Kumbakonam’s Ramaswamy Temple honors Lord Rama, one of Lord Vishnu’s avatars. Kumbakonam is the temple town where many distinct and unique deities reside. Located directly east of the Aadhi Kumbeshwarar Temple, in the center of Kumbakonam, is the Ramasamy Temple, one of the most well-known Vishnu temples.
Ramaswamy Temple at Kumbakonam History: Sthala Puranam
This temple is special because Lord Sri Rama, along with his brothers, Goddess Sita, and Lord Hanuman, bless the worshippers.
On the same Peeta platform as Goddess Sita Devi, the principal deity Lord Rama is seated. Beautiful idols of Lord Sri Rama and Lord Sita are shown in coronation posture. Lakshmana, Bharatha, Shatrugna, and Lord Hanuman are depicted in standing positions, while Lord Sri Rama himself is shown in a worshiping posture. Bharatha is holding an umbrella, Shatrughna is holding a hand fan, and Lord Lakshmana is standing behind Lord Rama with a bow and arrows. In contrast to other temples, Lord Hanuman is portrayed as playing the Veena while Lord Rama is shown in the temple wearing the Vyakarna Mudra.
Here, Lord Hanuman is liberated from his club and is sitting while praising Lord Rama. It is said that he is singing the story of the Ramayana while clutching the epic in one hand. This further demonstrates that Sri Hanuman is a talented musician in addition to being a learned scholar and warrior.
Amazingly, it is said that the original Saligrama monolith rock was used to create the sculptures of all the gods. The arrangements made by the deity are said to be a replication of Lord Rama’s Pattabhishekam (Coronation). Only at the Ayodhya temple in Uttar Pradesh, the Ayodhyapattanam in the Salem district, and Kumbakonam can we see all of Lord Rama’s brothers together.
The temple is called “South Ayodhya” because it is built in the coronation style and contains images of Bharatha and Shatrughna alongside those of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. People from distant places are drawn to this coronation scene by the divine sight of the celestial confluence, which leaves them in awe.
The stunning architecture of the Ramaswamy Temple in Kumbakonam dates back to the 16th century, when the Nayakar kings constructed it, making it between 350 and 450 years old. The temple was built by the Nayaka kings’ prime minister, Govinda Dikshitar.
Ramasamy Temple was constructed by King Achutha Nayakar, who governed Tanjore from 1614 to 1640 CE. In Darasuram, close to Kumbakonam, King Achutha Nayakar, a follower of Lord Rama, excavated a sacred tank. In the tank, they discovered idols of Goddess Sita and Lord Sri Rama while excavating. The King made the decision to erect the Ramaswamy Temple as a temple dedicated to Lord Sri Rama. This temple’s construction was also overseen by Govinda Dikshitar, also known as Govinda Ayyan, the prime minister of the Nayak king. Between this new temple and the older Chakrapani Temple, Govinda Dikshitar added a commercial corridor known as “Kadai Theru,” or the Commercial Street.
Ramayana/Ramanam murals found encircling the Ramasamy Temple walls:
The famous Indian Itihasas, the Ramayana/Ramayanam, are masterfully portrayed as a sequence of incidents in pictorial format—murals—on the walls of this temple. Scenes from the Ramayana are exquisitely illustrated with a variety of vibrant natural inks. The temple features a walled, three-tiered Gopuram.
This is the ideal location to go if you’re interested in purchasing the Ramayana Itihasas in picture form. This temple is visited by School kids who want to learn about the Ramayana. While strolling through the temple, one can peruse this exquisite Ramayana visually.
Among the well-known sculptures in this temple are those by Sukreeva Pattabisegam, Meenakshi Kalyanam, and Vamana Avatharam. Within the wall surrounding the sanctum sanctorum are Lords Vinayaka and Bhoovarahaswami. A shrine honoring Lord Perumal and Mothers Sridevi and Bhoodevi is also present.
The temple has a magnificent Gopuram, a sizable complex, and exquisitely carved pillars that give it a majestic appearance. The room near the Gopuram has 64 pillars that are finely carved to depict different scenes from the epic Ramayana. The carvings are profound and deeply emotional at the same time. The 219 wall paintings that make up the outer Prakaram depict significant events from the epic Ramayana.
The temple’s pillars are all richly carved with detailed images of the famous Bharatanatyam dancing mudras. The other temples in the complex are Gopalan Sannathi, Sreenivasa Sannathi, and Alwar Sannathi.
The annual Mahamaham festival, which takes place in Kumbakonam once every twelve years, is associated with five Vishnu temples in Kumbhakonam. Sarangapani Temple, Chakrapani Temple, Ramaswamy Temple, Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and Varahaperumal Temple are the other four temples.
The principal celebrations held at Ramaswamy Temple in Kumbakonam are the Sri Rama Navami Festival and the Special Poojas held in Panguni in March and April. The ninth day following the New Moon in March or April is when Sri Rama Navami is grandly celebrated.
During the February–March Masi Magam Festival, Lord Sri Rama and Mother Sita bathe in the Maga Magam Temple Tank and give devotees Theertha Prasad.
July and August: Five days in Adi are dedicated to Pavitra Urchavam.
Ramasamy Temple Timings: 6 AM – 12 PM and 5 PM – 9 PM. Visit the official website of Liturgical Temples to learn more about historical locations and temples. This website presents well-researched information gathered from reliable sources.
Nearby Temples: Oppiliappan Temple, Brihadeshwara Temple, Thirumanancheri Temple, Ramaswamy Temple, Nachiyar Koil, Arulmigu Naganathaswamy Temple, Swamimalai Murugan Temple, Kizhvelur Temple.