Sri Rama Baktha Anjaneya Temple, Madhuranthagam, T Nadu

Sri Eri Katha Ramar Temple, Madhuranthagam

images provided by Smt. Bhavani Sriraman

Madhuranthakam

This place in the Chengalpattu District is about eighty kilometers from Chennai. This area was under the Chola kingdom, and this place was named after the Chola king Uttama Chola Madurantakan. This place, Madhuranthakam, had other names such as Madurathaka Chaturvedi Mangalam, Jayamkonda Choza Mandalthtu KalattUr Kottam, and Thaniyur. The place gets the name Thaniyur [தனியூர்] because it is self-sustainable and does not need to depend on any other place for its needs.

It is well known that the entire area of present Chengalpattu had to depend on the rain for its water. Therefore, the then rulers had constructed large lakes and reservoirs to solve the water crisis. That is how many lakes, such as Kolavai Lake, VeeraNarayan Lake, Poondi Lake, Puzal Lake, Chembrampakkam Lake, and other lakes came into being. Madhuranthakam also has a lake built by Uttama Cholan during the tenth century. This lake is the second-largest lake in this state.

Breach of the lake

Sri Eri Katha Ramar Temple, Madhuranthagam Such a huge lake, whatever precautions are taken to strengthen the boundaries, is likely to breach if there is incessant rain. It also happened to this lake during the British rule. But on prayers to the Lord Sri Rama, the beach did not take place. The incident, which had been recorded, had given the name “Eri katha Ramar” to the main deity of the temple located near the lake. [Apart from this, there was a breach on 13.11.1985 also.]

Eri Katha Ramar

Chengalpattu district was under the control of the British then. During 1795 and 1799, Colonel Lionel Blaze was the District collector. As stated above, the huge lake usually breaches during the rainy season, and Blaze had seen such a breach twice before and was worried about the state of the lake during this particular season. He wanted to ensure that there was no breach this time and wanted to strengthen the tank bund. When he came across a huge stock of stones in the Sri Rama temple, he ordered that those stones be used for strengthening the bund. He was informed that the stones are meant for the renovation of the sannidhi of Sri Janaki Mata and could not be spared for the purpose he is seeking. The temple priest is sure that Sri Rama will protect the lake to complete the sannidhi of Sri Janaki Mata. The collector pranked at the statement of the priest.

That night, there was a heavy downpour, and the rain was incessant. The collector was waiting on the banks of the lake and anxious about the breach he was expecting to happen. To the collector’s surprise, all of a sudden, he witnessed two warriors with bows and arrows guarding the bunds. The collector recollected the words of the priest, and in a flash, he realised that they were none other than Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana.

There was no breach of the lake as feared by the collector. The collector had witnessed who had protected the lake from breaching. Thus, the Lord of this Kshetra gets the name “Eri Katha Ramar”, meaning “Rama who guarded the lake”. Colonel Lionel Blaze had borne the cost of renovation of Sow Janakavalli Thayar's sannidhi. A record of this is found in the inscription in the same sannidhi.

Sri Rama Temple

pancha samskara mandapam and the Maghizham tree, Madhuranthagam The five-tiered Rajagopuram welcomes the devotees. Near the entrance to the temple is a mandapam for Visvaksena, Ramanujar, and Lakshmi Narashiman. Opposite to this mandapam is the sannidhi of Sudarshanam and Swami Vedantha Desikar.

Maha mandapam, raised artha mandapam, both stone-pillared and stone-roofed, are grand to look at. Antarala and then Garbhagraham are found after this. The adhishtanam, as the first tala, is made of stone, over which brickwork had been done. A lot of inscriptions are found in jagati, kumuda, maha patti etc.

Moolavar Sri Ramar with Sita Ma and Lakshmanan are in a standing position facing east. The uniqueness is that Sri Rama is holding the hand of Sri Sita Devi. Sri Vibhandaka rishi, who had prayed to Sri Rama for this unique posture, is also seen in the Garbhagraham. There are Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Uthsava vigraha seen in the Garbhagraham. There is another set of Sri Rama along with Sridevi, Boodevi vigrahas are also seen. This deity was worshipped by Vibhandaka Rishi as Sri Rama and is known as Sri Karunakara moorthi. He participates in all the festivals of the temple as the main deity.

There was no breach of the lake as feared by the collector. The collector had witnessed who had protected the lake from breaching. Thus, the Lord of this Kshetra gets the name “Eri Katha Ramar”, meaning “Rama who guarded the lake”. Colonel Lionel Blaze had borne the cost of renovation of Sow Janakavalli Thayar's sannidhi.

South of Sri Rama sannidhi is Sri Janakavali thayar sannidhi. The north side of the Sri Rama sannidhi is Andal's sannidhi. There are two separate sannidhis for Sri Nammalvar on the right side and for Sri Periyalvar on the left side of Sri Andal's sannidhi.

image depicting pancha samskara under Maghizham tree, Madhuranthagam On the North West corner is the “pancha samskara” mandapam and the Maghizham tree. The great Vishnava saint Sri Alavandar attained mukti, and Sri Ramanuja was then to head the Vaishnava sect. Sri Periyanambi was sent from Srirangam to fetch Sri Ramanuja from Kanchipuram, and meanwhile, Sri Ramanuja started his journey from Kanchipuram to Srirangam. Both these saints meet at this kshetra. Sri Ramanuja was administered “pancha samskaram,” the Vaishnava initiation at this holy kshetra. This was performed under the Maghizham tree, the couch, disc, used on this occasion, and also Krishnan arathana murtham of Sri Periyanambi are kept in Sri Ramanuja sannidhi.

Vasantha Mantapam, close to Mantapam, is Gosala, annadhanam hall is also seen in the premises. Vahana mandapam is outside the temple.

Sri Anjaneya Sannidhi

Outside the temple, Sri Rama Puskarani, the temple tank is seen on the south bank of this tank is a Sannidhi for Sri Anjaneya and Ahobila mutt Sanskrit Collage. The temple consists of Garbhagraham, Antarala, and a huge, long, grilled hall. There are paintings of events that took place in Sri Anjaneya’s life in the walls of this hall. The temple is facing west, and the main temple.

Sri Rama Baktha Anjaneya, Madhuranthagam, T Nadu As Sri Rama Bhaktha Anjaneya, He goes to have darshan of Sri Rama in the main temple when Jyeshtabhishekam is conducted. Jyeshtabhishekam is performed at every temple once a year when the armours adorned to the deities are removed, prayers offered to them, and again adorned on the deities. He also goes to the temple to have darshan on the day of Sri Rama Pattabishekam. Hanumath Jayanthi is celebrated for three days in the Tamil Markazi month, Moola Nakshetram

Anjaneya

Moortham of Lord is about five feet in height and sculpted in artha shila form. It is made of a single granite stone along with a decorated prabha.

Sri Rama Bhaktha Anjaneya is standing facing west with folded hands and His palms put together. Both the lotus feet of the Lord are adorned with thandai and nupur. Lord is wearing a dhoti in kacham style and a girdle made of a triple string of mouja-grass. His folded hands are adorned with a bracelet in the fore-arm and bhuja-valayam in His shoulder. He is wearing a mala as an ornament close to His neck. The tail of the Lord, which is behind, is not visible to us. Lord is wearing ear-studs [kundalam] which are touching His shoulders. He is wearing an ornamental headband, under which His kesam is kept neatly tied. His bright eyes are radiating empathy to the devotee.

Location of the temple: "Sri Rama Baktha Anjaneya Temple, Madhuranthagam"

Experience

Sri Anjaneya, praying to Sri Rama, who saved the lake from breaching, is bound to save His devotees from breaching any righteous thinking.

Sri Anjaneya praying Sri Rama who saved the lake from breaching