The Hereditary Priest Kothandarama Bhattar
has not participated in a single event outside of the temple in three decades having committed
himself fully to Veera Kothandarama at Thillai Vilagam
48 year Kothandarama Bhattar
decided even as a young boy that he would dedicate his entire life to the
service of Veera Kothandarama at the Dhandakaranya Kshetram of Thillai Vilagam,
one whose legend dates back to the Ramayana. After defeating Ravana, and on his
way back to Ayodhya, Rama stayed here in the ashram of Baradwaja Rishi. The five feet tall Moolavar Rama at Thillai Vilagam is seen in a majestic posture
sporting a handsome smile. To his right is Sita seen in a Kalyana Kolam. Kothandarama provides a ‘Tribangi’ Sevai at
Thillai Vilagam. The neck has one kind of a curve, the hip a different curve
and the leg another curve but all three are in a straight line, a truly unique
posture.
Devotional
Commitment of Bhattar
Kothandarama Bhattar was
initiated into the agamas by the renowned Kizhayur Sowmya Narayanan Bhattar and
Koneri Raja Puram Srinivasa Bhattar. He came into the temple as a young
teenager in the 1980s and has been here for three decades. Earlier, his father
had performed service at the temple for several decades. He has not performed a
single samprokshanam or participated in a homam outside of the temple. Even
when a wedding takes place inside the temple, he does not participate though
there has been an opportunity to make money out of the event. His devotional
commitment and attachment is only to Lord Rama and hence does not associate
with anything other than service to the Lord. He also doubles up as the cook at the temple to present Thaligai every day to the Lord. Number of devotees do not make a difference to him for he performs aradhana to the Lord irrespective of the presence of devotees engaged in a one on one interaction with the Lord.
During the days of Kothandarama
Bhattar’s childhood in the 1970s, there was a long agraharam on the South
Street with at least 20 traditional families residing in big numbers. Today
there are just three – One Bhattar Family, one Gurukal Family and a Purohit.
Unmindful of the exodus of the traditionalists, Kothandarama Bhattar stuck to
the Lord and has never left Thillai Vilagam for a Samprokshanam or a Homam in
search of financial glory. As a hereditary archaka, he is not paid salary for the daily service. Over the last three decades, Thattu Kaasu, if any, has been the only source of income to him for his temple Kainkaryam.
Grand Panguni Brahmotsavam
Brahmotsavam is celebrated in a
grand way at the temple with experienced priests from Divya Desams anchoring
the decoration of the Lord. Staying here through the 11 days of the Utsaavam, Raman
Bhattar from Nathan Koil has been conducting the Brahmotsavam festivities over
the last many years while Kalyanarama Bhattar of Senkalipuram had managed the
annual utsavam in the decades gone by. The Villagers from in and around Thillai
Vilagam come together during the Brahmotsavam to take care of the entire expenses
with each village managing a day’s Utsavam. The Brahmotsavam also sees the
villagers organizing traditional events including Bommalattam, folk dances as
well as debates on epics. The Vahana Procession starts every evening after 10pm
and goes on till midnight.
On the 10th day of the
utsavam, Rama Pattabhibhisekam is performed with the Lord seen with a special
crown. The Deer Vahana Procession on the 11th day of the
Brahmotsavam is a speciality at the temple.
Distinctive Features of Rama
The Moolavar idol of Kothandarama
is believed to be at least a 1000years old. Rama is holding the bow in his left
hand. On a close look at his hands, one is able to see the nerves, the ring and
his sharp nails. One is also able to see the sharp distinctive fingers on each
hand just like a human hand. On his right hand, Rama is seen holding the arrow
that contains the writing ‘Rama Saram’, the only one of its kind in a Rama
temple. These writings refer to his philosophy of life – Oru Sol (Rama would
not go back on the word he has given), Oru Il (Only one wife – he would not
look at another woman) and Oru Vil (The special bow).
Another interesting
feature of the moolvar Rama is the distinctive marks. One is able to also see
clearly the nerves and moles on the legs of Lord Rama. Also, one is able to see
the knee cap on both the legs of the lord. On his left leg, one finds the Raksha bandhan tied by mother Kausalya when Rama was young to protect him from evil forces.
Anjaneya’s Dasa
Posture
Anjaneya is seen in a Dasa
Posture with his right hand close to his mouth in a whispering posture. Belief
is that presenting curd rice to Anjaneya at this temple would liberate the
devotee from problem associated with marriage and navagriha dosham.
In recent years, the devotee crowd has increased with around 25 devotees visiting the temple on Saturday to perform archanai. Aadi Amavasai and Thai Amavasai days are sacred at this temple. Couples who bathe in the tank West of the temple on either of these two days are believed to be blessed with children. Once a month, devotees, mostly those from nearby villages, perform Thirumanjanam on their birthdays/wedding days.
In recent years, the devotee crowd has increased with around 25 devotees visiting the temple on Saturday to perform archanai. Aadi Amavasai and Thai Amavasai days are sacred at this temple. Couples who bathe in the tank West of the temple on either of these two days are believed to be blessed with children. Once a month, devotees, mostly those from nearby villages, perform Thirumanjanam on their birthdays/wedding days.
Hereditary
Trustees
The Pancha Loka idols of the
Thillai Vilagam Rama temple were found buried in the ground to the west of the
temple in the early 19th century by Velu Thevar. The temple in its
current form was built subsequent to that by Velu Thevar, whose clan are now
the hereditary trustees of the temple.
Chidambareswarar
Temple
Just adjacent to the Kothandarama
temple is the Chidambareswarar Umayambigai temple dedicated to Lord Shiva,
where one also finds the idol of Nataraja. The two temples of Shiva and Rama are seen next to
each other almost in the same complex with an entrance on the Northern side of
the Rama temple into the Shiva temple similar to the Chidambaram Temple (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/05/chidambaram-thiruchitrakoodam.html). It is in this context that the place
came to be referred to as ‘Thillai’ Vilagam. Renovation works have been
pending for almost 25 years at the Shiva temple but is expected to begin early in 2020.
Pancha Rama Temples
Veera
Kothandarama at Thillai Vilagam is similar in facial posture to the ones at Baalya Rama, Mudikondan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/12/mudikondan-jawahar-bhattar.html), Hathambavur Rama at Sri Vanjiyam, Eri Kaatha Rama at Madurantakam ( http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/11/madurantakam-eri-kaatha-raamar.html) and Saligrama Rama at Punnai Nallur (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/01/saligrama-kothandaramar-koil-punnai.html).
The temple is open from 830am-1230pm and 5pm-8pm Contact Kothandarama
Bhattar @ 80568 56894.
How to reach
Thillai Vilagam is 30kms South of
Mannaragudi Rajagopalaswamy Temple off the Tiruvarur / Thiruthuraipoondi
Muthupet highway 19 kms East of Thiruthuraipoondi and 6kms West of Muthupet. Buses ply every 30minutes from
Thiruthuraipoondi to Muthupet. One should get down at Gopala Samudram. Mini bus
will take one to the temple (2kms). From
Tiruvarur, cab to the temple and back will cost Rs. 1250. One can also reach
the temple from Pattukottai (35kms) or Vedaranyam (40kms).
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