Sri Kodanda Ramachandra Swamy Temple
If we are looking for a place not much known or not crowded where one can find the serenity that soothes our senses to purify our thoughts, we must visit Sri Kodanda Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Hiremagalur just 5km from Chikmagalur in Karnataka.
Chikamagalur is about 250 km from Bengaluru. This land is also very well known for coffee plantations. There are many temples in Karnataka devoted to Lord Rama but the temple here has a very special historic and mythological background.
History, Architecture and Main Idols of Sri Kodanda Ramachandra Swamy Temple
According to the Skanda Purana, Lord Rama shattered Lord Parshuram’s bow in this place. It was a symbolic act of shattering His pride and arrogance. Lord Parshuram realized His mistake.
It is also believed that nine Siddhas performed penance here so the village pond is known as Siddha Pushkarini. The devotees who come here take holy baths. The water of this pond contains anti-venomous properties and is highly effective in curing snake bites.
As Lord Parshuram lived here, this small town was also known as Bhargavapuri.
Banks of Tungabhadra
This temple is located on the banks of river Tungabhadra and is the largest in this region built in Hoysala style although Garbhagriha and Sukanasi (an external ornamented feature over the entrance to the garbhagriha or inner shrine) sections are built in the Dravidian style.
The navaranga and Mukhamandapa were later additions. These are surrounded by a wall made of bricks and mortar. The temple has three Gopuram supported by columns depicting Lord Rama, Laxman and Krishna.
The central Gopuram faces East and the other two face North and South. This temple seems to have been constructed in several stages. It is now under the administration of the State government.
Statues of Lord Rama, Laxman and Sita
One can see the life-size statues of Lord Rama, his brother Laxman and his wife Sita before they went to the forest. One will wonder how Lord Rama’s ‘sevak’ Lord Hanuman is not here. This is because Lord Rama met him after visiting this place.
Another surprising thing one can notice here is that only in this temple (when one sees these deities) Sita is standing right side of Lord Rama.
Lord Rama’s bow is called Kodanda
There is a belief that Lord Parashuram expressed a wish to see Lord Rama and Sita’s wedding scene and it was granted. In Hindu tradition bride sits to the right of the groom, like this position as is believed is reflected here in the Garbhagriha.
Lord Rama and Laxman are seen with their bows and arrows also. Lord Rama’s bow is called Kodanda. Therefore, this temple is called as Kodanda Rama Temple.
On the premises of this temple, there are small shrines of Sri Yoga Narasimha, Sri Sugriva, Kaliya Mardan Krishna, Srimad Ramanujacharya, Sri Madhwacharya and Sri Vedanta Desika. Among these deities, Yoga Narasimha is a four-foot-high figure with Prabhavati on which there are ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu sculpted.
Main Festivals in Sri Kodanda Ramachandra Swamy Temple
Though the devotees visit this temple throughout the year the temple hosts an annual celebration known as Jatra in February. Along with this, other yearly functions of Ram Navami, the marriage of Rama and Sita are also held to attract devotees.
This temple remains open daily from 6 AM to 11:30 AM and 4:30 to 8:30 PM.
Another rare thing here in this temple is, that the rituals or mantras or slokas of daily puja or any other religious functions held here are carried out by the priests of the temple in local language Kannada instead of Sanskrit.
Important places near Sri Kodanda Ramachandra Swamy Temple
The temple of Lord Shiva. In this temple, a beautiful image of Goddess Saraswati is installed and a very rare eight-legged bull can be seen. The temple of Lord Parasurama. One more place is, according to Puranic tradition and folklore is the spot where Janamejaya performed the Sarpa Yaga.
As mentioned in the beginning, this region is very famous for coffee plantations. So there is a museum for coffee lovers called Coffee Museum in Chikmagalur.
The museum open on all days from 10 am to 5 pm except Saturdays and Sundays where one can explore everything about the history of coffee.
Click here to explore RamulaVari Meda – Tirumala
