The over 1,000-year-old Ramaswamy temple, at Cheranmahadevi, that was in a state of disrepair, received a fresh lease of life with the samprokshanam held in January. For the past 100 years no renovation work was undertaken at the temple, one of the few in the country with Ashtanga Vimanam similar to the one at Thirukoshtiyur, Parameswara Vinnagaram (Kanchipuram) and Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam.
The three-tiered vimanam has Vishnu in three different postures — Parkadalnathan reclining atop Adhisesha, in a sitting posture in the middle-tier as Veetriruntha Perumal and in a standing posture in the lower tier (Aadhi Narayanan) .
The temple that once celebrated festivals in a grand manner had literally been in darkness, with no oil to light lamps. An 11th Century inscription records praise for Vaikanasas for lighting lamps. So committed were they that they pledged themselves to maintaining a perpetual lamp at the temple. And they were to be levied a penalty of double the quantity of ghee if they failed in their duty. There were several more gifts made for lighting the lamp, which clearly indicates that the daily routine was well taken care of.
Not just the lamps, the overall security of the temple too was taken utmost care of. There’s mention of a piece of land as gift by the merchant guild for maintenance of a security guard (Thiru Meiykaappu) at the temple. It was also an indication of a thriving economy. Donations were made not only for lamps and security, but for conducting special worship during festivals such as the10-day unjal utsavam in Iyppasi, Garuda Sevai on the last Saturday of Purattasi, Brahmotsavam in Chithirai , Chariot festival (indicating the temple had a chariot) on the 10th day and teerthavari on the 11th day . There was also a 10-day festival celebrated for Anjaneya and a Theppotsavam in Margazhi.
However in the last few decades the temple had lost its grandeur with the vimanam in a dilapidated state. The outer walls were in poor condition and even the ‘mooligai’ painting on the moolavar idol in each of the three tiers had withered. There was no oil to light the lamps and the Lord was left to guard himself without even a vastram. And most of the festivals including the Brahmotsavam were stopped.
The temple received a facelift recently. The entire temple complex got a fresh coat of paint. It was nice to see moolavar idols anointed with bright and colourful ‘mooligai’ painting. While earlier the entrance to the first and second tiers was through the maha mandapam from the inside, a new staircase has been constructed for the devotees to visit the top tiers from the outer prakaram. The outer walls too are sporting a new look. All the ancient inscriptions have been left intact. Other additions include a new lighting system for the temple, flooring and a security gate leading up to the sanctum.
Hope the temple will once again come alive during festivals. The temple is open from 8 a.m.-10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.-8 p.m.
How to reach : Buses are available every 15 minutes from Tirunelveli to Cheranmahadevi. The temple is 30 km from Nambi divyadesam at Thiru Kurungudi and 20 km from Kulasekara Azhwar Rajagopalaswamy temple in Mannarkoil (Ambai). While at Cheranmahadevi, also visit the ancient Appan Venkatachalapathy temple, one km north to this temple.
