Sri Kodanda Rama Temple - Tirupati
The Temple is dedicated to
Lord Rama an incarnation of Vishnu along with Sita and Lakshmana. The idols of the main deities of the temple Lord Rama Goddess Sita and Sri Lakshmana are very
big in a standing position. Goddess Sita is to the right of Lord Shri Rama and
Sri Lakshmana is to his left. Both Lord Rama and Sri Lakshmana carry a bow
and arrow in their left and right hands respectively.
The high significance of this
temple owes to its mentions in Puranas, sacred Hindu scriptures. According to
legends, after the war and 14 years of exile, when Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and
Lord Lakshmana were returning to Ayodhya, they stayed at this place for a
night.
Like no other temple here Sri Anjaneya swami has a temple directly opposite to the Main temple complex.
Kodanda Rama Swamy temple
faces West direction, built in the Vijayanagara Style of Architecture. Kodanda
Rama Swamy temple has a three-tier Gopuram with seven Kalasas above on top. The
Antarala and Garbhagriha of the main shrine of Kodandarama are at a higher
level than the Mukha Mandapa. They stand on a 5' 6" high adhisthana which
contains from the bottom.
There are two small four-pillared mandapas in the southwest and northwest corners of the courtyard.
This shrine is situated in the center of the western side of the Maha Mandapa
and houses two armed standing Garuda with their hands in Anjali pose. This
Mandapam contains four pillars. Each pillar has three square blocks with two
Octagonal shafts in between. The capitals are in the Vijayanagara Style. There
are interesting sculptures on the square blocks of the pillars. The pradakshina
around the Garbhagriha and Antarala contains six pillars on the north, two
pillars on the east, and six pillars on the south. The capitals of all these
pillars are in the Vijayanagara style. There is about four feet wide space
between the pradakshina wall and the Adhisthana of Garbhagriha and
Antarala.
According to legends, after
the war and 14 years of exile, when Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lord Lakshmana
were returning to Ayodhya, they stayed at this place for a night.
Jambhavanta, an elderly wise Vanara in the kingdom of Sugreeva once saw a cave
here and the brightest light was coming out of the cave. He asked Lord Sri Rama what it was. Lord Rama said it is the light of God. Jambavanta then
established God’s idol there and worshiped him. By this legend, this temple is
said to have been in existence since Treta Yuga in which period Lord Ram lived.
According to Varaha Purana, during Tretayugam, Lord Sri Rama resided here along
with Sita Devi and Lakshmana on his return from Lankapuri.
This temple celebrates Rama Navami with great splendour, starting with Hanumantha Vahana Seva on the day of the festival, followed by Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam on Dasami, and Sri Rama Pattabhisheka Mahotsavam on Ekadasi. The temple's other major yearly event is the nine-day brahmotsavams, which takes place between March and April each year. In April, the temple will hold its annual three-day Teppotsavams (Float Festival), during which the procession of Sri Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana will be carried on a float in Sri Ramachandra Pushkarini.
Comments
Post a Comment