Sri Rama Navami reinforces belief in the good and virtuous, in the Supreme being, in forbearance and endurance. The Madurantakam Erikatha Kodhandaramar temple is a unique site, proof of the Lord's infinite grace.
Located near Chennai, along the Tiruchi highway, this ancient place was known as Vibandakasramam, in Bakularanyam, fragrant with the Bakula blooms. Vibandaka, father of Rishyasringar, one of the key characters in the Ramayana, was blessed here with a vision of Rama in His ‘kalyanakolam.'
Brahmaputras had beseeched Narayana for salvation, and Brahma had given them the idol of Karunakaramurthi to be worshipped here, along with the idols of Sridevi and Bhoodevi, to realise their dreams. Rama Himself worshipped these idols here, during His stopover, made for Vibandaka's sake. The same idols are the utsavamurtis that are taken out as processional deities today. Over 1,000 villages were donated to Brahmins by Uthama Chola, the Chola king, for them to chant, and preserve the Vedas. Hence, it also had the old name of Madurantaka Chaturvedamangalam.
A simple temple tower greets one, and inside is an air of tranquility. The huge salagrama idols of the moolavar are absolutely stunning, with a unique pose of Rama gently holding Sita's hand, a pose held while assisting Her to alight from the Pushpakavimanam here, while stopping en route to Ayodhya, from Lanka. Lakshmana stands next to Rama. Hanuman is missing in this ensemble, as he had been sent to Nandigram, to inform Bharata of Rama's imminent return. Hanuman came back from this errand to see the idols in the sanctum.
The temple tank
A separate shrine for Hanuman stands by the temple tank outside, known as the Ramachandra Pushkarani. An ancient underground passage is said to have connected the temple and tank. Near the hatch inside the temple were found some personal objects of worship, belonging to Ramanujar, now kept in safety. Uniquely, the idol of this great sage is draped in white here, and not in the usual saffron. Idols of deities such as Chakrathazhwar and Lakshminarasimhar too are worshipped here.
Sita, worshipped as Janakivalli, has a separate shrine. Documented history states that this shrine was built by the English Collector Lionel Place [frequently spelt differently], around 1795.
A huge rainwater bund at Madurantakam was threatening to breach, with torrential rain. A pile of granite stones stored near the temple was spotted by the Collector, who wanted to use them to shore up the bund, for the safety of the town. The priests told him they were meant for a shrine for Sita, provoking the Englishman into retorting as to why their blessed lord did not protect them from the flood.
That night the Collector himself kept a worried watch on the rising waters, when he saw the vision of Rama and Lakshmana keeping guard, protecting the town. The very next day, with the waters abating, work was started on Sita's shrine by the Englishman, who became a staunch devotee.
Tyagaraja kritis
Sri Rama Navami, in March-April is celebrated here for ten days, as is Brahmotsavam in June-July. Tyagaraja's songs on Rama are etched on stone slabs in the mandapam in front of the sanctum.
Even with all this sanctity, this ancient temple does not attract even one-third the number of devotees seen at the cave temple shrine of Singaperumalkoil, found on the way back to Chennai city, near Guduvanchery, housing Lakshmi Narasimhar.
Being a ‘paadalpetrasthalam,' devotees are encouraged to sing both traditional Carnatic music and devotional songs here. Sadly, the hoary Rama temple has seen funds mismanaged, and jewels looted, in the recent past.
More important, floodwaters have not threatened here – it is believed the Lord is keeping a watch over the lake perennially.
