The historic Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple at Vontimitta in Kadapa district has been spruced up for the Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavams commencing on April 14.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will present silk clothes and pearls for ‘talambralu’ to the presiding deities on Sri Seetharama kalyanotsavam on April 20.
Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple is unique as the idols of Sri Rama, Sita Devi and Sri Lakshmana are carved out of a single stone. Another unique feature of the temple is the absence of Lord Hanuman in the sanctum sanctorum or anywhere in the temple. The Matli kings subsequently constructed Sri Sanjeevaraya temple in front of Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple with Lord Hanuman in it.
The sanctum sanctorum, mantapam and gopuram of the temple were built way back in 1356 AD, followed by an internal mantapam in Vijayanagar rule and in the third phase, Anantaraju, a king of Matli dynasty, was said to have constructed a maha mantapam based on 32 imposing pillars and a very big eastern gopuram.
Tiruvengalanatha Raju and his son Anantha Raju constructed a mahaprakaram, the northern and southern gopurams, kalyana mantapam, kitchen, mantapam for ‘edurukolu’ during kalyanotsavam.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Chairman Chadalavada Krishnamurthy and Executive Officer Sambasiva Rao have approved developmental works in the temple at Vontimitta.
As part of it, the roof and sanctum sanctorum of Sri Sanjeevaraya temple were repaired and the ‘vimana gopuram’ was reconstructed. Chief priest of the temple Veena Raghavacharyulu and priests Sravan Kumar and Pavan Kumar consecrated the vimana gopuram kalasam and performed ‘kumbhaprokshana’ on Monday, after performing navakalasa snapanam and sahasrnama archana for Sri Sanjeevaraya Swamy.
The sprawling Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple has been colourfully illuminated and streets around the temple illuminated with high-mast lighting. A temporary kalyana mantapam was being built, queue lines and pandals were put up for the devotees.
Boating bhavan
A boating bhavan was built with an outlay of Rs. 19 lakh near Kattameeda Anjaneya Swamy temple and boating for devotees would begin in Vontimitta tank from Sri Ramana Navami festival, Tourism Corporation divisional manager Prasada Reddy said. Trial run of the boating was successful, he said.
Governor and Chief Minister will present silk clothes to the presiding deities on April 20
