Mudikondan Kothandaramar Temple – Legends
Pancha
Rama Kshetras:
Thillaivilagam, Paruthiyur, Vaduvur, Mudikondan, Adambar
are the five auspicious places specialized as Pancha Rama Kshetras, in
Thiruvarur District.
Lord
Rama visit to hermitage of the sage Bharadhwaja:
The temple is associated with the hermitage of the sage Bharadhwaja. Mudikondan has a mention in the Valmiki Ramayana.
It was here the ashram of Sage Bharadhwaja existed. During his march to
Lanka, Sri Rama stayed in the hermitage of Sage Bharadhwaja for a short while,
when the sage wanted to treat the Lord with a feast. Sri Rama politely declined
to accept the offer as he was on a mission and promised to accept the same on his
way back to Ayodhya.
When Rama was returning back after completing his
mission, his Pushpaka Vimanam landed near the hermitage. Lord Ranganatha,
the Kula devata (family deity) of Lord Rama manifested at the request of Bharadhwaja
Maharishi for the sake of Lord Rama. Lord Ranganatha personally coronated Lord
Rama with a pushpa kireedam (a crown made of five different Deva Loka
flowers). Rama gave darshan to Sage Bharadhwaja with this Mudi
(crown) and hence the place is known as Mudikondan.
Hanuman’s
angry gesture:
Rama asked Hanuman to make a quick trip to Nandigram to
inform Bharatha of their arrival. By the time, Hanuman returned, Rama had adorned
the crown and finished his meals. Saddened by the fact that his Lord did not
wait for his return and not having set aside a plantain leaf for him, Hanuman
decided to stand outside. Hence, Hanuman is absent in the sanctum sanctorum and
he has a separate shrine opposite to Sri Ramar outside the temple complex. Also,
it is believed that Hanuman in his anger prayed that plantain should not grow
here. To this day, there is no growth of plantain trees in Mudikondan, though
one would find a number of trees outside this village.
Lord
Rama Temple facing east:
Generally, Ram temples are built facing south as Vibishana
from Lanka always wanted to have the darshan of Lord Rama according to
scriptures. But here, the temple is facing east as he gave the
darshan to Sage Bharadhwaja with Mother Sita and Lakshmana in his coronation
form. However, Lord Sri Ranganatha installed by Sage Bharadhwaja is facing
south to grace Vibishana.