Ramaswamy Temple, Cheranmahadevi, Thirunelveli
Ramaswamy
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Cheranmahadevi in
Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is similar to the temple with a
three Tier Vimanam like Thiru Koshtiyur and Koodal is in a dilapidated
condition and requires immediate attention. The Temple is located 1 Km North of
Cheranmahadevi bus stand at the foot of the Western Ghats amidst green paddy
fields.
This is
an ancient at least 1000 years old. This
Temple is referred to as the Nigarili Chola Vinnagar Azhvaar temple in 10th
Century AD inscriptions and whose deity was referred to as Raghava Chakravarti
in a 1020 AD Rajendra I period inscription. Cheran Maha Devi is at a very
centric location on the Thirunelveli- Ambasamudram- Papanasam route.
The
Temple
Similar
to Thirukoshtiyur Sowmya Narayana Divya Desam, Parameswara Vinnagara Divya
Desam in Kanchipuram and Koodal Divya Desam in Madurai, the Ramaswamy temple in
Cheran Maha Devi too has a three tier vimana, with Adhi Narayanan in a Standing
Posture at the Ground level facing east along with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi,
Veetrituntha Perumal in a sitting posture in Tier 1 along with Sridevi and Bhoo
Devi and Thiruparkadalnathan in a sleeping posture atop Adhishesha in Tier 2.
The
three tiers Vimanam finds a reference in the ancient inscriptions which talks
about the ‘top tier’ Azhvaar idol, the ‘mid-tier’ Azhvaar idol and ‘lower tier’
Azhvaar idol. Utsava Deity is Rama with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, Veda
Narayanan with Bhoo and Neela Devi are housed in a separate shrine. Imposing
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, Hanuman sculptures are located right at the entrance
and some interesting sculptures are located in the motif at the
entrance.
The
temple received a facelift recently. The entire temple complex got a fresh coat
of paint. It was nice to see moolavar idols anointed with bright and colorful
‘mooligai’ painting. While earlier the entrance to the first and second tiers
was through the maha mandapam from inside, a new staircase has been constructed
for the devotees to visit the top tiers from the outer prakaram.
The
outer walls too are sporting a new look. All the ancient inscriptions have been
left intact. Other additions include a new lighting system for the temple,
flooring and a security gate leading up to the sanctum. There are separate
rooms on the Southern side for the Vahanas.
Inscriptions
There
are several inscriptions on the inner and outer walls of the Ramaswamy temple.
There are also inscriptions on the way up the steps to Tier 1 of the temple
that provide insights into the conduct of the festivals, the daily poojas at
the temple, the state of the temple under different rulers and their
contribution to the wellbeing of the temple.
Watchman for the Temple:
Not just
the lamps, the overall security of the Ramaswamy temple too was provided for as
can be seen from the 1036 AD inscription of Sundara Chola Pandya Deva which
refers to a gift of pieces of land by the Merchant Guild for maintenance of a
watchman at the temple. One could also assume from the gifting by the Merchant
Guild that the business and economy at this place was robust at that point of
time.
Loss of Jewels:
Jatavaraman
Pandya Kulasekhara I inscription of 1195 AD narrates an interesting story, that
of two priests being held responsible for loss of temple jewels and how they
borrowed 3 Achchus from the temple and gave a written agreement that they would
conduct the same from interest accruing from these 3 Achchus.
War time and reference to places around Cheranmahadevi:
A 985 AD
inscription and similar one in 1000 AD in Tamil both on the North Wall relating
to Raja Raja I mentions the destruction of fleets at Kandalurch Chalai and
Mandalaurch Chalai and conquests of Ganga Padi, Nulamba Padi, Tadigai Padi, Vengai
Nadu, Kudagamalai Nadu, Kollam, Kalingam, Ila Mandalam and Cheran Madevi.
The Name
Inscriptions
indicate that this place was referred to as Cheranmahadevi Chadurvedi Mangalam.
In those days, the hilly terrain of Papanasam was the short cut from Cheran
Maha Devi to Trivandrum. Also, culverts refer to this place as Nigarili Chola
Chadurvedi Mangalam. Early 11th Century AD inscriptions state that
Cheran Maha Devi was situated in Mulli Nadu.
Perpetual Lamps:
A 10th
Century AD inscription records a specific praise of Vaikanasas for taking care
of the lamps at the Ramaswamy temple as they would of their own body, so
committed were they that they pledged themselves to maintain a perpetual lamp
at the temple (1015AD Rajendra I period inscription). The inscription goes on
to add that they would have to pay a penalty of twice the ghee for them to
continue the lamp service. Deposit of Kasu was also made in the hands of the
Vaikanasas for burning a half lamp.
The
inscriptions record several gifts to the temple including gift of money for
lamp, gift of 25 cows for lamp, a gift of 75 cows for 3 lamps, a gift of money
for 2 lamps and 4 food offerings to Thiru Vaykulath Azhvaar and his consort and
a gift of cash for lamp for the deity which was to be maintained by the
Vaikanasas (1015 AD Inscription) clearly indicating that the daily burning of
lamps was well taken care of.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 8 a.m – 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m – 8 p.m.
Festivals
Following
Festivals are celebrated in this temple currently;
·
Garuda Sevai on the last
Saturday of Purattasi
·
Rama Navami
·
Krishna Jayanthi
·
Puratasi Parivettai
·
Margazhi Theppotsavam
·
Vaikunta Ekadasi
Procession
·
10 day Oonjal Utsavam in Aippasi
·
Chithirai Brahmotsavam
·
10 day festival celebrated
for Anjaneya
·
Chariot festival
·
Theerthavari
Grand Festivals celebrated during ancient time:
As late
as the first half of the last century, there were several festivals conducted
in a Grand manner at the Ramaswamy temple. A 10 day Oonjal Utsavam in Chittirai,
Garuda Sevai on the fourth Saturday in Puratasi, a 10th day Chariot Festival
(indicating the temple had a Chariot) and a 11th day Theerthavari Utsavam were
among the popular festivals at this temple.
Such was
the importance to the festivals at the Ramaswamy temple that there were
deposits made for conducting worship of the God on Festival days of Chittirai
and there was a gift of money for providing rose water to the God on the Chittirai
Festival day (Kulasekhara I - 13th Century AD- period
inscription).
Theppotsavam:
The
Theppotsavam festival has been mentioned in these ancient Chola and Pandya
Period inscriptions continues to take place in the Tamil Calendar month of
Margazhi. Belief is that Ganga comes here to Porunai River every year on the
day of Maa Viyathi Paatham in Margazhi to cleanse her sins. It is said that
people from Cheran Maha Devi used to congregate here for a bath at this river
on this day.
Four Kaala Pooja:
Even 65 years
ago, there were poojas performed four times a day as per the Vaikhanasa
tradition. Now, the temple is open only for a couple of hours in the evening
with the opening in the first half dependent on request from devotees on prior
intimation.
Contact
Ramaswamy
Temple,
Cheranmahadevi,
Thirunelveli District
Mobile: +91 90435 48173 / 90436 73430
Connectivity
Ramaswamy
Temple is located at Cheranmahadevi in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. Cheranmahadevi
is located at about 50 Kms from Tenkasi, 17 Kms from Ambasamudram, 6 Kms from
Veeravanallur, 30 Kms from Thirunelveli, 190 Kms from Madurai & 155 Kms
from Thiruvananthapuram. Thirunelveli bound buses (Kallur route) stop at the
Rama temple. Buses are available every 15 minutes from Thirunelveli to
Cheranmahadevi.
The
temple is 30 kms from Nambi Divyadesam at Thiru Kurungudi and 20 kms from
Kulasekara Azhwar Rajagopalaswamy temple in Mannarkoil (Ambai). While at
Cheranmahadevi, also visit the ancient Appan Venkatachalapathy temple, one km
north to this temple. The temple is 1 km North of Cheran Maha Devi bus stand
and railway station. Nearest Railway Station is located at Cheranmahadevi and
Nearest Airport is located at Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.
