was conducted in recent years on 25th April 2012.
1885 CE inscription
LEGENDS
One
of the specialties of this temple is the Veera Anjaneyar or Hanuman / Anjaneya,
who controlled Sani Bhagavan. The Sani Bhagavan is under the feet of Anjaneyar.
Anjaneyar is with two hands. The right hand is abhaya hastam, and the left hand
holds a flower. It is believed that worshipping Anjaneyar of this temple will relieve one from Sani dosha. Devotees offer special prayers on Sani peyarchi
days.
As
per the legend of Veera Anjaneya, who controls Saniswara, it is as follows….
Saniswaran
used to get hold every one for a period of 2.5 years and 7.5 years (Ezharai
Sani) in addition to Janma Sani, pada sani, etc. For this, Hanuman is not
exempt. Saniswaran is about to hold Hanuman for 7.5 years, when he was about
to jump from India. Hanuman told Sani to catch him after he returns from Srilanka. Again, Saniswaran tried to hold Hanuman when Rama and
Hanuman’s team was constructing a bridge to reach Srilanka. Hanuman told that he
can hold his head. Hanuman took a big boulder on his head to construct the
bridge. Saniswaran was caught between the boulder and Hanuman’s head. Couldn’t
tolerate the pain, he cried and requested Hanuman to hold some other parts of his
body. Hanuman agreed to hold his legs. Before Saniswaran catches the legs,
Hanuman crushes Saniswaran under his feet. Hence, Hanuman told his devotees, whoever prays, him will get relieved from
Sani dosha.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Ramar Jayanthi, Vaikunta
Ekadasi, Sani Peyarchi days, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 07.30 hrs to 10.30 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to
20.30 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
mobile numbers of the Bhattar, +9194440 77148 and +91 94440 77151, may be
contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
temple is about 1.5 km from the Railway Station, 32 km from Tambaram Railway
Station, and 58 km from Chennai Central Railway Station.
The
nearest Railway Station/ Junction is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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