Paramapadhanathan perumal temple, Iyyenpettai

About the temple

The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Paramapadha nathan perumal exactly as in vaikuntam. There is a seperate temple for Kanakavalli thayar and Kothanda ramar with Lakshmanan and Sita. Lord Paramapadha nathan gives darshan in a sitting posture on Adiseshan with five heads of the serpent over the head. While two of the hands hold shanku and chakra, the third hand is placed over the right knee and fourth is on Adiseshan. The Lord's posture of one leg folded and one leg in the front as if he is just going to get up and move. Sridevi and Bhoodevi appears besides the Lord with one leg bent and another in the front as if they are also ready to get up and move with the Lord. It is also interesting to note that even Sridevi and Bhoodevi are also seated on Adiseshan here.

The specialty of Kanakavalli thayar here is that both the moolavar and utsavar have a hole in their nose for the nose ring and bullack (worn between two nostrils). The archakar very neatly removes and shows the pin in the nose ring as in the ones worn by ladies normally. It has not been stuck to the nose like in other temples.

Like in Kaveripakkam Sundara Varadar/ Azhagiya ramar temple, the posture of Garudan in this temple is also one leg bent backward and another on the ground in a ready to fly posture.

There is a big temple tank right outside the main temple besides the Anjaneyar sannadhi.

How to reach

The temple is around 4 kms from Kaveripakkam. Coming from Chennai side on the Bangalore highway, take a right towards Kaveripakkam to reach Iyempettai. The other name is Thiamukanjeri, though Iyempettai is more well known. The temple is exactly behind the school in Iyyempettai.

Sannadhis

Paramapadha nathan perumal

Kanakavalli Thayar

Kothanda ramar, Lakshmanan and Sita

Garudan

Temples in proximity

Kaveripakkam Sundara Varadar temple, Thiruparkadal twin temples

Sundara Varadar and Azhagiya Ramar temple, Kaveripakkam

About the temple

This is an ancient temple right in the center of Kaveripakkam just a few kms away from the Bangalore - Chennai highway. The presiding deity in the main sanctum is Sri Sundara Varada perumal in standing posture with shanku, chakra, gada and abhaya hastam.

There is a seperate sannadhi for Ramar, Sita, Lakshman and Anjaneyar where the moolavar Lord appears in Kalyana kolam with Sita on the right hand of Sri Ramar.

The temple tank Ksheera pushkarni is to the right of the temple from the entrance.

Garudan in the temple is seen here in a quite different form of having bent the right leg as if ready to fly. Garudan also has eight nagas around him - two as earrings, two around wrist, two on shoulders, one in waist and one as garland. There is special thirumanjanam to Garuda every Valarpirai Panchami.

The archakar mama is very friendly and devoted. He opens and explains the importance of each and every sannadhi to the devotees. The below image of a window in the wall of the main sanctum and is said to be carved of a single stone. It is interesting to note that the designs on the two sides are different which is very rare for a single stone window. Presently renovations are going on in the temple and the sannadhi for Chakratazhwar was constructed just a few years ago.

How to reach

Kaveripakkam on right on the Bangalore-Chennai highway and about 30 kms from Kanchipuram coming from Chennai side. Take the right into the Sholingur road of Kaveripakkam from Chennai side.

Sannadhis

Sundara Varadar perumal

Sundaravalli thayar

Chakratazhwar/ Narasimhar

Andal

Alwars and Acharyas

Azhagiya Ramar with Sita, Lakshmanan, Hanuman (two of them in the same sannadhi)

Garuda

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 7 am to 10 am and in the evenings from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Temples in proximity

Thiruparkadal twin temples, Iyampettai Paramapadhanathan and Kothanda ramar temple

Sri Kothandaramar perumal temple, Vaduvur

About the temple

Vaduvur Ramar temple is among the Purana sthalams and is close to Mannargudi. The presiding deity here is Sri Kothandaramar with Sita, Lakshmanan and Anjaneyar. It is interesting to note the similarities in the moolavar and utsavar idols here. The temple is also called Vakulaaranya kshetram.

Initially Sri Rajagopalan swamy with Rukmini and Satyabama were the presiding deities of this temple. The story goes that when Sri Rama was returning to Ayodhya after 14 years, he asked Vishvakarma to create an idol like him so that the rishis who were requesting him to stay back allow him to return. Later these idols were buried in Thalai Gnayiru a village near Thiruthurai poondi by the rishis. After several years, the Lord appeared in the dreams of a king Sarabhoji and asked him to unearthen the idols from the said place. When the king passed by Vaduvur with the idols of Sri Rama, Sita and hanuman, the people there didnt let him take the beautiful idols away and requested him to install the deities in the Rajagopalan swamy temple.

How to reach

The temple is around 24 kms from thanjavur and 15 kms from Mannargudi close to SH 63. Buses on Thanjavur - Mannargudi route stop at Vaduvur and the temple is at a walkable distance from the bus stop.

Sannadhis

Sri Ramar with Sita, Lakshmanan and Hanuman
Vishwaksenar
Vigneshwarar
Nagar
Andal
Raja gopalan
Hayagreevar
Vedanta desikar
Alwars and Acharyas
Nammazhwar
Bhasyakarar
Manavala mamunigal

Temple 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.

Temples in proximity

Tanjavur based temples, Rajagopala swamy temple -Mannargudi.

Veera Kothanda ramar temple - Thillai vilagam

About the temple and Specialty of the temple

Rama idol found in this place in mid 1800. The temple was built for the utsavar moorthies. However now smaller utsavars are also present and the original utsavars are treated as moolavar.

Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Anjaneya are found in Majestic posture. Rama is supposed to have visited an ashram here on his way back to Ayodhya from Sri Lanka.

Rama is found with Rama bhana instead of the usual crescent shaped arrow. Lord Rama is said to have used the Rama bhana only thrice - one aginst kakasura, one on vali and one for ravana.

It is said that the rekhas (lines) and rings can be seen clearly on his hands. A green nerve running through the right foot of the lord is clearly visible. Also the raksha tied by Kaushalkya for Rama's protection can be seen on his left leg.

Lord Anajaneya is seen here in a posture with one hand closer to the mouth as in passing on Bharatha's message to Rama.

All of us who would'nt have  worshipped Rama's vibhava avatara can enjoy his beauty in archa form here.

" Ovi athu ezhutha onna " - 

meaning one who's beauty cannot be drawn or explained. 

Lord Rama stands true to this description here.

How to reach

Muttupettai is the nearest bus stand and connected with other important places nearby. Mannargudi to Muthupettai is around 36 Kms and would take 1 1/2 hours by bus. Muttupettai is around 20 kms from Thiruthuraipoondi and 45 kms from Thiruvarur. Muthupettai to Thillai valagam is around 7 kms. Autos and taxis are available near Muttupettai bus stand and charge about 200 Rs.

The nearest airport is Trichy and nearest railhead is Mannargudi station.

Temples in proximity

Mannargudi Rajagopala swamy temple

vira kothanda ramar temple viira veera vera kotanda kothanda rama thilai thillai vilagam valagam villagam 

தில்லை விளாகம் வளாகம் வீர கோதண்ட ராமர் திருக்கோவில் அபிமான ஸ்தலம்   abhimana sthalam stalam abimana

Pon Vilantha Kalathur Lakshmi Narasimhar and Ramar temples

About the temples

There are four Vishnu temples in the locality- Dharba Sayana Ramar temple, Kothanda Ramar temple and Lakshmi Narasimhar temple near each other at Pon vilantha Kalathur and Chaturbuja Ramar temple at Pon Padhar kudam. 

Once Vedanta desikar couldnt get alms to feed Lord Hayagreeva at night while staying in this village. The next day morning the villagers complained to him that a white horse had destroyed their paddy fields in the night. When Desikar went there, the places through which the horse had run through had turned into gold. Hence the name Pon vilantha kalathur wherein pon refers to gold and vilantha means yield from cultivation in tamil.

Dharba Sayana Ramar temple -

The entrance to Dharba Sayana Ramar temple is through Kothanda Ramar temple. Apart from Thirupullani Sri Ramar can be seen in Dharba Sayana posture at this temple. Lakshman is seen behind the Lord while Anjaneya and Samudrarajan are seen standing in front to the left praying to the Lord.

The utsavar of this lord is believed to be from Dhanuskoti as per the inscription in lord's kreeta/ crown ( source:- wikipedia).

Kothanda Ramar temple -

The Lord appears in Pattabhiseka kolam with Sita devi sitting on the left lap unlike other temples where Sita devi appears on the right. Lakshmanan is to the right of the Lord. The temple is the oldest Vishnu temple in the vincity. Earlier only Ramar sannadhi was there. During the process of expanding the premises of the temple, Lord Venkata Varadhan emerged at the spot close to the Moolavar but facing South. So Lord Srinivasa in this unique posture with Abhaya hastam ( unlike the normal Varadha hastam) blessing devotees facing south while Ramar is facing east.

Acharyas and Alwars are close to Srinivasar and there is a seperate sannadhi for Alarmel mangai Thayar. There are also seperate sannadhis to Anjaneyar and Chakratalwar in the praharam.

Lakshmi Narasimhar temple

The moolavar of the temple is Vaikunta nathar while the utsavar is Lakshmi Narasimhar.

The utsavar idol is said to be brought from Thirukadal mallai divyadesam several hundred years back as it was feared that the idol would be washed away in floods. The thayar is known is Ahobila valli thayar.

Chaturbuja Ramar temple

The presiding diety of the temple is Chaturbuja Ramar with Ramar and Sitadevi in sitting posture while Lakshmanan is in standing posture. The other dieties in the sannadhi are Lakshmi Narayanan perumal, Alwars and Acharyas.

There are very few temples where Sri Ramar appears in Chaturbuja form and the most important among them is at Bhadrachalam. The Lord holds a chakra, sanku in 2 hands and the other two hands are in the posture of blessing the devotees. Anjaneyar moolavar gives darshan inside the sannadhi facing the Lord with folded hands.

How to reach

Take the road into Chengalpet from the GST road and move towards Thirukazhakundram. After the Court on the right, take the left to go towards Ottivakkam station. After crossing the railway line, cut to the right to reach Pon vilantha Kalathur.

One can reach Chengalpet by train or bus and local buses are there to PV Kalathur although the frequency is less. Alternatively passenger trains between Villupuram and Chengalpet stop at Ottivakkam station and three of the temples are at walking distance from the station.

Kondanda ramar temple, Dharba Sayana ramar temple and Lakshmi Narasimhar temple are close to each other. Chaturbuja Ramar temple is at Pon Padhar kudam which is about 4-5 kms from the rest of the temples.

If one is using public transport, it would be ideal to hire an auto or car from Chengalpet to and fro to all the temples.

Temple timings

Chaturbuja Ramar temple is open from 7.30 am to 8.30 am in the mornings and from 5-6 pm in the evenings. The same bhattar manages Kothanda Ramar temple and Dharba sayana ramar temple also.

Kothanda Ramar temple and Dharba sayana Ramar temples are open from 8 am to 10.30 am in the mornings and from 5 pm to 7.30 pm in the evenings.

Lakshmi Narasimhar temple is open in the mornings from 8 am to 11 am and in the evenings from 5 pm to 7.30 pm.

Eri Kaatha Ramar temple, Madhurantakam

About the temple

The presiding deity is Sri Kothanda ramar in standing posture with Sita and Lakshmanan. There are two utsavars in the temple..one being Sri Rama and the other being Sri Karunaakara perumal. While going in search of Sita, Sri Rama met Vibandaka rishi and had stayed here on the rishi's request. The rishi and Lord Rama had prayed to Karunakara perumal before Sri Rama left and Sri Rama had promised the rishi to give darshan along with Sita. So, while returning back to Ayodhya Sri Rama gave darshan along with Sita and Lakshmanan to Vibandaka rishi. 

How to reach

The temple is about 80 kms from Chennai. While travelling from Chennai on GST road, there is a board indicating left toward Madhurantakam. Take a left there and follow the map to reach the temple. Buses going towards Trichy ply on this route. 

Click the map to enlarge

Sannadhis

Kothanda Ramar

Janakavalli thayar

Andal

Ramanujar and Periyanambigal

Chakratalwar and Narasimhar

Vishwaksenar

Vedantha Desikar

Pushkarni and Vimanam

The vimanam of the temple is called Pushpaka vimanam and the pushkarni right in front of the temple is called Rama theertham.

Specialty of the temple

Sri Ramar is called Eri Kaatha Ramar as the lord is believed to have protected the lake bund from bursting.

Lord Rama is giving darshan here by holding Sita devi's hand ..a rare one.

This is the only place where Sri Ramanujar gives darshan as a Grihastha in white clothes instead of saffron.

Sri Ramanujar's pancha samaskaram was done here by his guru Periya nambigal.

The mandapam where Pancha samaskaram was done

The Anjaneyar sannadhi is outside the main temple as it is believed that Sri Rama had sent him to inform Bharata about their arrival. So, Hanuman was not accompanying Ramar when the Lord gave darshan here with Sita and Lakshmanan.

Temple timings and contact details

The temple is open from 7.30 am to 12 noon and from 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm in the evenings. The contact person name is Sri Rangarajan bhattar at 9842909880.

Temples in proximity

Paathaladri Narasimhar -Singaperumal koil, 

Chettipunyam Varadaraja perumal / Yoga Hayagreevar temple, 

Prasanna Venkateshwara perumal temple -Thirumalai Vaiyavoor, 

Ramanuja Yogavanam, 

Kamala Varadaraja perumal/Sundara Mahalakshmi temple