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Introduction and History
Eri-Katha Raamar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama located in the town of Maduranthakam, Tamil Nadu, India This is the sthalam (place) where Udayavar (the presiding deity) was named Ramanuja. The temple is also known by other names such as – Mathuranthaka Chaturvedi Mangalam, Vaikunda Varthanam, Thirumathurai, Thirumanthira Tirupathi, Karunagara Vilagam. Thirumalisai Alvar attained siddhi (enlightenment) in this sthalam (place). Also, Sri Ramanujar was instructed the Pancha Samskara Mantram at this place.
The temple was built during the Pallava era, and is estimated to be 1600 years old. The Moolavar (presiding deity) of the temple is Lord Rama, thus making this one of the oldest temples of lord Rama in South India. The temple has inscriptions indicating generous gifts from Chola king Parantaka I. The place was once famous during the rule of Cholas who ruled this place as Maduranthaga Chaturvedi Mangalam after the Chola ruler Madurantaga Uttama Chola (973 -85 CE). It is believed that Gandaraditya donated the village to the Vedics (Chaturvedi – one who knows all four vedas) of the place and hence it came to be known as Chaturvedi Mangalam.
Alternate Introduction and History
This temple is situated near the Madhuranthakam lake shore. The temple also houses an image of Karunakaramurthi.
During the period between 1795 and 1799 the Collector of Chingleput District was a British officer called Colonel Lionel Blaze. During his collectorship, Blaze had witnessed two breaches to the huge tank. The enormity of the problem can be appreciated only when we know of the massive size of the tank. Having an area of 13 square miles (34 km2) and a depth of 21 feet (6 m), the breaching of the tank following torrential downpour was any official’s nightmare. Wanting to take preemptive action in the year 1798 the Collector camped in Madurantakam. During his sojourn the Collector was exploring ways and means to undertake urgent repairs of the breaches if and when they happened. During the course of his inspections, he happened to see a large collection of granite and other stones in the precincts of the Rama temple. The Collector mentioned to his subordinates that these could be put to use in restoration of the bunds. Hearing this the temple priests submitted that the stones were meant for constructing a separate shrine for Janakavalli Thayar and since there was paucity of funds the construction could not commence.[3]
Hearing this the Collector is said to have remarked that where was the need for a separate shrine when more urgent work like repairing the bunds was crying for resources. He also asked the priests jestingly as to why the Lord was not able to save the tank each year? The priests replied saying that the Lord was always known to answer a sincere prayer from the heart. The rains came and it poured. Within a few days the tank was full to the brim and a breach seemed imminent. That night a worried Collector camped near the tank hoping against hope that the bunds would hold. As he was inspecting, Colonel Blaze saw a miraculous sight. He saw two warriors bearing bow and quiver guarding the bunds. The British officer went on his knees and prayed, for he knew it was none other than Lord Rama and his divine brother Lakshmana. It was indeed strange that nobody else who was a part of the Collector’s retinue saw the Lord. After a while the vision evanesced and the rain stopped. The grateful Collector undertook the building of the shrine for Janakavalli thayar and Lord Rama in the temple came to be known as the Erikatha Ramar (Rama who saved the tank (Eri)). The edict with the Collector’s name citing him as a benefactor can be seen even today in the Madurantakam temple,.
Important News Related to Temple
- This is the place under the Magizha tree, where Sri Ramanujar was given “Pancha Samskaram” (initiation) by his teacher Peria Nambigal, following which Maduranthakam was given the name “Dvayam Vilindha Tirupathi”. As per the legend, upon receiving Kanchi Varadarajar’s divine order through Tirukachi Nambi, the Vaishnava saint Ramanuja set forth for Srirangam to become the disciple of Peria Nambigal. Peria Nambigal was on his way to Kanchipuram to install Ramanuja as the successor of Sri Aalanvandar. Ramanuja wanted to meet Periya Nambi and he started from Kanchipuram, while Periya Nambi started from Srirangam. They are believed to have met in Maduranthakam temple, in the lake precincts. In the month of Avani, on the Sukla Panchami, Peria Nambigal gave the Samasrayanam or Pancha Samskaram called Dvaya Mantropadesam (divine syllable). The festival is celebrated every year. Ramanuja is believed to have obtained Pancha Samskaram from Periya Nambi in the four pillared hall around the sanctum. This is the only place where Ramanujar can be seen as a Grihastha (family man).
Manyatas
There is a belief that The name of Sri Kothandaramar here came to be popularly known as Eri Kaatha Ramar because of an interesting incident happened during the British rule here. There was a district collector of Chengalpattu by name Colonel Lionel Blaze (some say that his name is ‘Lionel Place’) during the period 1795 – 1798. Madhuraanthakam lake being one of the biggest ones in the district, threatened the natives during rainy seasons. The bund of the lake was weak and most of the times the lake broke opened the bund and waters gushed into the village creating disaster to lives.
Blaze who took up charge as collector of the district was worried about the lake during one such rainy season and had visited the village and camped there. He happened to see this beautiful temple and visited it to know more about it. The priests at the temple told him about the history and legend of the temple. While going around in the temple, he found huge pillars and stone slabs piled up in one of the corners of the temple and enquired about the purpose of those slabs. The priests explained that they were meant for the construction of the shrine for Sri Janakavalli Thaayaar and were kept on hold due to lack of funds.
Blaze now told the priests that if Sri Rama protected the village from the lake during the storms of the year, he himself would build the shrine for Sri Janakavalli Thaayaar at his cost. Saying this, he went back in a hurry without even having dharshan of the deities.
Colonel tried to strengthen the lake bund with his resources but was not confident about the strength of the bund. The storms began to show in the village with heavy winds and strong pouring of rains. Rain continued for days together without any signs of stopping. The water began to rise in the lake and on one day reached up to the bund level. Blaze expected a calamity to occur. But as the collector of the district, he went out to see the water level of the lake so that he can take some precautionary measures. He took one of his servants with him holding an umbrella and went near the lake.
On seeing the water filled lake, he got worried about handling the calamity which could happen anytime then. While he was thinking worriedly, he watched two young, well built men going around on the banks of the lake with bow and arrows on their hands. He patiently waited and saw these men wandering repeatedly on the banks. As it was night time, he couldn’t figure them out, but pitied them as they were walking on the lake bund during that dangerous night. He returned back to his place as he was already wet but was still thinking of those two strange young men.
The next morning Blaze woke up and saw that the rains stopped and the sun shining. Anxious about the status of the lake, he came out and understood that there was no flooding the previous night and the bund withstood all the waters. He was too happy and went rushing to the temple to share the news with the priests. The priests were happy and welcomed him inside the temple. This time, Blaze who was in a relaxed state of mind, peacefully entered the temple and accepted the respects from the temple priests. During that time the sanctum was closed as the Alankaaram (decoration) was going on for the deities.
Once the doors of the sanctum opened, Blaze was shocked to see the same two young men who were wandering with bow and arrows the previous night along the lake bund, being worshipped. He couldn’t control himself and explained the priests what he saw the previous night. The priests were too happy to hear him and everyone realized that those two young men were Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana only who have saved the village from the threatening lake.
From then onwards, people fondly started calling Sri Rama here as ‘Eri Kaatha Raamar’. Blaze, as promised, immediately arranged to build the shrine for Sri Janakavalli Thaayaar, which is present at the south western side of the temple. Sri Janakavalli Thaayaar is so beautiful and is decorated with wonderful ornaments.
Architecture
The presiding deity of the temple is Rama with his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana. The images are made of stucco as is the case in some of the temples like Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram. The Moolavar is in a standing position facing east and is around 8 feet (2 m) tall.
There are different shrines around the sanctum and one of them is that of Sita who is worshipped as Janakavalli.
Temple Photos
Videos from YouTube
Presiding Deity
Bhagwan Ram🙏
Bhagwan Narasimha with Weapons
Be A True Devotee
Worship your Isht in your tradition .
But a passive worship is a total waste of your time and energy .
For True Worship ,a devotee MUST master the use of weapons the Deity bears.
The weapons of Bhagwan Ram are Bow and arrows.
Remember, for a Sanatani, Shastra (Weapon) and Shaastra (Holy Book) go together 🙏
Always carry the weapons of respective deity like Gada,Sword and Trishula.
How to use? Where available? Legal issues?
Email us at <mandirdarshan.org@gmail.com>
Timing
7AM to 8 PM
The winter season is perfect to visit the place as it is so hot in Summers in South which can cause dificulties to visit.
Aarti Timing
Basic Facilities
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Famous Temples Nearby
Thulukkanathamman Temple Chitravadi
Ayyanarappan Kovil
ARULMIGU MARIAMMAN THIRUKOVIL
Radha Rukmani Sametha Sri venugopla Swamy chitravadi
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Address: Hospital Rd, Maduranthakam, Tamil Nadu 603306Phone: 044 2755 2495
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All necessary precautionary measures have been taken at the shrine premises and base camps adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
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Modes of Travel
Maduranthakam is on the Trichy-Chennai highway (NH45) at a distance of 89 km from Chennai and 25 km from Chengalpattu. There are several buses travelling to Maduranthakam from Chennai. Maduranthakam also has its own railway station, with suburban trains going towards Melmaruvathur stopping here.
- The best way to reach the temple is by reach Madurantakam which is a town and a municipality in Chengalpattu district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is known for the artificial and second largest lake in Tamil Nadu, the Maduranthakam lake. It is said to have been built by the Chola King Uttama Chola, also called as Maduranthaka, during his reign.
- Madurantakam is served by town bus service, which provides connectivity within the town and the nearby villages. All buses are operating from the Bus stand which is located in the heart of the town. The State Express Transport Corporation operates buses connecting the town to other places like Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Uthiramerur, Thirukazhukundram and the places like Cuddalore, Cheyyur, Chunampet on the ECR routes.
- Madurantakam railway station belongs to the Chennai railway division and is officially coded as MMK. All passenger and local trains in Chennai–Villupuram route have a halt here and only a few express trains halt.
- The village Chitravadi is located in Maduranthakam Taluk of Chengalpattu District in the State of Tamil Nadu in India. It is governed by Avirimedu Gram Panchayat. It comes under Maduranthakam Community Development Block. The nearest town is Maduranthakam, which is about 7 kilometers away from Chitravadi.
- The village is connected by public bus services. Private buses services are available for the village.
- The distance between Chitravadi to Madurantakam is 8 Km by road. You can also find the distance from Chitravadi to Madurantakam using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. Apart from the trip distance, refer Directions from Chitravadi to Madurantakam for road driving directions!
Visitors’ views about the Temple
Address for Visiting and Donation Purpose
Eri Katha Rama Temple
Address: GV5M+X97, Maduranthakam, Tamil Nadu 603306