PADAVEDU ARULMIGU RAMACHANDRA SWAMY TEMPLE

ARULMIGU RAMACHANDRA SWAMY TEMPLE

Significance Of Idols In This Temple In this temple Lord Rama is uniquely seated in Artha Padmasana with a "Yoga Mudra" with Goddess Sita and Lord Lakshman by his side. Unusually Lord Hanuman is seated in front of Lord Rama reading a Palm leaf Manuscript.

Location 1 KM west of Arulmigu Renugambal Temple. Temple Structure The temple was constructed before 12th Century AD. The finely sculpted idols of this temple bear testimony to the strong influence of Vijayanagara empire on the Sambuvarayar chieftains during this time. Inscriptions found in this temple indicates that the temple had been receiving support from Krishna Devaraya and his successors from Vijayanagaram.

Story After the destruction of Ravana, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya and was crowned. Once Lord Rama learned through a sacred voice from heaven, about the atrocities of hundred headed Mahi Ravana, an Asura. The sacred voice requested Lord Rama to destroy this Mahi Ravana also. On behalf of Lord Rama, his ardent devotee Hanuman with his monkey troops rose against Mahi Ravana. The intense battle witnessed the fall of his soldiers on the hands of the Asura. In spite of his best efforts, Hanuman could not locate Mahi Ravana. At that time, Sita Devi informed Hanuman that Mahi Ravana was a staunch devotee of Goddess Renuka Devi and his life force was hidden in a lotus flower of a Pond at Kundalipuram and he had been protected by Goddess Renuka Devi. Sita asked Hanuman to go to Kundalipuram and destroy Mahi Ravana. On the arrival of Hanuman, goddess Renuka Devi made the lotus Pond disappear to safeguard Mahi Ravana. Hanuman got angry and fought against Goddess Renuka Devi. Knowing this, Lord Rama intervened and pacified both. Then Lord Rama and Hanuman prayed Goddess Renuka devi to help them in destroying Mahi Ravana. Pleased by the prayers Goddess Renuka Devi granted the boon and Mahi Ravana was destroyed. Later Rama too took abode in Kundaliupuram along wiht his consort Sita, brother Lakshman and his devotee Hanuman at the place where the present temple is located.