Eri Katha Ramar Temple - Madhuranthakam

Madurantakam (மதுராந்தகம்) was part of Aruvanadu or Aruva Vadathalai Nadu in the early historical times and was part of Kolathur kottam in the medieval times. It has been an important part of Thondaimandalam starting from prehistoric to British period. Now it’s another small lazy village on the outskirts of the chennai and often stopped at for taking selfies off the GST road on the banks of maduranthakam lake. 

Village was known in inscriptions as Maduranthaka Chaturvedhi mangalam and the presiding deity was called as Thiru Ayothi Perumal (திருவயோத்தி பெருமாள்). Maduranthakam was a given a thaniyur status which signifies its importance. As usual in any traditional old village, Maduranthakam has an old Shiva temple in addition to the famous Vishnu temple (Eri Katha Ramar Temple). We will talk about the shiva temple which is old as well in a separate post. 

Presiding deity in the temple is called Eri kaatha raamar for having saved the village from heavy rains (one more disaster December attrocity?). Lionel Blaze who was then collector of Chengelpet district had instructed the stones kept for building Thayar shrine to be used for repair works of the bund.  Jestingly he had said if the lord was powerful he should save the village. After a few days of rain, water in the lake was up to the brim and was about to break the bunds. On the night when the lake’s bund was about to break, collector had camped near lake and had seen two bow sporting young boys (ram & lakshmanan) on the banks guarding the lake. He went on to build the Thayar shrine after the village was spared from floods.

Inscription with the words, "Sri Paranthaka Devarkku Yandu"

This is one of my favourite inscription from the temple. It speaks of a prince named parantaka who is not the parantaka I (famous for the golden tiles he laid at Thillai) and Parantakan II (Sundara chozha famous for his kids - Aditya karikalan, RR1 & Kundavai).  The name of the prince is without any title or with a meikeerthi and is being addressed simply as Paranthaka Devar. This is purportedly the brother of Rajendran II who was reigning over vengi and northern kingdom. He is also featured in one more important inscription from nearby Manimangalam village where a big inscription details out the list of princes and list of region given for autonomous rule below the chozha king (A detailed post on the inscriptions at Manimangalam coming up). There was also a parantaka who was the son of kulothunga chozha I.

Inscription with the words "Thaichakkani Udaiya Pattanana"

Inscription with the words, "Nalayira Achariyan"

This inscription goes on to tell about the land donation by the perunguri sabha of Sri Madurantaka Chaturvedi Mangalam as thiruvidaiyattam to the presiding deity on the seventh regnal year of this Parantaka. The deity was called as Jayamkonda chozha mandalathu kalathur kotathu thaniyurana madhuranthaka Chaturvedi mangalathu thiru ayothi perumal. One more interesting point to note in this inscription is one of the signatory to the inscription who was called “Thaichakaniudaiya Pattanana Nalayaira Achariyan” who must be an Acharya at the village. And by the mention of ‘nalayira’ it can be construed that he was an Acharya on Nalayira Divya Prabandham and is one of the mention of the compilation of the Bhakti Poetry of Alwars.

Normally in the ancient temples raised for sriramar in Tamil Nadu, presiding deity is used to be called as Thiruayothi perumal. In a kulothunga Chozha inscription the lord is called as Thiruvayothi Karunagara perumal. This Kulothunga Chozha Inscription is important to be noted for the mention of Alunganam (ஆளுங்கணம்) which was a prestigious executive body of a sort prevalent in those times which was constituted with Older members to manage the affairs of village.

Seeing the Amudhu (food offerings) offered to the temples (particularly Vaishnavite temples) is always fun. Here in one inscription detailed list of offerings to be made with the donation given to sustain the offering is mentioned. The list of amudhu goes like this:

Thiruamudhu (Rice)

Kariyamudhu (Poriyal)

Neyyamudhu (Ghee rice)

Thayiramudhu (Curd rice) 

Milagamudhu (Rice mixed with pepper)

Uppamudhu (Upma)

Adaikayamudhu (paaku)

Ilaiyamudhu (Vettrilai)

Inscription with the words, "Kariyamudhu, Neyyamudhu, Thayiramudhu, Milagamudhu, Uppamudhu, Adaikayamudhu"

On the Prasthara Kudu, artistic miniature sculptures of krishna leela can be seen:

Miniature depicting lord krishna killing the rakshashi Putana

Miniature depicting a dancing girl and lord krishna killing the demon Arishtasura

Miniature depicting lord krishna stealing butter

Miniature depicting lord krishna lifting govarthanagiri and lord krishna playing flute for cattle

Mandapam where panchasamskaram was perforemed by periya nambi to ramanujacharya

Temple is also famous for being the place where ramanujacharya was initiated into Srivaishnavism by administering panchasamskaram by Periya Nambi who was a disciple of Alavandhar. Ramanujar who is seen with saffron clothes in all other places is seen with white clothes here at this temple as he had visited here before his sanyasam. It is believed in vaishnavaite tradition when alavandhar was about to attain the feet of lord (Thirunadu alangarithal), he instructed periyanambi to induct Ramanujacharya into the vaishnavaite tradition to entrust him with Darshana (Vaishnavaite Philosophy) Nirvaham. While Periya Nambi was on his way to meet Ramanuja in Kanchipuram, Ramanuja on the instruction of Deva Perumal (Varadharaja Perumal of Kanchipuram) was on his way to Srirangam to take Periya Nambi as Guru. They two met at Madhuranthakam and Ramanuja convinced Periya Nambi to initiate Pancha Samskaram at Maduranthakam by uttering a verse from thiruvaimozhi, 

“மின்னின் நிலையில 

மன்னுயி ராக்கைகள் 

என்னு மிடத்து இறை

உன்னுமின் நீரே” 

Which roughly means that the life of creatures in this earth is short and will vanish as a lightening. By the way advanced Rama Navami Wishes to you all!!!