Monday, July 25, 2016

Dharbasayana Seturama Temple, Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, Kanchipuram

Dharbasayana Seturama Temple, Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, Kanchipuram
Dharbasayana Seturama Temple is located at Pon Vilaintha Kalathur located at a distance of 10 km from Chengalpet in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. There are three Rama Temples in this village although small in structure are significant among the Rama temples. The legendary stories associated with it enhanced the mythological splendor of these temples.

Legends
Once, Vedanta Desikar couldn’t get alms to feed Lord Hayagriva 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 this village got the name Pon Vilaintha Kalathur wherein pon refers to gold and Vilaintha means yield from cultivation in Tamil.
The image of the Lord here conforms to the Dharbasayana episode of Ramayana. The episode is related to the penance of Rama, in order to impress Samudra raja so that he can cross the sea safely to Lanka. 
The Temple
The entrance to Dharba Sayana Ramar temple is through Kothanda Ramar temple. Apart from Thirupullani, Rama can be seen in Dharba Sayana posture at this temple. Lakshman is seen behind the Lord while Anjaneya and Samudra Rajan are seen standing in front to the left praying to the Lord.
The Utsavar of this lord is believed to be from Dhanushkodi as per the inscription in lord's Krita/ crown. The Dharbasayana Sethuramar Sannidhi was installed in Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy Temple recently, only in the 20th century. The Urchava Vigraham - Sri Ramar was found in the well within the temple precincts and the same fact was revealed in the dreams of one of the devotees in Kalathur. The Vigraham has inscription - "Dhanushkodi Ramar" in the kiridam.

The Moolavar of Dharbasayana Sethuramar was installed by the grandsons of Salem vijayaraghavachariyar and the Samprokshanam was performed by the 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt.
The bronze image of Lord Rama is the chief attraction of this temple. The stone icon of Lord Rama was made just like the Rama image in the temple at Thirupullani. The image of the Lord here conforms to the Dharbasayana episode of Ramayana. The episode is related to the penance of Rama, in order to impress Samudra raja so that he can cross the sea safely to Lanka. 
Kodanda Ramar temple, Dharba Sayana Ramar temple and Lakshmi Narasimhar temple are close to each other. Chaturbhuja Ramar temple is at Pon Padhar kudam which is about 4-5 kms from the rest of the temples.
Temple Opening Time
Dharba Sayana Ramar temple is open from 8 am to 10.30 am in the mornings and from 5 pm to 7.30 pm in the evenings.
Connectivity
Pon Vilaintha Kalathur is located at a distance of 10 kms from Chengalpet. There are local buses every half hour (during morning and evening) running between Chengalpet and Pon Vilaintha Kalathur. Pon Vilaintha Kalathur is about 65 kms from Chennai.
From Chengalpet, take the Old GST Road, turn left (1km before the Madras – Trichy National Highway Bye Pass.) into the road leading to Thirukazhukundram via Pon Vilaintha Kalathur (PV Kalathur). About 6kms into this road, one should cross the Ottivakkam railway station gate to reach Pon Vilaintha Kalathur. 
Nearest Railway Station is Ottivakkam Railway Station. One can take a passenger train between Chennai Egmore/Tambaram and Villupuram and get down at Ottivakkam and walk to this temple from the station. One can take an auto or taxi from Chengalpet (10kms). Nearest Airport is Chennai Airport.