Kothanda Ramaswamy Temple, Vaduvur – The Temple
This
Temple was originally (Raja) Gopalan temple. Gopalan is seen facing South with
Rukmini, Satyabhama and Shengamala Thaayar. It is said that he was in the
sanctum sanctorum before Rama idol was installed there. Later it got
converted to Kothanda Ramar Temple. Lord Rama with Mother Sita, Lakshmana and
Anjaneya bless the devotees from the sanctum sanctorum.
Lord is
wearing Mahalakshmi pendent and Salagrama garland. There is also a separate
North Facing Sannidhi for Hayagriva. Lord Vishwaksenar, Andal and Azhwars
are in the prakara. Sarayu Theertham is located outside the temple. Sthala
Theertham is Rama Theertham.
The
Vimana above the sanctum is called Pushpaka Vimana. The other holy names
for Vaduvur are Vakulaaranya (magizhankadu), Bhaskara Kshetram and Dhakshina Ayodhya.
Vagula maram (Magizham tree) is the sacred tree of this place.
Vedic Paatshaala:
To the
North of the Kothandaramar temple is the Vedic Paatshaala, started here in
2001. Vaduvur has a rich heritage and has been traditionally known for its
strong Vedic Education. There is a family called ‘Puraanathaarargal’ who have
been rendering ‘Bhaagavatha Paaraayanam’ for generations. About 400 years ago,
the swami of Melkote is said to have come here and created his own vyakyaanam
of Thiruvaimozhi (Divya Prabhandham). He was born on the same day as Ramanuja
and hence was called ‘Saakshaath Swami’.
The
Vedha Paatshaala in Vaduvur is an offshoot of the 85 year old Vedic Paatshaala
in Mannargudi. There are currently about 50 students (including from Vizag and
Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh) in the Paatshaala run by Srimad Andavan Ashram,
Srirangam. Vaduvur Veera Valli Ganapati Desikachari, who is well over 80 years,
has been instrumental in imbibing Vedic knowledge into the young students for
the last 50 plus years in Mannargudi and now Vaduvur.