Rama provides darshan in four different attires on Rama Navami
Presentation of Desigar's Raghuveera Gadyam praising Rama's Qualities
Rama Navami was celebrated in a grand manner at the
Chozha Period Eri Kaatha Rama temple in Madurantakam ( http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2008/11/madurantakam-eri-kaatha-raamar.html) on Wednesday (9 April). On
the occasion, Lord Rama, one of the two Utsava deities at the temple, provided
darshan in four different attires.
Sankshepa Ramayana Parayanam
The day long celebrations began with Lord Rama providing
Vishwaroopa Darshan at 730am in a special Thiru Kolam - ‘Lord with a Plait’.
For the next couple of hours, Lord Rama listened to the sweet rendition of 218
verses of Sankshepa Ramayana and Paduka Pattabhishekam led by TE Madhavan, the
hereditary Theerthakar at the temple (Interestingly, Madhavan is currently
working on his P. HD in Metallurgy at IIT Madras but does not miss the Rama
Navami, Brahmotsavam and Adhyayana Utsavam Celebrations).
Following the Ekantha Sevai at 11am, the team of
priests led by Seshadri Bhattar performed a special Thirumanjana for over
2hours in front of several hundred devotees who had gathered at the temple on
this festive occasion. Lord Rama was smeared with sandalwood paste, honey, and special
turmeric powder, among other things. One could see the pleased Lord smiling at
his devotees at the end of the holy bath.
Madhavan was back at the end of the Thirumanjana to
present Vedantha Desigar’s Gadyam that provide insights into description of the
handsome features of the Lord from ‘Head to Toe’.
Vaira Mudi Sevai
After a couple of hours of rest on the hot Panguni
day, Lord Rama was back at 4pm displaying his third attire of the day – Thiru Aabharana
Alankara combined with the Vaira Mudi Sevai as part of the Avathara Aradhana. This
time, for an hour Lord Rama enjoyed the beautiful Perumal Thirumozhi Divya
Prabhandham verses of Kulasekara Azhwar. Following this, Madhavan along with
Dharanidharan Bhattar presented in a rapid fast paced style ‘Raghuveera Gadyam’,
where Vedanta Desigar praises the ‘Veera’ qualities of Lord Rama.(http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2014/04/raghuveera-gadyam-vedanta-desigar.html)
The celebrations culminated with the much awaited ‘Muthu
Kondai’ display. Seated on the Pushpaka Vimana, just after 8pm, Lord Rama,
along with Sita and Lakshmana, provided darshan in this fourth and most handsome
looking attire during his 3hour procession around the Mada streets and it was
230am when the Lord was finally put to sleep - Sayanam. This is one of the only
two occasions in the year that Lord Rama comes out on Street Procession (the
other being on the 7th day of Brahmotsavam). It is the other Utsava
deity Karunakara Perumal who is the processional idol on all other festive
occasions.
Legend has it that Rama landed here with Sita on the
Pushpaka Vimana after killing Ravana to fulfil the promise that he had earlier
made to Vibandaka Rishi.
The story goes that Vibandaka Rishi’s son Rishya
Singar helped King Dasharatha conduct the Putra Kameshti Yaagam which resulted
in the birth of Rama. In his search for Sita, Rama and Lakshmana reached
Vibandaka Rishi’s ashram here in Madurantakam. The Rishi gave Rama the
confidence that he would be able to locate Sita and wanted him to visit this
place on his return trip and provide Darshan along with Sita. Hence Rama is
seen in a Kalyana Kolam at this temple with him holding the hand of Sita.
On the 3rd day of Thai, Karunakara Perumal
goes on a procession to Nyana Giri Parvatham, the hill where Rama is believed
to have descended on his Pushpaka Vimana.
No Hanuman inside the temple
A unique feature at this temple is the absence of
Hanuman inside the temple. As Rama had sent Hanuman as a messenger to inform
Bharata that he was on his way and did not come along with Rama in the Pushpaka
Vimana, Hanuman is not seen inside the temple.
Having presented the idol of Lord Ranganatha to the new
Lankan king Vibheeshana, Lord Rama is said to have invoked the blessings of
Karunakara Perumal who was his aradhana idol.
The meeting of Ramanuja with
Periya Nambi
It was here that Ramanuja met with his Acharya Periya
Nambi and was initiated with the Pancha Samskaram. In memory of this special
event, one finds a separate Sannidhi for Ramanuja and Periya Nambi.
Quick Facts
Moolavar :
Kothanda Rama in a Kalyana Kolam
Goddess :
Janaka Valli Thaayar (Separate Sannidhi)
Utsavar :
1. Karunakara Perumal
2.
Rama
Temple Time :
730am-12noon and 430pm-830pm
Contact : Seshadri Bhattar @97868 66800
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