Sri Yoga Rama Temple, Nedungunam
Did you known that the Sri Yoga Rama Temple in Nedungunam in Tamil Nadu is the divine place where Lord Rama on his return from Lanka with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, during Treta Yuga, spent a day as guest of Shuka, the parrot headed maharishi?
Sri Yoga Rama Temple in Nedungunam in Tiruvannamalai District of Tamil Nadu is a divine place where Sri Rama is deifed in the sanctum sanctorum (Garba Griha) in a sitting "Chinna Mudra" yogic posture flanked to his left by his consort Sita holding a lotus and his brother Lakshamana standing to his right, and with Hanuman sitting oposite to Him reciting Vedic scriptures. The Chinna Mudra hand posture of Lord Rama held close to his heart is unique in such a way that all the fingers except the index finger points upwards gently bent and touching the thumb.
The legend narrated to this temple is that Lord Rama during the Treta Yuga while returning from Lanka after defeating and killing rakshasa Ravana, stayed for a day at this divine place where Shukha Muni, the parrot headed maharishi was doing penance. Rama, who was accompanied by his consort Sita, brother Lakshmna and desciple Hanuman, accepted the invitation of the sage Shukha Muni and stayed with the sage for a day before departing to his kingdom Ayodhya, as Rama was deeply impressed with the sage's deep penance offered to Him. Hence, the place came to be named as 'Nedungunam' in Tamil meaning "Noble Quality". Another legend narrated to this place is that at Maharishi Shukha's hermiatge, Lord Rama and Hanuman dined on a single plantain (Banana) leaf. At that time, Lord Rama drew a line in the middle of the leaf in order to facilitate its easy use for both of them. It is said that this line later became a permanent mark on the plantain leaf.
A temple dedicated to Lord Rama was built by Krishna Devaraya of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 15th century to mark the divine sanctity of the place visited by Rama. The temple covers an area of 90,000 Sqft and is said to be the biggest Rama Temple in Tamilnadu with a large seven-tiered entrance gopuram. The garba griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the large temple is deified with the image of Lord Rama, totaly unarmed in a sitting yogic posture flanked to His left by His consort Sita holding a lotus flower and to his right by Lakshmna in standing posture, and with Hanuman sitting opposite to Rama reciting Vedic scriptures. The inner Prakara (precincts) around the main sanctum is set a few feet underground and as such one has to bend down while entering and exiting the circumamblatory path. In the inner precicnts after entering through the main gopuram, there is another smaller gopuram which is called as “Kili Gopuram” (Meaning Parrot Gopuram) which was built in the honor of the Shukha Maharishi. Every panel of these two Gopuram towers are studded with beautiful scenes from the epic Ramayana and Dasavathara incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
The inner prakara has subshrines dedicated to Garudalwar, Chakarthalwar, Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal, and Sanjeevihanuman. Another rare feature in this temple is of an exclusive subshrine dedicated to Sage Sri Vikhanasa and with his four followers, who initiated the Vykanasa Agama dictums or principles that focuses on rituals and worship of Lord Vishnu; these Vaikhanasa dictums are followed in most of the Vishnu temples in South India.
Also, as part of the temple complex, there are two large mandapaas or assembly halls called Kili Mandapam and Muthu Mandapam. Kili Mandapam depicts in its ceiling the sculpture of the pond with a bloomed lotus with a parrot sitting near it. The Muthu Mandapam built in memory of a dancer is the hall in front of the main sanctum; sculptures of Krishna leela are depicted on the pillars of this mandapam.
The procession idol or Utsava Murthy of this temple is known as the Vijaya Raghava Perumal signifying Rama's victory over Ravana. There is aslo a separate shrine for His consort Sita called as Sri Sengamalavalli Thayar.
The temple is built in the backdrop of the hill called 'Dheergachala (long hill), which appears like the head of a parrot from a certain angle. Sri Padham (The divine foot) of Lord Rama aadorned with Shanku and Chakram (Conch and Discus) are to be found on the top of the hill, which corroborates the legend that Lord Rama had given darshan to Shukha Maharishi.
The temple worship (Puja) rtuals are held every day both in the morning and evening hours as per Vaikhanasa shashtra dictums. Other annual festivals held at this temple are: The ten day Panguni Brahmotsavam (March – April), Aadi Pavithrotsavam (Ashada month- June-July) and Sri Rama Navami in March-April. Also during the Pongal festival on the Kaanum Pongal day, the procession deities are taken on procession around the Dheergachala hill.
The temple in Nedungunam is located 24 km to the South of Vandhavasi in Tiruvannamalai District, on the Kanchipuram – Thiruvannamalai Route.
Narasipur Char
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