Vaikunda Ekadesi - Upanyasams

Part 1: Part 2: Part 3:

Vaduvur’s Sri Ramar

 

Sri Kodhandaramar at Vaduvur

Vaduvur is a place situated between Thanjavur and Mannargudi, where water from lakes, ponds and canals are used for cultivating both wet and dry lands, which one can find in abundance. Apart from being fertile, this place is famous for Sri Kodhandarama temple.
Here the main deity, Sri Kodhandaramar along with Sri Seetha Piratti, Lakshmanar and Hanuman appear in ‘Thirukalyana kolam’ and this temple is particularly special since the utsavars also appear in this same state. The original Perumal in this place is Sri Gopalan with Goddesses Rukmini and Sathyabhama. The other holy names for Vaduvur are Vagularanyam (magizhankadu), Bhaskara Kshetram and Dhakshina Ayodhi. Vagula maram (maghizha maram) is the sacred tree of this sthala.
This place called Vaduvur was once donated to the vidhwans by the kings of Thanjavur on an Ekadasi day and hence it is also called as ‘Ekadasi’ village. There is an interesting story about how the Rukmani-Sathyabhama samedha Gopalan temple gave place to Sri Kodhandarama temple.

When Rama spent 14 years in the forest and was preparing to leave for Ayodhya, the rishis prayed in earnest asking him to stay with them. The feeling of separation from His holy presence melted their hearts. Torn between duty and love, Rama sent them away for the time being and starts thinking about their request. He then created His own enchanting divine form as a deity and left it outside the ashrama.
The rishis who came to see Rama and Seetha the next day were spellbound by the beautiful deity. They were fascinated by its magnificence and went inside the ashrama to repeat their entreaty to Rama. Rama asked them wheather they wanted Him or the statue placed at the threshold. The rishis, enamoured by the deity’s beauty and still under its spell, told Him that they wanted the deity.
Rama, with a smile, agreed to their request and leaving the statue behind, left for Ayodhya. Later, the natives of Thirukannapuram brought the deity and established it in their village. Time passed by and later they themselves, during a certain period, took the Ramar deity and the deities of Seetha, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Hanuman themselves and made it to Thalai Gnayiru, a village near Thiruthuraipoondi and buried them under a tree.

Years rolled by and it was the time when Sarabhoji Mannan ruled Thanjavur. One day, Lord Rama appeared in the king’s dream and told him to unearth the deities from Thalai Gnayiru. He asked the king to establish and worship the deities. The king awoke and proceeded immendiately, with his entourage, to Thalai Gnayiru and unearthed the deities. When the king and his entourage were preparing to leave, the natives of the place prevented the king from taking the deities. The king managed to convince them and as compensation left the deities of Bharatha and Lakshmana behind with them. He took possession of Rama, Seetha and Hanuman statues and on his way rested at Vaduvur.
The people of the village (known for their unity) came to know about the idols and pleaded with the king to establish the deities in their Rukmani-Sathyabhama samedha 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 establish the idols and since then Rama has been the main deity in the Gopalan temple.
Later, the deity 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 another deity of Lakshmana and today Rama with Seetha and Lakshmana stand majestically to bless the devotees at this temple.

It is said Kanva Maharishi worshipped in this temple and was blessed with the darshan of Sri Kodandaramar. Likewise, Kulasekara Perumal also was blessed with the Lord’s darshan. Of the two Vaishnava holy religious scriptures, Pancharathram and Vaikanasam, the former is followed in this temple…
Sri Rama! Jaya Rama! Jaya Jaya Rama!



 

Quick Facts
Deity : Kothandaramar with Sita, Lakshmanan, Hanuman RajaGopalan, Rukmini, Satyabhama, Shengamala Thaayar Time : 8 am – 12 noon, 4.30 pm-8.30 pm
Contact : Badri Narayana Bhattar @ 04367 225398 Festivals : Rama Navami- Brahmotsavam(Panguni, Karthigai 7 day Pavitrotsavam, Puratasi Desigan, Hayagriva Utsavam,Vaikasi- Vasantha Utsavam for Gopalan

How to reach Vaduvur
Buses every 10-15 minutes between Thanjavur and Mannargudi. It takes about 45minutes from Thanjavur. Can also be reached via bus from Thiruvarur and Kumbakonam via Mannargudi

Thillaivalagam RAMAR Temple - தில்லைவிளாகம் கோதண்டராமர் கோவில்

Our family recently travelled to this Ramar temple . The Ramar , Sita, Lakshman, Anjaneyar are Suyambu in the form of Panchaloga vigrahas. There is no Moolavar as such here. Only the Urchavar is worshipped. This is our  ancestral temple.

We could see the nails and nerves of Lord Rama only in this temple.. Ramar looks with his very own Kambeeram ..No words to describe the beauty of the Ramar in this temple. His green nerves are clearly seen on his right leg and moles and scars are on the left leg.  All should visit this temple atleast once in lifetime...

More facts for bhaktas....

Sri Rama Darshanam 9 Thillaivilagam pdf

Found at ebookbrowse.com

Bhatter : Kothandaraman Bhatter
Contact : Paramparai Trustee,
Arulmigu Veerakothandaramaswamy Thirukkoil
Thillaivilagam – 614 706
Nagai Q M District.
Mobile: 8056856894

Thiru Neermalai - Sri Neervanna Perumal Temple

I  recently went to Thiruneermalai along with my family.

About the Temple & Location:

This Divyadesam is one among the sthalams found in Thondai Nadu.

In this Sthalam, the Perumal is found is various positions as Nindraan, Irunthaan, ThiruneermalaiKidanthaan and Nadanthaan Thirukkolam.

This Sthalam is situated in Tamil Nadu, Chengulpet District. We can reach the temple by travelling around 4 Kms from Pallavaram Railway Station, which is about 7 Kms from Chennai.

This Thiruneermalai Kshetram is also called as "Thoyagiri Kshetram" and also as "Thothadri". Thoya means "Water" and Adhiri means "Mountain" (malai). Since the mountain is surrounded by water, this sthalam is named as "Thiru Neermalai".

NeervannarSpecials:

The Perumal shows his 4 sevas in this temple (ie) - Nindra, Iruntha, Kidantha and Nadantha Thirukkolmas.

It is said that once Thirumangai Alwar came here to get the Dharshan of the Perumal. At that time, the mountain was fully surrounded by water and he waited for six months to worship the Perumal. After all the water drained, he went up the mountain and worshipped the Perumal. The place where Thirumangai Alwar stayed is called as "Thiru Mangai Alwarpuram".


Moolavar and Thaayar:

The Perumal gives his seva in four different positions.

Neervannar - Nindra Thirukkolam.

Lord Narasimhar - Irundha Thirukkolam.

Lord Ranganathar - Kidantha Thirukkolam.

Lord Thiruvikrama - Nadantha Thirukkolam.

The Neervannar is found in Nindra (standing) thirukkolam facing his Thirumugham towards East direction. He is also named as Neelamugil Vannan. Prathyaksham (seva) for Thondaimaan, Brighu Munivar and Maarkandeyar.

Lord Ranganathar is found in Kidantha (lying) position facing his thirumugham towards South direction and the Sayana kolam is referred to as "Manicka Sayanam". He is lying on the Aadhiseshan under Ranga Vimaanam.

Thaayar:
The Thayaar of this sthalam is Animaa Malar Mangai and has her own separate Sannadhi.

According to Thirumangai Alwar, Thiruneer Malai is referred to:
Thirunaraiyoor:
Nindra Thirukkolam

Thiruvaali:
Narasiman (Irundha Thirukkolam)

Thirukudanthai:
Aarai Amuthai (Kidantha Thirukkolam)

Thirukoviloor  :
Ulagalanthaan (ThiruVikrama kolam)

Thus, in Thiruneermalai Divyadesam, we can see all the four forms of the Perumal together.
It is believed that a devotee worshipping at Thiruneermalai will be endowed with the blessings which one would receive by visiting the four sacred places of Thirunarayur (Nachiyar kovil), Thiruvali, Thirukkudanthai (Kumbakonam) and Thirukovilur.

In this temple, Muni Valmiki worshipped Eari Kidantha (Aranganathan), Iruntha (Narasimar), Nadantha (Thiruvikraman) Kola seva of the Perumal. After worshipping all the 3 sevas, he came down from the mountain to worship Lord Rama. Knowing this Lord Vishnu gave darshan as Sri Ramar and Lakshmi Piratti as Seetha and Aadisesha as Lakshman and Sangu and Chakram as Baratha chatrukanan. Lord Vigneshwar as Sugreev and Garudan as Hanuman.

Mangalasasanam:

Thirumangai Alwar - 19 Paasurams

Bhudathalwar - 1 Paasuram
Total - 20

Pushkarani:

Kshri includes Karunya, Sidha and Swarna Pushkarani.

Kshri Pushkarani for Kidantha Perumal.

Karunya Pushkarani for Nindra Perumal.

Sittha Pushkarani for Ulagalantha Perumal.

Swarna Pushkarani for Veetruntha Paramapatha Emperuman.

The Pushkarani is found along with the Neerazhi Mandapam.

In Kulakarai, Vasantha Mandapam is found.

Vimanam:

Ranga Vimaanam - Sri Ranganathar.

Santha Vimaanam - Lord Narasimhar.

Thoyagiri Vimaanam - Ulagalantha Perumal.