• Vishnu

Kodandaramaswamy Temple

Overview


The Sri Kothandaramar temple is located in Vaduvur and is an Abhimana Kshetram that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is also called Vakulaaranya Kshetram. Some of the other holy names for Vaduvur are Vagularanyam (magizhankadu), Bhaskara Kshetram and Dhakshina Ayodhi. Vagula maram (maghizham tree) is the sacred here.


About the Temple


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In this temple, there are idols for Lord Hayagriva, Vishwaksenar, Sri Andal and Azhwars in the prakara. Sarayu Theertham is located outside the temple. The place is also known as Dakshina Ayodhya. The Vimana above the sanctum is called Pushpaka Vimana.


About The Deity


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In this temple, the main deity is Sri Kodhandaramar and is found to along with Sri Seetha Piratti, Lakshmanan and Hanuman appear in ‘Thirukalyana kolam’. The original deity in this place is Sri Gopalan with Goddesses Rukmini and Sathyabhama.


Legend and Stories


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Legend has it that after 14 years in the forest (Vanavaasam) and defeating Ravana, Sri Rama was returning to Ayodhya. During his return, he stayed at the hermitage/ashrama of many rishis (sages). During such stay, the sages/rishis prayed in earnest, asking them to stay forever. As Sri Rama need to return back to fulfill promise made to Bharatha, his brother, he called up Vishvakarma and sketched his enchanting divine form as an idol, and left it outside the ashrama. The rishis who came to see them the next day were spellbound and mesmerized by the beautiful statue. Still hyptonized by what they saw, the sages agreed for Sri Rama to leave for Ayodhya, on one condition that leave the statue with them. Sri Rama, with a smile, agreed to their request and left the statue behind. These historical statues of Lord Rama, Lord Sita and Lord Hanuman are the ones currently found at the Vaduvur Temple.


History of the Temple


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When King Sarabhoji II (September 24, 1777 – March 7, 1832) ruled Thanjavur, one day, Lord Rama appeared in the king's dream. He told him to unearth the idols from Thalai Gnayiru ((Thalanayar in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu) under the auspicious Arasa Maram (Ficus religiosa or Bodhi Sattva tree). He asked the king to establish and worship the deities. The king woke up in a state of shock and later, with his entourage, went to Thalai Gnayiru and unearthed the idols. When the king and his entourage were preparing to leave from Thalai Gnayiru, on their way to Thanjavur, the natives of the place prevented the king from taking the idols. The king managed to convince them and as compensation left the statues of Lakshmana and Bharata behind with them. (Now worshipped as Rama and Lakshmana at the temple there) .He took possession of Rama, Seetha and Hanuman statues and on his way rested at Vaduvur. The people of the Vaduvur village, known for their unity, came to know about the idols and pleaded with the king to install the deities in their Rukmani-Sathyabhama samedha Sri Gopalan temple. Initially, the king refused but when the villagers threatened to jump from the tower of the temple and commit suicide, he relented. He allowed them to install the idols and since then Rama has been the main deity in the Gopalan temple. Later, the statue of Lakshmana was also sculpted by the people of Vaduvur. It appeared like a woman and so the villagers established it as Sundari Amman and built a separate temple for Her. They sculpted the statue of Lakshmana again and today Rama with Seetha and Lakshmana stand majestically to bless the devotees. It is interesting to note that Saint Tyagaraja lived during the same period (May 4, 1767–January 6, 1847). Sarabhoji Maharaja came to know about the Saint and invited him to visit the temple to be rewarded, but Saint Tyagaraja rejected the offer, singing "Nidhi caala sukhama?" in kalyaani, which means "Does abundance of wealth bring happiness"? The king realized his mistake and visited the saint-composer, who also later cured him of his illness


Festivals


1. Makara Sankaranthi/Kanu Pongal - January
2. Thai Masam Ammavasai - Teertha Vaari (temple tank)
3. Maasi Makam - Teertha Vaari (temple tank)
4. Theppotsavam (Float Festival) – January/February
5. 10 days Sri Ramanavami Utsavam – April
6. Kalyanotsavam – Mar/Apr
7. Vasantha Utsavam – May/June
8. Aadi Tirumanjanam celebration - 48 days – July/August
9. Sri Gopalan Sannadhi Janmashtami – August
10. Swami Desikan Utsavam – September/October
11. Navaratri Utsavam – September/October
12. Manavala Mamuni Utsavam – October
13. Pavithrotsavam – November/December
14. Adhyayana Utsavam (Pagal Pathu and Ra Pathu) – December/Jan
15. Hanumath Jayanthi - December/January

Thanks Giving


In addition to the traditional abhishek and offering of Vastras, devotees also arrange for the procession of the Lord, offer Tulsi garlands, offer lamps to the temple, arrange feeding (annadanam) and contribute to the renovation and maintenance of the temple suiting to their affordability.


Significance


Devotees pray to Lord Rama for children obeying their fathers.


Nearby Place To Visit


1. Ponvaithanaathar Temple
2. Swarnapureeswarar Temple
3. Padaleswarar Temple
4. Satchinathar Temple
5. Sarguna Nathar Temple
6. Kaichinneswarar Temple

Accessibility


The nearest airport is at Trichy. The nearest railway stations are at Thanjavur and Mannargudi. There are buses every 10-15 minutes between Thanjavur and Mannargudi. It takes about 45minutes from Thanjavur.


Temple Address


Sri Kothandaramaswamy Temple,
Vaduvur, Mannargudi Taluk, Thiruvarur District.

Significance

Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-

  • Fame
  • Freedom from diseases
  • Wealth
  • Courage
  • Relief from adverse effects from bad planetary aspects
  • Relief from bondage
Shlokas

Achutham Keyshavam Rama Narayanam Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Harim Shridharam Madhavam Gopika Vallabham Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhajey

Meaning -Oh Lord who cannot be perished, who also has names like Keshava, Rama, Damodara, Narayana, Sridhara, Madhava, Krishna, Ramachandra the beloved of Janaki, let me say your name regularly.

Vasudeva Sutham Devam Kamsa Chanoora Mardhanam Devaki Paramanandham Krishnam Vande Jagathgurum

Meaning -I bow to you O Krishna, the ultimate guru, Devaki and Vasudeva's son, and the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanur.

Adharam Madhuram Vadanam Madhuram Nayanam Madhuram Hasitam Madhuram Hridayam Madhuram Gamanam Madhuram Mathuraa Dhipate Rakhilam Madhuram

Meaning -Meaning - Sweet are Your lips, sweet is Your face, sweet are Your eyes, sweet is Your smile, sweet is Your heart, sweet is Your gait, O Lord of Mathura, everything about You is sweet.

Alokya Mathur Mukha Madarena Sthanyam Pibantham Saraseeruhaksham Sachinmayam Devam Anantha Roopam Balam Mukundam Manasa Smarami

Meaning -I think of this Balamukundan as the one who looks lovingly at his mother's face while taking milk from her, who has eyes similar to the red lotus, who is the embodiment of truth and intelligence and other forms.

Timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 8 am to 12 noon and in the evenings from 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

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