Kodhandaramar Kovil - Nandambakkam (Chennai)

 temple  Add category

 Upload a photo

This temple for Lord Rama is one of the oldest in the city. According to legend, Lord Rama on his way to Lanka, offered homage to Sage Bhringi, who was doing penance on a hill named after him (Bhringimalai is now called Parankimalai). Sage Bhringi requested Lord Rama to stay with him. A garden was laid near the hill where Lord Rama spent his time, which came to be known as Nandavanam and later Nandambakkam.

The descendants of Vijayanagara rulers constructed this temple for Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, around 750 years ago, in the place where Lord Rama stayed. The original idols that the sage worshipped were installed in this temple. Shrines for Lord Srinivasa of Tirumala, Goddess Alarmelmangai Thayar, Nandavana Kannan, Ananda Anjaneyar, Azhwars and Acharyas were later installed and the temple became a big complex.

The special features of this temple are that it faces south and Sita is found sitting on Rama's lap. The temple is also called `Then Thirupathi of Thondai Mandalam'. An eternal lamp burns in the Vasantha mandapam with 288 ghee lamps around it. The Ananda Anjaneyar is 7 feet high and is beautiful.

Note: As an identification of Rama having stayed at Ramavaram, there are places in the name of Ramavaram, Seethavaram and Devipuram around.