Friday, September 8, 2017

Mudikondan Kothandaramar Temple – The Temple

Mudikondan Kothandaramar Temple – The Temple
The arch on the road forms the main entrance to the temple and there is no Raja gopuram. As you enter the temple through the arch you will be welcomed by the grand look of a crown. The Vimanam of the main Sannathi will be visible like that of a crown. This visual has a special significance to this temple legend. Presiding Deity is Kothandaramar with Mother Sita on the left and brother Lakshmana on the right holding the bow Kothandam in the sanctum sanctorum and a shrine to Hanuman outside the sanctum sanctorum.








Lord Rama is seen in a unique and rare posture with three bends in his body- the face is seen in one direction, the hip in another and the leg in a third bend. This posture is referred to as ‘Uthama Lakshana’. Generally, temples for Rama are constructed facing South so that Vibishana, after his coronation following the end of Ravana, could ever worship Rama in the North. But the Mudikondan Temple is facing east as Bharadhwaja Rishi wanted to have the Dharshan of Sri Rama with Sita and Lakshmana with his crown.








Instead, Sri Ranganatha shrine installed by Sage Bharadhwaja is installed facing South. The procession deity is very beautifully made with his neck and hip bending with his Kodandam and arrow in hand. Ramatheertham is located behind the temple. Perhaps this is the only temple where Sri Anjaneya is absent in the Sanctum Sanctorum. He was angry for some reasons and has his shrine opposite the sanctum sanctorum.








The separate Sannathi of Hanuman is facing the main temple and on the banks of the temple tank known as “Sri Rama Tirtham”. The Sannathi has a small mandapam in the front. Sri Anjaneya the best devotee of Sri Rama is seen as ‘Anjali hastan’ (with folded hands). The temple is believed to have come into being even before the times of Alwars.








Alangudi Swamigal Ashram:
Sri Swamigal belongs to the village Alangudi near this place. Srimath Bagawatham was inspiration for Sri Swamigal. The Sanyasa ashram name of Sri Swamigal is “swyam pragasanantha swamigal”. But people know him as Sri Alangudi Swamigal. He had read Srimath Bhagavatam many times as the tradition and prescribed rules during his life time. He had inculcated this tradition to many devotees of Srimath Bhagavatam. Even today there are many devotees who come to this village for reading Srimath Bhagavatham in the traditional way in the Sri Alangudi Swamigal mutt. The reading of Srimath Bagavatham is continues in this mutt. Mutt continues to attract Srimath Bagavatham devotees, where recitation of these verses reverberates and revitalize the devotee.