Saidapet is located in the banks of river Adyar and is a part of the Chennai Corporation, presently. Before the extension of the city limits this was part of Changalput District. Before that it was a jaghir under Nawab of Arcot. The then administrator Saiyad Khan named this area after his name which later took the name Saidapet. Well before this, it was under the rule of Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya dynasty and administrated by the local chieftain representing the Emperor.
In Saidapet there is a bridge over Adyar River, which for long known as Marmalong Bridge. It is said and believed that “Marmalong” is Anglicized version of “Mambalam”. Therefore Saidapet was possibly a portion of then Mambalam. It may also be noted that for all T Nagar’s old residents it is still Pudu Mambalam and west Mambalam is Pazhaiya Mambalam. I append a Google map depicting present Saidapet, west Mambalam, T Nagar for easy understanding of what is projected here.
Vijayanagar dynasty representative had been governing this area for long. During that time they had built a beautiful temple for Sri Rama with his concert. The structure of the main temple as well as the four pillared mandapam in front of the temple is testimony to the influence of the Vijayanagara rulers. As a normal practice the place gets its name from the temple of the area and the presiding deity. This place then was known as Sri Raghunathapuram after Sri Kothanda Ramar the presiding deity of the temple. Adjoining areas were known as Thirukaraneeswaram, after Thirukaraneeswar (Lord Siva) and Thirunaaraiyur, after Sowindhiswaran.
For more on this Sri Rama temple please see “Sri Rama Baktha Anjaneya Temple, Saidapet”
In fact the Saidapet was like peninsula, Adyar River on south, east and north by the great long lake. The long lake of Madras existed from near Saidapet to Nungambakkam is known to many. In early 1900 my father was a resident of Saidapet and working in the treasury office located in fort. There was no railway station at Saidapet during that time, but almost all the trains will stop near the Siva temple. There was no fort station only Harbour station [present Beach station]. Pattanam was a residential area for business people and many of the employees of Government working in Fort were then staying in Saidapet. Traveling by train during rainy season, from Saidapet to Harbour the train will go over water for about two to three miles in slow speed.
There are two temples standing as a reminder of then existed long lake. The first one is at Vanniyar Thenampettai, an Amman temple on the left side of the entrance from Mount Road to Pudu Mambalam. Alamarndal is the name of the goddess. The letters “Al” here does not refer to the banyan tree. Aalin ஆலின் [நீரின்] means she who sits on the bank [of water]. It is named because it is situated on the bank of Mylapore Lake [long lake] which is spread from Saitappettai to Nungambakkam in South North and from Mylapore to Mambalam in West - East West in the shape of crescent moon. Like this, today there is a temple for 'Erikarai Amman' on the Kodambakkam highway. Thirdly there exists a road by name “lake view road” in West Mambalam. These three marks the boundaries of the then Mylapore lake or long lake.
The administration of Sri Kothanda Ramar Kovil stated above under “Temple for Lords in Saidapet”, in the course of time was taken over by other temple administration. The status of the temple changed from Sri Kothanda Ramar kovil to Sri Perumal kovil. Another sannidhi for Lord Vishnu was also built facing east. Lord Narasimha of Triplicane (Sri Tulasinga Perumal of Triplicane) had since visited this temple during that time, the Lord Vishnu of this temple is known as "Sri Pressana Venkata Narasimha Perumal". While this was happening there was a new temple for Sri Kothanda Ramar coming up in the other end of same Mambalam.
Sri Adinarayana Dasar, who comes from lineage of Sri Bhaktha Ramadasar of Bhadrachalam had built a temple on lines of Bhadrachalam Sri Vaikunta Rama here. This Kothanda Rama temple of Pazhaiya Mambalam has an interesting sthala puranam.
Sri Adinarayana Dasar had built a simple temple for Sri Rama. Sri Rama is worshipped here in same posture as He is in Bhadrachalam. Sri Sita Devi is seen sitting on the left lap of Sri Rama in both sthalams. Therefore this sthalam is known as Dakshina Bhadrachalam.
Thus the temple established by Sri Adinarayana Dasar was at a later point of time was taken care of and administrated by Bra.ve.Tenuvagupta Venkatrangaiah Haridasar. He planned to expand the temple and was collecting funds from public. At that time a rich person and an adherent devotee of Sri Rama, Sri Vengayala Kuppaiah Chittiar came with a proposal to Haridasa. He told Haridas that since he has no direct heir his own relatives in quest to looting his wealth, were administrating slow poison to him. Unaware of this he believed them, but he was informed of the happening by non-other than Sri Rama himself in the dream. Therefore he had decided to spend all his wealth in rebuilding this temple.
Sri Haridasa was too happy to hear what Chettiar said and gladly handed over the amount of Rs 4000/- collected from public. An amount of Rs. 1000/- realised by disposing of old materials was also handed over to him. With this amount renovation work for the new and expanded temple was started on an auspicious day 23rd June 1926. On 26th July 1926 foundation was laid and the work was completed on 30th April 1927. As per vaikhanasa agama Maha Samprokshanam was also conducted.
During this Mahasamproksham, Sri Ranganatha Perumal of Tiruneermalai graced the occasion, and thus performed Mangalasasanam, thus this temple becomes an abhimana sthalam.
This temple is located at the end of Mandoli road under bridge in present day west mambalam. The temple is east facing and has an arch way as entrance, there is no rajagopuram. Vasantha mandapam is just opposite to the temple. As one enters the temple first sannidhi is that of Sri Anjaneya. Sannidhi of Sri Rama, Sri Garuda, and Sri Anjaneya are in straight line. Sri Rama is facing east while other two are facing Sri Rama. Deepa stambha, bali peedam, flag post are seen near Sri Garuda sannidhi. Utsava mandapa is seen between Sri Garuda and Sri Anjaneya sannidhi. After Garuda sannidhi mun mandapa, maha mandapa, antarala then Garbhagraham are seen. Separate sannidhi for Sri Ranganayaki thayaar, Sri Andal facing east, Thrukalyana mandapam are also seen in the prangan. Temple tank brimming with water is seen on the north side of temple.
The main Garbhagraham is for both Sri Pattabirama and Sri Kothandarama parivar. In the lower pedestal the deity worshipped by Sri Adinarayana Dasar is seen. Sri Pattabirama is seen sitting in veerasanam with Sri Sitadevi on His left lap. Sri Anjaneya is seen in a unique posture, holding the lotus feet of His Lord Sri Rama and Sri Bharatha holding the royal umbrella. In the upper pedestal Sri Kothanda Rama with Sri Lakshmana on His left and Sri Sitadevi on the right are seen. Both Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana are seen with bow and arrow. Sri Bharata and Sri Satruguna are also seen. Utsava moorthi for Sri Pattabirama and Sri Kothandarama parivar are also seen.
Eight pillared huge mandapa, antarala then Garbhagraham constitute Sri Hanuman Sannidhi. Events happened in Sri Hanuman’s life had been painted beautifully in the wall of the mandapam. The great painting of Sri Rama Pattabishekam forms the façade for the Garbhagraham. Sri Anjaneya is seen in the Garbhagraham as Sri Sajeevirayan facing westward and Sri Rama.
Lord moortham is in artha shila form and sculpted intrinsically. Lord is seen moving northwards with His right lotus foot forward, the other is firm on the ground. The lotus feet of the Lord are adorn with “tandai”. Lord is wearing dothi in kacham style and girdle made of a triple string of muJja-grass. The yagjopaviitam is seen across His broad chest. He is wearing two malas as ornaments adorning His bosom. His both hands are adorned with keauram in upper arm and bracelet in fore-arm. In His right hand Lord is carrying medicinal mountain and His raised left hand is showing abhaya mudra showering blessings to devotees. The tail of the Lord is rising above His shoulder seen just above shika with a small bell in the end of the tail. Lord is wearing ear-studs. Neatly combed ‘sheka’ tied in a knot is seen. His face is majestic and the immense eye adds majesty to majesty. The sparkling eyes of Sri Anjaneya speak live to the devotees.
Utsava moortham of Lord is also seen in the Garbhagraham. While moolavar face is seen in sidewise posture, utsavar is looking straight.
The Lord of this kshetra worshipping both Kothanda and Pattabisheka Rama and is in the most joyous mode. He will happily grant the wishes of His devotee for sure.
Ed: March 2023
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