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ToggleVontimitta Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple
There are Sri Rama Temples in every village in India. Among them, there are many famous ones. Vontimitta Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple is one of the famous and ancient historical temples in YSR Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh.
Vontimitta is at a distance of approx. 25 kilometers away from Kadapa town. It is said that two robbers namely Vontodu and Mittadu reformed and became devotees of Lord Rama and carved Sri Seetha Rama Lakshmana deities in a single stone and the kshetram is named 'Vontimitta'.
Moreover, this kshetra is also known as 'Ekasila Nagaram'. Ekasila (Deities in a single stone) and Nagaram (town).
How to Reach Temple
There is good road connectivity from Chennai, Tirupati Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kadapa for Vontimitta.
The Temple is at a distance of approx. 25 kilometers from Kadapa and Rajampeta. From Tirupati it is 115 K.M. Passenger trains will halt at Vonimitta Railway Station. Air Connectivity for kadapa is availabe from Hyderabad and Chennai.
The Visit to the temple of Lord Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy in Vontimitta gives peace and joy to the devotees.
Legend
In Trethayuga, many sages did penance in this region known as Dandakaranya. Demons used to obstruct their sacrifices and penances. With this, sages prayed to Lord Rama to save their penance and sacrifices. Then, Sri Rama, who was living in the Vanavasa, accepted the prayers of the sages, reached this place and saved the Sages from the clutches of the demons during the Aranya vasam.
After that, Sri Rama along with, Maa Seetha and Lakshmana spent some time here. To quench the thirst of Seetha and Rama, Lakshmana shot arrows deep into the earth from which water gushed out. These water bodies are known as 'Rama Theertham' and 'Lakshmana Theertham'. After some time Sri Rama, Seetha, and Lakshmana left this place. At that time Sri Rama gave their idols to the sages as per the wish of the sages.
The sages used to regularly worship these idols. Later Jambavanta reached this place and rested for some time. During this time one day night, Lord Rama revealed in a dream that they were in the form of idols in that area and asked them to consecrate those idols.
Sthalapurana reveals that the very next day Jambavanta searched the surrounding areas took out the idols of Sri Sitarama Lakshmana and consecrated them.
Temple Structure
Vontimitta Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple is on Chennai – Kadapa Highway with exquisite sculpture. The French Traveller, who visited India in 1652 came to this place and appreciated the elegance of the temple architecture. The Temple has three entrances and Gopurams.
The main entrance faces the East and the other two are facing the North and the South. The Rajagopuram is built in five tiers of 160 feet high. The main temple is on an elevated platform.
The main temple consists of Mahamandapam (Rangamandapam), Mukha mandapam, antaralayam and Gabhalayam. The Rangamandapam is built with 32 pillars and is known for its exquisite sculpture. It has wonderful carvings of Apsaras, the stories of Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Dasavataarams, Anjaneyaswamy giving Anguliyakamu (ring) to Maa Seetha, Kaleeyamardhanam.
There is a Garudalwar Mandapam in Rangamandapam, opposite the Main deity. On the way to Mukhamandapam there are Dwarapalakas on both the sides and Sri Bammera Pothana’s statue is also present in Rangamandapam. In the main temple, Sri Rama with Seetha and Lakshmana deities are carved out in a single stone.
As Rama is depicted with quiver and bow the Lord is called as Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy. This is one of the few temples where Rama is without Anjaneya Swamy at his side. To the opposite of main temple there is Anjaneya swamy temple known as Sri Sanjeevaraya Swamy temple.
History of the Temple
The ruler of Udayagiri, Sri Kamparaya (1340-1355 A.D.) who was a lender to the empire Vijayanagara came to this place. At that time Vontodu and Mittadu showed the deities and requested him to build the temple and the ruler obliged and built a Temple in Vontimitta as per History records.
The Gopurams and Mukhamandapam were built by Vijayanarana and Matli Kings. Andhra Valmeeki Vavilikolanu Subba Rao (1863-1936) renovated the temple and constructed Sri Rama Seva Kuteeram (Place), Radham (Chariot) and Radhasala (the place where chariot kept).
The Archeological Department of India recognized this temple as a Historical monument and is protecting the temple. The Government of Andhra Pradesh officially has been conducting Sri Rama Kalyanam since 2015. The Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams has taken over the temple and many developmental works.
Poets and Scholars
The temple is associated with great scholars. The great poet, Sri Bammera Pothana visited the temple and spent some time here and worshipped the Lord and wrote Srimadbhagavatam and dedicated it to the Lord.
Padakavitha pitaamaha Sri Tallapaka Annamayya visited this temple many times and composed keerthanas on Vontimitta Sri Kodanda RamaSwamy
- Sri Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy
- Ayyalaraju Rama Bhadrudu,
- Vuppugunduru Venkatakavi,
- Varakavi,
- Vavilikolanu Subba Rao,
- Bhavanasi Malaobanna,
- Vijayaraghavaacharlyulu and other poets wrote many poems and keerthanas on Vontimitta Sri Kodanda RamaSwamy.
Sri Kodanda RamaSwamy Temple Vontimitta Aerial View
Brahmotsavams
The annual Brahmotsavams are celebrated in the month of Chaitramasam from Srirama navami for nine days in a grand style. Various vahana sevas and Rathotsavam and kalyanam are performed to the Lord during Brahmotsavams in a grand manner. Kalyanotsavam is performed on the Sixth Day Evening.
It is tradition to celebrate Seetaraama kalyanam on Sree Rama Navami in Abhijith Lagnam at noon in all Sree Rama Temples. But in Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple in Vontimitta, Seetha Rama Kalyanam is performed on Chaitramasa Sukla paksha Chaturdasi at night a day before the full moon day.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh officially conducts the event. Sri Ramchandramurthy blesses the devotees in the moonlight. There is a legend for performing Sri Seetharamakalyanam at night instead of the noon. Sri Rama was fond of Chandra (the moon) in his childhood and he would not eat without looking at the moon.
Moreover, Chandra also likes Rama. As the Kalyanam of Sri Rama took place at noon, Chandra had no opportunity to watch the Kalyanam and became sad. Knowing that Sri Rama consoled the Moon and promised to give him three vows.
- The first one is that the name of Chandra will be added to his name and became Sri Ramachandra.
- The Second Vow is that in his next incarnation, he will be born in the night (Sri Krishna was born in the night) and
- The third one is that in Kaliyuga his Kalyanam will be celebrated during the night.
As per his promises, the Kalyanam in Vontimitta is celebrated a day before the full-moon day i.e., Pournami, where the Moon showers his light.
Along with the Brahmotsavams on Sri Ramanavami, Pothana Jayanthi is also celebrated. Special poojas are performed on Dhanurmasam and on Vaikunta Ekadasi.
