Vaduvur Sri Kodhandaramaswamy Temple

Ever since I heard about The Vaduvur Ramar temple and its presiding deity the bewitching Kodandaramar, I have been yearning for His darshan. It is said that “When you long passionately to visit a kshetram, it will pull you towards it soon” This is exactly what happened to me when during a planned trip to Kumbakonam, my long felt desire to have the darshan of Sri Rama at Vaduvur materialised without a hitch.

Vaduvur is the Abhimana sthalam of Sri Vishnu. This place is also known as Vagularanya Kshtetram and Bhaskara Kshetram. It is also known by the name of Dakshina Ayodhya.

Vaduvur is located at 24 Kms from Tanjavur and 14 kms from Mannargudi. We travelled by road to Mannargudi and Vaduvur and the roads were quite good. On reaching the renowned temple, we noticed that it was luckily not crowded giving us the assurance of an unhurried and good darshan with none to hustle us. I wanted to see the Kodandaramar peacefully, enjoy each aspect of the temple and I must say that I am blessed to have had such a divine darshan. Kodandaramar temple follows the principle of Vedanta Desika and is a vadagalai temple.The walls of the Praharam are adorned with paintings depicting Ramayana. The imposing Dwajastahmbam and the vimanam catch your undivided attention as you enter the temple

As we entered the temple, we saw the majestic moolavar of Sri Kodandaramar with his Consort Sita, along with Lakshmana and Anjaneyar. Rama is seen wearing a garland of saligramam with a  Mahalakshmi Pendant. As my eye shifted to the ever praised Utsavar Sri Kodandaramar, I was struck by his unparalleled beauty and enigmatic charm. It seemed to me that whatever I had heard about his beauty and exquisite looks from many was a mere  understatement. The actual experience far surpassed the human explanations.  I could not lift my eyes that were transfixed on Him. One has to experience the joy and thrill of seeing His majesty and grandeur that is indescribable in mere words-Every part of his figure is beautiful that one can gaze endlessly in supreme satisfaction. See him for yourself and get mesmerised by his bewitching smile! When a devotee sees him ardently He invariably brings a smile on his face.

Kambar who wrote Kamba Ramayanam breaks into raptures explaining Rama’s beauty in these lines meaning that whatever part the devotees saw shoulders, feet, or hands they lost themselves in its beauty unable to wrench their eyes from it to savour the beauty of the other or the whole figure.

தோள் கண்டார். தோளே கண்டார்.

  தொடு கழல் கமலம் அன்ன

தாள் கண்டார். தாளே கண்டார்;

  தடக் கை கண்டாரும். அஃதே;

வாள் கொண்ட கண்ணார் யாரே.

  வடிவினை முடியக்கண்டார்?-

ஊழ் கொண்ட சமயத்து அன்னான்

  உருவு கண்டாரை ஒத்தார்.

I did not pray for anything in particular. It was a high moment I wanted to just live, seeing him, observing him, smiling at him .It was a moment of total bliss!! Well, I am at a loss for words to express adequately the divine feel and attraction of his magnificent personality. I was overwhelmed by his beauty, grace and benevolence. Let me allow you to enjoy the moment looking at him too when you get the occasion

TEMPLE HISTORY:

Initially Sri Rajagopala swamy with Rukmini and Satyabama were the presiding deities of this temple.The story goes that, when Rama was returning to Ayodhya after 14 years after having defeated Ravana, he stayed at the Hermitage of some Rishis. They pleaded with him that Sri Rama should stay with them for ever. As Rama had promised Bharata that he would return, he asked Vishwakarma to make his enchanting form and left it just outside the Ashram. Next day when the Rishis, saw this beautiful idol, they were hypnotised by this beautiful divine form and allowed Rama to proceed on the condition that he would  leave this statue behind..Rama smiled and left for Ayodhya leaving  behind the idol.

As years rolled by, Rama appeared in the dream of King Saraboji II who ruled Tanjavur then. He asked the king to unearth the statues that were buried under the Bodhi sattva tree at Thalai Gnayiru. Next morning the king  unearthed the idols and proceeded towards Tanjavur. He decided to break his journey for some rest at Vaduvur. The villagers on hearing about the idols requested the king to leave them behind at the temple. The king initially refused to do so, but relented when the villagers threatened to commit suicide by jumping from the gopuram. These are the divine idols that we are lucky to see them in this temple today.

The sannidhis in the temple are:

Kodhandaramar with sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya

Hayagreevar

Andal

Rajagopala with Bhama and Rukmini

Vedanta Desikar

Manavala Maamunigal

The sthalam Vruksham here is Vagula Maram

Pushkarni is known by the name of Rama Theertham

Vimana is  called as Pushpaka Vimanam

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Morning 8.00 AM- 12.30 PM

Evening 4.30 PM- 8.30PM

To know more about the temple click the link given to go to the temple web page:VADUVUR SRI KOTHANDARAMASWAMY TEMPLE

Hope you enjoyed reading about this temple and seeing the  beautiful pictures and am sure you will visit the temple soon
Picture Courtsey:: SRI Parthan Ponnadi, Vaduvur Kothandaramaramaswamy Temple