Sri Ramar Temple of Maduranthagam.

Sri Ramar Temple of Maduranthagam.



Maduranthagam is about 77 kms to south of Chennai, 12 kms from Melmaruvathoor and about 23 kms from Chengalpet, in Kancheepuram District.


This temple is one of Abimana sthalam






We see pushkarani in front of the temple






View of temple main Gopuram from inside.







As we enter inside we see Dwajasthambam and a mandapam leading us to main sanctum.



Main Deity is Karunakara Perumal in standing posture.
Urchavar, of this temple is known, as Karunakara Perumal / Periya Perumal.
We see deity of Sri Ramar, Seetha and Lakshmana in the main sanctum. Here Lord Sri Ramar is holding the hands of Seetha. Vipandaka Maharishi is seen worshiping Lord Rama inside the main sanctum.




Here, Thayar is seen in separate sanctum and known as Janakavalli Thayar. She is daughter of King Janaka, so she is known as Janakavalli.







Chakkrathazhwar is seen in separate sanctum. Yantrais installed here in this sanctum. Worshiping the Lord and yantra together gives good result. At the back of Chakrathazwar, we see Yoga Narashimar on serpant.



Sri Ramanujar was initated by Perriya Nambi, as mentioned in Pancharatra Sastra. Here in this temple Sri Ramanujar is seen in white dress.



The place is famous for a huge lake which would breach every year after the monsoon
rains, and farmers faced heavy loss. Collector Colonel Lionel tried to strengthen the lake boundaries, many a time but it was a failure. Once when English Collector, Colonel Lionel visited the temple, he was very much attracted by the temple built many decades ago. Temple authorities requested him to help them, with funds to construct a separate sanctum for Thayar.



Collector who was very much upset, by the collapse of tank’s waste weir, promised to build the shrine, if Goddess can stop the breach of tank during monsoon.



During the monsoon time when he camped at Maduranthangam, the tank was full to brim. In the night when he went to have a look at the Lake which was full, he saw Sri Rama and Lakshmana keeping guard of the tank. He felt happy and as assured he started the construction work of a separate sanctum for Goddess.



The Legend says in Bagularanyam, sage Vipandakar did penance and performed pooja to Lord Karunakaran. Sri Rama and Lakshmana stayed in this place for few days when they left for Vanavasam. Sri Rama promised to visit the place again on his return to Ayodhya. When he was returning by pushpaka Vimanam, he stopped and gave darshan to Vipandaka muni. Hence the place is known as Madhuranthakam.







There is a separate sanctum forAnjaneyar, near the Pushkarani which is opposite to the temple.

Sri Ranganadha Swamy temple of Srirangapatnam, Mandya District, Karnataka.

Ranganadha Swamy temple of Sri Rangapatnam:



The place Sri Rangapatnam is in Mandya District of Karnataka, which is about 16 kms from Mysore. It is situated on an island on the banks of River Cauvery.The place is on Bangalore Mysore highway.







There are three islands on the River Cauvery. One is Adi Ranga at Srirangapatnam; second one is Madhya Ranga at Sivasamudram and Anthya Ranga at Srirangam.
In all these three islands, the temple is dedicated to Sri Ranganadhar. Here in Srirangapatnam the River Cauvery is flowing as Paschima Vahini and the place is considered auspicious to perform rituals here.




Main deity is Swayambu Saligrama Moorthy of Sri Ranganadha Swamy in Yoga sayanam {sleeping posture} on Adiseshan with seven heads. Goddess Cauvery is seen near his feet with flower in her hand. Ranganayaki thayar is the main goddesss of this temple.



Other deities seen, within the temple premises are Lord Srinivasar, Sri Krishna, Lakshmi Narashimar, Sudarshnar, Gajendra Varadhar, Garudazwar and Aanjaneyar.



We see beautiful sculptures carved to the pillars in the temple which is known as Chatur Vimsathi Sthambam. The entire prakaram is beautifully painted with mythological stories.



History says the temple building was constructed by Rulers of Ganga dynasty in 9th century. Later the Rulers of Vijayanagara Empire, Hoysala Kings and Mysore Wodeyar kings have contributed in expansion of the temple structure.



Sthala purana says Gowthama Rishi visited this place during his tour to religious places. Gowthama Rishi penance here for darshan of Lord who was pleased with him and gave darshan to him in sleeping posture. Rishi requested Lord to stay back in the place in same form. Lord said his idol is there in an ant hill {Putru in Tamil} in this place. He asked him to remove and install in that place. Rishi Gowthamar did as he was told, and he found an idol which he named as Sri Ranganadhar and he installed it in this place Sri Rangapatnam. Vimanam was constructed by Lord Brahma and it is known as Brahmanada Vimanam.




Importance: River Cauvery is considered sacred and during the month of Sep/ Oct of the year, all River Goddess take a dip in River Cauvery to purify them. Due to this River Cauvery felt she was impure, and she worshiped Sri Ranganadhar to bless her. Lord Sri Ranganadhar was happy with her worship and blessed her and she was allowed to stay near his padam to have darshan for ever. River Cauvery flows here as a garland for Lord Sri Ranganadhar to show her deep respect. Here the main deity Sri Ranganadhar is seen in sayana posture and the place came to be known as Sri Rangapatnam.