Please Download Our Android App to Continue Editing

This is possibly the only Ramar temple in India where the moolavar deities of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Sugreeva have been made of the sacred ‘Saligramam’ stone. One normally finds the black Saligramam (stone) in the shape of a small stone. 

Saligramas are fossilized shells representing Lord Vishnu. They are collected from the Gandaki riverbank in Nepal. Paleontologists say that Saligramams are fossilized ammonites that lived in the oceans about 240-65 million years ago and disappeared with the dinosaurs. Having lived and fossilated for such a long time, these Saligramams have been a witness (in a certain way) to several million years of evolution and hence very significant. Worship of the Saligrama is quite common in many households. Strict discipline is adopted by the worshipper and the Saligramam is kept in a protected place (Shaucham is of utmost importance).

The King of Thanjavur, Pratap Singh was gifted with 4 large and rare Saigramams by the King of Nepal. These Saligramams were then consecrated as Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and Sugriva. Normally one finds only the murti of Hanuman. This is one of those unique temples that pays tribute to Sugriva for helping Rama find Sita.

Here at the Kothandaramar temple, each big-sized moolavar idol (all of them are in Standing Posture) is from the Saligramam stone. It is believed that a Nepal king (who was the son in law of Thanjavur King) presented the sacred ‘Saligramam’ stones to the Thanjavur king. 

Rama is seen wearing an anklet (golusu) and a bell tied to a band, some six inches above the anklet. Holding His kothanda bow in His left hand, He has an arrow with a crescent moon tip in His right hand. Even the anklets on Mother Sita's feet and the bells on Rama's kothandam have been carved out so intricately.

The Utsav idols of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana that one sees today are said to be 1400 years old. These were found buried at Puvanur village near Needamangalam, about 25 km from here.

Other sources: https://www.anaadifoundation.org/blog/temples/kothandaramar-temple-at-punnainallur/

The temple was built by the Maratha king Pratap Singh, who lived in the 18th century and who contributed in many ways to a number of Vishnu temples in and around Thanjavur.

Another feature at this temple is the special status assigned to the monkey king Sugreeva. It is believed that Rama, in recognition of Sugreeva’s help in finding Sita, wanted the Vaanara King by His side. Sugriva sits on Rama-Sita’s right, just like Hanuman does, hands folded. The crown he wears is a Raja-kreetam, a royal crown. And he has a moustache too!

Lord Hanuman is seen in a separate sannidhi in a standing posture facing South with a lifted right hand and with a lotus in His left hand.

On the upper wall of the Hanuman sannidhi, one finds stone carvings of the 12 sun signs. The belief is that devotees who stand under their respective sun sign and offer sincere prayers to the Lord will be relieved from all the difficulties relating to their sun sign.

There are pictures depicting scenes from the Ramayana on either side of the main shrine. 

The Sthala Vriksham is the Punnai tree under which the Sri Rama Paduka have been engraved.