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.
