Madurantakam is a small town located 84km south of Chennai. It is famous for a Ram Temple located at the center of the town and the temple is 1500years old. I personally like Madurantakam very much for many reasons. Primary reason is that a British Collector himself had a darshan of Lord Ram in the year 1796. This is also the only Ram temple in the world in which there is no separate sannidhi for Anjaneyar or Hanumaan. This is because when Lord Ram returned from Lanka with Seetha, Hanumaan was assigned a different task by Lord Ram and as a result he was not present. That's why there is not separate shrine for Anjaneyar at Madurantakam. Instead there is a small temple for Anjaneyar in front of Ram temple which was built later.
I visit the Ram temple at Madurantakam almost every two months if I am in Tamilnadu. Being a devotee of Lord Vishnu, I am always interested in Vishnu Temples. I am personally impressed with the overall majestic appearance of Lord Vishnu as Lord Ram in the Yeri Katha Ramar Temple. His brother Lakshman’s majestic appearance adds more beauty. As far as I know this is the only temple in which Lord Ram is portrayed as holding Sita’s hand. I got this information through the temple priest with whom I converse often.
Madurantakam has an interesting legend associated with it. It is believed that Lord Ram gave darshan to Lt.Colonel Plaze, a British collector when he prayed to Lord Ram to assist him when he was in trouble. It is to be noted that Plaze was a sceptical person.
In the year 1796, the temple authorities decided to build a shrine for Janakavalli Thayar (Goddess Sita). It was a rainy season and Madurantakam Tank was getting full. There was a fear that the bunds would give away and water would come into the town. At that time, Lt.Plaze noticed a huge pile of stones piled up near the Temple. He inquired the purohits why there were so many bricks and stones inside the temple complex.
The purohits replied that those bricks were to be used for constructing a separate shrine for Goddess Sita. The collector was amused. He said that building a shrine wasn’t a priority. He believed that the bricks should be used for repairing the bunds of the tank or should be used to strengthen the bunds. The purohits replied that Lord Vishnu never betrayed any devotee and He always answers the prayers of his devotees. Purohits asked the Collector to pray to Lord Ram sincerely from his heart and they assured him that his prayers would be answered and he would be saved from trouble. Plaze wasn't in a mood to listen to all these stories.
The rains never stopped and the villagers were worried. The entire town of Madurantakam was filled with water everywhere and daily life was affected. Many feared that the tank would overflow and water will come into the town. As a District Collector, Lt.Col Plaze had a lot of work pressure and he was extremely worried. He went to the spot along with his team and inspected the bunds. He prayed at heart that the bunds shouldn’t break. He had no chance now. He has to rely on God now.
There was a flash of lightning. He saw two figures standing at a distance. One of them had a bow in the hand. Lt.Col. Plaze was amazed and spell bound. It was none other than Lord Ram (Vishnu) and his divine brother Lakshman. His prayers were answered! Lord Ram and Lakshman themselves have taken the task of protecting the tank. None of the other members in the team who were with him in the site saw Ram or Lakshman. It was believed that the Collector fainted after having darshan of Lord Ram.
When the rains stopped, the Collector approached the purohits and apologised to them for being sarcastic. He personally took charge of the construction expenses and a shrine for Janakavalli Thayar was built. As a sign of respect, the temple authorities engraved a small idol of Col.Plaze in the walls of the shrine of Janakavalli Thayar as a sign of respect. Even in the temple entrance Col.Plaze’s name is mentioned in return of grattitude.
I love Madurantakam and it's my favourite place in this world! Wherever, I travel to, I would always come and visit this place. This is where I find peace, love and tranquility.
-Krishna Kumar.S
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