Mudikondan Kothandaramar Temple – The Temple
The arch on the road forms the main entrance to the
temple and there is no Raja gopuram. As you enter the temple through the arch
you will be welcomed by the grand look of a crown. The Vimanam of the main Sannathi
will be visible like that of a crown. This visual has a special significance to
this temple legend. Presiding Deity is Kothandaramar with Mother Sita on the
left and brother Lakshmana on the right holding the bow Kothandam in
the sanctum sanctorum and a shrine to Hanuman outside the sanctum sanctorum.
Lord Rama is seen in a unique and rare posture with
three bends in his body- the face is seen in one direction, the hip in another
and the leg in a third bend. This posture is referred to as ‘Uthama Lakshana’. Generally,
temples for Rama are constructed facing South so that Vibishana, after
his coronation following the end of Ravana, could ever worship Rama in the
North. But the Mudikondan Temple is facing east as Bharadhwaja Rishi
wanted to have the Dharshan of Sri Rama with Sita and Lakshmana with his
crown.
Instead, Sri Ranganatha shrine installed by Sage Bharadhwaja
is installed facing South. The procession deity is very beautifully made
with his neck and hip bending with his Kodandam and arrow in hand. Ramatheertham
is located behind the temple. Perhaps this is the only temple where Sri
Anjaneya is absent in the Sanctum Sanctorum. He was angry for some reasons and
has his shrine opposite the sanctum sanctorum.
The separate Sannathi of Hanuman is facing the
main temple and on the banks of the temple tank known as “Sri Rama Tirtham”.
The Sannathi has a small mandapam in the front. Sri Anjaneya the best
devotee of Sri Rama is seen as ‘Anjali hastan’ (with folded hands). The
temple is believed to have come into being even before the times of Alwars.
Alangudi
Swamigal Ashram:
Sri Swamigal belongs to the village Alangudi near this
place. Srimath Bagawatham was inspiration for Sri Swamigal. The Sanyasa ashram
name of Sri Swamigal is “swyam pragasanantha swamigal”. But people know
him as Sri Alangudi Swamigal. He had read Srimath Bhagavatam many times as the
tradition and prescribed rules during his life time. He had inculcated this
tradition to many devotees of Srimath Bhagavatam. Even today there are many
devotees who come to this village for reading Srimath Bhagavatham in the
traditional way in the Sri Alangudi Swamigal mutt. The reading of Srimath
Bagavatham is continues in this mutt. Mutt continues to attract Srimath
Bagavatham devotees, where recitation of these verses reverberates and
revitalize the devotee.