Kothandarama Swamy Temple,
Kanjanur, Thanjavur
Kothandarama Swamy Temple is a
Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Kanjanur near Aduthurai Town
in Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity
is called as Varadaraja Perumal / Raja Narayana Perumal. Though the presiding
deity is Varadaraja Perumal, the temple is called as Kothanda Rama Swamy Temple.
There was Kothanda Rama Swamy Temple in ancient times in this place. Hence, the
temple is still called as Kothanda Rama Swamy Temple.
Legends
As per legend, Saint Haradatta
was born in a Vaishnava family in Kanjanur. His birth name was Sudarshana. He
was a devotee of Lord Vishnu in his early ages, but later became an ardent devotee
of Lord Shiva. He used to worship Lord Agneeswarar and Mother Karpagambikai
daily. Vaishnavites in the village were not happy with his devotion towards
Lord Shiva. They tried to convince him of the superiority of Vaishnavism.
Nothing moved Haradatta from his devotion to Lord Shiva.
Vaishnavites in the village asked
him to prove his devotion by sitting on a heated tripod
in Varadaraja Perumal Temple and chant Namashivaya. He accepted their
challenge, sat on the heated tripod and proclaimed the superiority of Lord
Shiva. Lord Shiva along with his mother Parvathi appeared before Haradatta and
blessed him. Vaishnavites were astonished to see this miracle and even few of
them got converted to Shaivism.
The Temple
This Temple is facing towards
east with an unfinished Rajagopuram. There is no flag staff in the temple
premises. Garudazhwar Shrine can be found facing the sanctum. The sanctum
sanctorum consists of Mukha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Sanctum.
Presiding Deity is called as Varadaraja Perumal / Raja Narayana Perumal. He is
housed in the sanctum along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
He is four armed. He is holding
Shanka and Chakra in his hands and showing Varada and Abhaya Hastha. Utsava
Idols of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Chakrathazhwar and Vishwakasena
can be seen in the sanctum. Dvarapalas can be seen guarding the sanctum. There
is a separate shrine for Lord Agneeswarar and Mother Karpagambikai to the right
side of the sanctum in the Mukha Mandapam in the temple premises.
There is an idol of Haradatta
near Garudazhwar Shrine. He is seen sitting in tripod and keeping his hands in
worshipping posture above his head. There is a shrine for Jayaveera Anjaneya in
the prakaram. He is about 1.5 feet tall. He is seen carrying the Sanjeevini
Mountain in his hand and holding mace in another hand.
Prayers
It is believed that Varadaraja
Perumal Temple should be visited first before visiting Kanjanur Agneeswarar
Temple. If anyone does Shukra Parihara Pooja in Kanjanur Agneeswarar Temple
without visiting this temple would render no benefits to them. Devotees pray
here to get relief from marriage obstacles, longevity of husband life, Child
boon, relief from debts and relief from legal disputes.
Contact
Kothandarama Swamy Temple,
Kanjanur, Thiruvidaimaruthur
Taluk,
Thanjavur District – 609 804
Phone: +91 435 241
3310
Mobile: +91 94431 76051
/ 94427 78965 / 93823 41239
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
600 meters from Kanjanur Bus Stop, 5 Kms from Aduthurai Bus Stand, 6 Kms from Aduthurai
Railway Station, 6 Kms from Aduthurai, 17 Kms from Kumbakonam, 18 Kms from
Kumbakonam Railway Station, 22 Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 56 Kms from Thanjavur
and 110 Kms from Trichy Airport. Kanjanur is situated on Mayiladuthurai to
Kallanai Route. Mini buses ply every 15 minutes from Aduthurai. There are
also buses from Mayiladuthurai via Thiru Kodikkaval.
Government Buses 2 A & 54
and private buses Green Bus & Ramalingam Bus ply from Kumbakonam Bus Stand
to Kanjanur. Aduthurai Town is situated on the Mayiladuthurai
– Kumbakonam
highway, and buses are available from Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam. Various
private and government long haul buses stop here connecting this town with
major cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai. The Temple is situated at
about 6 Kms from Aduthurai.
Location
