Yeri Katha Ramar Temple, Maduranthakam, Kanchipuram
Yeri
Katha Ramar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord
Rama located in the
town of Maduranthakam, Tamilnadu, India. This is the sthalam (place) where Udayavar (the
presiding deity) was named Ramanuja. The temple is also known by other names such as - Madhurantaka
Chaturvedi Mangalam, Vaikunda Varthanam, Thirumathurai, Thirumanthira
Tirupathi, and Karunakara Vilagam. Thirumalisai Alvar attained siddhi (enlightenment) in this sthalam (place).
Also, Sri Ramanujar was instructed the Pancha Samskara Manthram at
this place.
This is
one of the famous Rama temples in the state. The added reputation is that Sri
Vaishnava Acharya Sri Ramanuja was initiated to Sanyasa in this place. Maduranthakam
is a beautiful place located about 75 kms south of Chennai. While traveling
from Chennai, Maduranthakam lies on the GST Road after crossing Chengalpattu.
The main
deity of the Eri Katha Ramar temple is Lord Rama. He is in standing position
facing east in this temple. The height of the main idol is around 8 feet. In
this temple Lord Rama is seen along with his consort Sita and his brother
Lakshmana. Lord Hanuman cannot be seen in this temple, which is rare. This
temple is on the banks of the huge Madurantakam Lake.
There
are separate shrines for Lakshmi Narasimhar, Periya Nambi and Ramanuja, Andal,
Sudarshana and Vedanta Desika in this temple. A separate shrine for Shri
Anjaneya is located on the opposite banks of the lake. The walls of the temple
are also inscribed with the devotional songs composed by Saint Tyagaraja, a
great poet saint of south India, in praise of Lord Rama.
On the
day of Sri Rama Navami Lord Rama is adorned in five different attires – Lord
with a Plait, Ekantha Vastra, Thiru Aabarana Alankaram, Vaira Mudi Sevai and
Muthu Kondai. Vaikunda Ekadashi in December-January (Tamil Margazhi) is
celebrated very grandly in this temple. The Utsavamurti (procession idol) of
Lord Rama and Karunakara Perumal can also be seen in this temple. Karunakara
Perumal is none other than Lord Vishnu with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo
Devi.
Lord
Rama himself is said to have worshipped the Utsavamurti at Madurantakam. Periya
Nambi took Ramanuja to the Bakula tree of the temple and inducted him on the
five sacraments ("Pancha Samskarams"), viz., "Tapam",
"Pundram", "Namam", "Mantram" and "Yagam. Thus
the Bakula tree became to the Vaishnavites what the Bodhi tree is to the
Buddhists. This place was once referred to as Vakularanya Kshetram (this place
is believed to have been full of Magizham flowers – Vakulam = Magizham flowers.
Hence it got the name.
Legends
For
brief details, please refer below link;
History
For
brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Pooja
Timings
·
Viswaroopa
Dharsanam - 7:30 A.M
·
Kalasandhi
- 8:00 A.M
·
Uchikala
pooja - 11:30 A.M
·
Sayaratchi
pooja - 6:00 P.M
·
Arthajamam
pooja - 7:30 P.M
Festivals
Vaikunda
Ekadasi falling in December-January (Tamil Margazhi) is grandly celebrated in
the temple. The temple has two main festivals. One is Sri Rama Navami and the
other is the Brahmotsavam during the Thamizh month of Aani on the day of Moolam
star. Bashyakaarar Jayanthi in Chitrai also celebrated in this Temple.
Rama Navami Celebrations – The Lord in 5 different
attires:
On the
Rama Navami day, Raama provides darshan in five different attires- ‘Lord with a
Plait’, ‘Ekantha Vastram’, ‘Thiru Aabarana Alankaram’, ‘Vaira Mudi Sevai’ and
‘Muthu Kondai’.
Parivettai Utsavam:
Once a
year, on the 3rd day of the Tamil Calendar month of Thai (mid-January to mid-February)
on the occasion of Parivettai Utsavam, Karunakara Perumal goes on a procession
to Nyana Giri Parvatham, the hill where Raama is believed to have descended on
his Pushpaka Vimaanam.
Nearby
Temples
Thiru-Venkateswarar Temple,
near Madurantakam railway station is too one of the renowned temples in the
town. It was built by a king whose skin disease was relieved when he bathed in
the tank; then he realized his wonder and built this temple during British Raj;
Similarly other temples includes Renuka Parameswari (Amman) temple, Siva temple
adjacent to G.S.T Road, Murugar temple's, Chelliamman temple and Anjaneya
temple near to substation Madurantakam. Northern-thiru-Nallar and Sri
Raghavendra temple and a Vishnu cum Anjaneya temple on the Karunguzhi Mountain;
then Prasanna Venkateswarar temple in Padalam were in the perimeter of
Madurantakam.
Contact
Sri Yeri
Katha Ramar Temple,
Maduranthakam
- 603 306
Kancheepuram
district
Phone: 044 – 2755 2277
Mobile: +91 – 9629274347
/ 9791660150
Mobile: +91 – 98429 09880
/ 93814 82008
Connectivity
Maduranthakam
is 23 km from Chengalpet and 12 km from Melmaruvathur. The temple is near the
bus stop. Maduranthakam, is on the Trichy – Chennai highway (NH45) at a distance
of 89 km from Chennai. There are several buses travelling to Maduranthakam from Chennai. Maduranthakam, also has its own railway station, with suburban
trains going towards Melmaruvathur stopping here.
Buses are
available for every 5 – 10 minutes between Madras (Chennai) and
Tindivanam/Villupuram/Trichy. Nearest Railway Station is located at Chengalpet
and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.
References
