Eri Katha Ramar Temple, Madurantakam
Eri Katha Ramar Temple
Madurantakam, Tamil Nadu
Eri Katha Ramar temple is located at Madurantakam near Chengalpattu of Tamil Nadu. Beautiful Kodanda Ramar of about 8ft holding Ma Sita's hand and with Lakshmana. This temple is connected with Sri Ramanujar.
Sri Ramanujar was on his way from Kanchipuram to meet Sri Periya Nambigal at Sri Rangam to become his disciple. Sri Periya Nambigal also started towards Kanchipuram to meet Ramanujar. They both met here at Madurantakam & Periya Nambigal performed Pancha Samskaaram to Ramanujar under Magizham tree here.
Small Mandapam where Ramanujar undertook Pancha Samskaaram is seen in the temple. Separate sannidhi is for Periya Nambigal & Ramanujar & this is the only temple where Ramanujar is seen as a Grahastha (married person) and not in Sanyasa kolam.
Story says about an incident which occurred during British rule. The Madurantakam lake bund was about to breach, due to heavy rain & village will be flooded if it happened. Dt collector was Cl. Lionel Blaze who took efforts to protect the bund & asked for the piles of stones in the temple to protect it. But stones was meant for Janakavalli ( sita) Thayar sannidhi which faced shortage of fund. Lionel Blaze prayed Sri Ramar to save the bund and if so he will provide fund to construct sannidhi.
That night he saw in the lightning light, Sri Rama and Lakshmana walked along the bund and with their arrows protected the bund & everything came under control. Sri Kothanda Ramar was called as Eri Katha Ramar (Ramar who saved the lake ). As a token of thanks collector renovated Sri Janakavalli Thayar sannidhi.
Eventhough this story is there it is said that Eri Katha Ramar is so called so because Eri or tank he protected was Shri Ramanujar himself here who is the bund of jyanam & bhakti.
Jai Shri Ram
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