The place Kovilvenni is near the city of Thanjavur. Karikala Chola fought against a combined force of Pandiya, Chera and eleven minor chieftains. They won the battle at this place. The Chera king, who was wounded on his back in the battle, committed suicide by starvation. This shows the valor of Karikala Chola and the intensity with which the battle was fought. Many men would have lost their life and many wounded in the battle. Medicines must have been given to the wounded and in due course of time the wounds would have healed leaving behind some scars on the men who braved the battle.
Members of the brave soldiers settled in and around KovilVanni. One such place is now known by the name Vaduvur. The scar mark left behind after heal of the wounds were treated with herbs that grow near this place. “Vadu” in Tamil means scar, since this was center for treatment of Vadu, this place came to be named as Vaduvur. This place is equidistance from KovilVenni and Thanjavur. Today this place is known for the Sri Kothandarama Temple of the town.
It is a very interesting history how Rukmani-Sathyabhama samedha Sri Gopal Swamy temple had come to be known as “Sri Kothandarama Temple”.
Legend has it that Sri Rama while returning to Ayodya had worshipped Siva at a place named Tirukannapuram to get rid of the sins accrued due to the battle at Lanka. On the prayers of the saints Sri Rama had left His sannidhi in the idol brought by the saints at that place. During the invasion of south by the other faith, Sri Rama idol under worship at Tirukannapuram was moved to safer place at Thalai Gnayiru, known as Thalanayar near Vedaranyam.
Thanjavur was then under the rule of King Sarabhoji II. One day king had a dream about the presence Sri Rama as an idol at Thalaignayiru indicating the place. King along with entourage proceeded to Thalaignayiru on mission to bring back Sri Rama to Thanjavur. King identified the place where Sri Rama idol was present as seen in his dream. Under the Peepal tree [also known as sacred fig tree or Arasa maram in Tamil] he unearthed the idols of Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Hanuman. While he was preparing to leave, the natives of the place protested taking away the idols from there. They were convinced after the king agreed to leave behind the idols of Lakshmana and Bharata in their village itself. Today the idols of Sri Lakshmana and Bharata are under worshiped as Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana at Sri Kothandarama temple at Thalaigyayiru.
The king then proceeded towards Thanjavur with idols of Sri Rama, Seetha and Hanuman. On the way the convoy rested at Vaduvur. The people of Vaduvur when came to know that the idol was from Tirukannapuram, they pleaded with the king for the idols to be installed at their village. After a long deliberation the reluctant king had to agree to the request of the villagers. Thus Sri Rama came to this place Vaduvur.
The village then had a temple for Sri Krishna as the presiding deity along with Sri Rukmani and Sri Sathyabhama. On the arrival of Sri Kothandarama Sri Sita and Sri Hanuman, they were installed in the same temple. From then on Sri Rama had been the main deity in this Sri Gopalan temple.
The absence of Sri Lakshman was felt by the locals and they sculpted an idol for Sri Lakshmana. Thus sculpted idol appeared like a woman therefore people named it as Sri Sundari Amman and a separate shrine was built for her. Again an idol for Sri Lakshmana was sculpted and installed along with Kothandaramar, Sri Sita and Sri Hanuman in the main sanctorum.
A five storied rajagopuram with a frontal decorative “thorana vayal” [high raised porch] with arches atop in which mortar mould (stucco figure) of various avathar of Sri Mahavishnu are found. Sri Kothanda Rama, Sita, Lakshmana figures in the central arch.
Before entering into the east facing temple complex, on the right one could see Sri Ahobali mutt, there vedic classes are conducted with students as inmates. In the mutt there is a sannidhi for Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar and Sri Chakrathalwar. As one enters the temple complex on the left side is ‘mada palli” [temple kitchen]. Offer your prayers at flag post then to Sri Garudalwar. On left side sannidhi for Hyagrivar-Desigar and on the right Manavala mamunivar sannidhi are seen. Then the palliarai [mirror room] on the left and on the right sannidhi for Sri Gopalan are seen.
Sri Gopalan with His concerts Sri Rukmani and Sri Sathyabhama are seen in the standing position facing east. Processional deity of Sri Gopalan is seen with a whip as seen in Mannargudi temple. Temple’s other processional deities are kept in this sannidhi.
In the central sanctum sanctorum Sri Rama is seen with Sri Sita devi on His right, Sri Lakshma on His left and Sri Hanuman on the extreme left with folded hands. The processional deities are seen in this main sannidhi itself.
There is celebration throughout the year in this temple but ten day Brahmmotsavam during Panguni – March April – following Sri Rama Navami is very special. During the Brahmmotsavam Sri Sita Rama kalyanam [wedding] is celebrated on the seventh day and the car festival on the ninth day.
The huge temple car made of wood with lots of images embossed depicting incidents from Sri Rama’s life is spectacular to look at. Every year devotees around Vaduvur anxiously wait for the ninth day of Brahmmotsavam. The temple car on which Sri Rama and parivar are mounted is taken on a procession through the four mada veedhi of temple. Devotees participate with enthusiasm in drawing the car through this route and they feel immense pleasure in carrying out this great job and feel honored by Sri Rama.
There is no separate sannidhi for Sri Hanuman in the temple complex since He is present in the main Garbhagraham itself. But there is a separate sannidhi for Sri Hanuman near Theradi [temple car stand] around five hundred meters away, just facing the main Sri Ramar Temple. Sannidhi is small and elevated with a small mandap in front of the sannidhi. Special abhisekam is conducted on every Saturdays and on Sri Hanumath Jayanthi day [Dec-Jan] special pooja is conducted to Theradi Sri Hanuman.
On the car festival day Sri Rama along with parivar comes to Theradi. Firstly they are received at the theradi by Sri Hanuman. Sri Rama accepts the offerings of theradi Sri Hanuman and honors Him. There after He mounts the temple car and proceeds on procession.
Theradi Sri Hanuman idol is made of granite stone and is about three feet tall with pedestal. He is facing west and Sri Kothandarama of the main temple.
Sri Hanuman is in standing posture with folded hands and His palms joined in Anjali mudra. His lotus feet adorned with hollow anklet known as ‘thandai’ and an anklet chain known as “nupur’. Lord is wearing dhoti in kacham style. He is wearing bracelet in the upper arm known as “keyur”, “angad” and hollow wrist bracelet known as “Kankan” in His wrist. Yagyopavit across His broad chest, necklace close to His neck and two chains are seen in the bosom. His tail is raised above His head and ends up near his left shoulder. Lord is wearing ear pendent known as ‘kundal’ which is nearly touching His shoulders. A portion of His smooth ‘kesh’ is seen behind the ears touching the shoulders, adds elegance to the majestic look of the Lord. The brilliant eyes of the Lord are overflowing with benevolence and compassion.
Praying to Lord of this kshetra who is pious and humble, ever loving Sri Rama Bhaktha, the devotee is sure to gain in humility and modesty in approaching the task he undertakes.
Ed: October 2023
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SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST, THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE.
Our salutations to this Hanuman who always brings subham - everything that is good - for His devotees and eliminates the bad and the evil. He removes even the traces of bad thoughts and deeds from His devotees. i.e He makes them pure in words, thought and deed.