Kodanda Ramar temple

This article is about the Kodanda Ramar Temple on Madley Road, West Mambalam, in Chennai.

The temple is believed to be around 150 years old, and its most memorable feature is the way Rama is shown in a regal Pattabhishekam setting. Here, Rama sits on a royal throne, with Sita seated to his left. Hanuman is positioned at his feet in devotion, while Lakshmana stands nearby holding the royal umbrella. The overall composition immediately reminds many devotees of the celebrated arrangement at Bhadrachalam, which is why this West Mambalam shrine is sometimes spoken of as a kind of “Southern Bhadrachalam.”

A significant addition came later. In 1927 CE, the icons of Kodanda Rama (Rama with the bow), along with Sita and Lakshmana, were installed behind the Pattabhishekam form. From then on, the shrine began to be popularly referred to as the Kodanda Ramar Temple. The main sanctum also contains the bronze utsava murtis of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana.

As you walk through the temple, you will find several other shrines that broaden the Vaishnava experience:

1. Yoga Narasimha, along with bronze murtis of Srinivasa–Sri Devi–Bhoo Devi, and Krishna

2. Ranganathar with Sri Devi, Bhoo Devi, and Brahma (with an associated bronze murti as well)

3. Ranganayaki

4. Kulasekara Alwar

5. The Alwars

6. Manavala Mamunigal and Udayavar (Ramanuja)

7. Andal

8. Sanjeevi Parvat Hanuman

Another pleasant surprise here is the large, clean temple tank, which adds a sense of openness and calm to the visit.

Happy travelling.