Kothandaramar Temple, Pon Vilaintha Kalathur,
Kanchipuram
Kothandaramar
Temple is located in Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, which is 10 kms south of
Chengalpet in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. This temple is more
than 700 years old. It is said that Sri Thoopul Nigamantha Mahadesikan once
passed through this village on his way to Thiruvahindirapuram. The village is
not only famous for such divine acts, but also for promoting Tamil
language. Padikkasu Pulavar, Andhaga kavi (Blind) Veeraraghava
Mudaliar and Pugazhendi pulavar, were all born in this sacred place. The noted
freedom fighter Salem Vijayaraghavachariyar also belongs to this village.
This
temple is as old as the village itself. The Moolavar deity is Pattabhi Rama,
seen in a Grand Pattabhisheka sitting posture with Sita on his left lap and
Lakshmana by his side. The marks one finds on the Moolavar Rama deity is an
indication of the history of the temple. 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
Temple
Kothandam
is the famous bow of Mahavishnu. The lord Rama here appears with Kothandam in his
hands and is thus called Kodandaramar. The Kothanda Ramar temple
is adjacent to the Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple. The Lord appears in Pattabhisheka
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 vicinity. Earlier, only Ramar Sannadhi
was there. During the process of expanding the premises of the temple, The
Moolavar Venkata Varadan deity was found under the earth when the Maha Mandapam
of Kothandarama temple and one now sees the handsome 6ft Venkata Varadan, seen
with a Abhayam in a South Facing posture. So Lord in this unique posture with
Abhaya Hastam (unlike the normal Varadha Hastam) blessing devotees facing south
while Ramar is facing east.
When
Kothandarama went on a procession to Edayur hill, near here, the Srinivasa
Utsava deity was brought here as the Utsava deity could not be maintained in
that place. Acharyas and Alwars are close to Srinivasar and there is a separate
Sannadhi for Alarmel Mangai Thayar. There are also separate Sannadhis to
Anjaneyar and Chakarathalwar in the praharam. Both Narasimmar temple and
Kothanda Ramaswamy temple have beautiful gardens within the temple premises.
The
temple in its current form is about 500years old and was renovated by the
Ahobila Mutt, with sacred water from Vilakkoli Perumal Temple at Thoopul
(Kanchi), the birth place of Vedantha Desigan. 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
The
Temple will be open from 8 A.M – 10.30 A.M and 5 P.M – 7.30 P.M
Festivals
·
1day
Rama Navami (9th day)
·
Aipasi
Pavitrotsavam
Contact
Kothanda
Ramar Temple
P.V.
Kalathur – 603 405, Kancheepuram district
Phone: 044 – 27441142
Mobile: +91 – 94437 06842
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.
References
