Sri Kodandarama Swami Devastanam

Sri Kodandarama Swami Devastanam (శ్రీ కోదండరామ స్వామి దేవస్థానం) is a temple in Buchireddipalem, SPSR Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Founding

This temple's construction was started in the year 1765 by one Sri Dodla Rami Reddy, known as 'Bangaru Rami Reddy' (శ్రీ బంగారు రామి రెడ్డి), a member of the family which established Buchireddipalem somewhere about 1715-16. It was completed in the year 1784. Since then Bramhotsavams (బ్రహ్మొత్సవము) are held every year, commencing on the Sri Rama Navami (శ్రీరామ నవమి) day, which falls in the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar.

Timeline

This temple has been open for devotees since 1784. In the early 1800s Sri Dodla Pattabhirama Reddy built the Ratham for the temple and also had the Temple Tank (కోనెరు) built.

1939: During the trusteeship of Sri Dodla Varada Reddy, the limestone (సున్నపు రాయి) kalasams atop the Rajagopuram (రాజగోపురం) were replaced with copper kalasams. On this occasion a Kumbabishekam was held.

1983: During the trusteeship of Sri Dodla Muddu Krishna Reddy, repairs to the Rajagopuram were carried out, and a Kumbabishekam was held on this occasion.

1984: Grand celebrations were held during the Bramhotsavams to commemorate the 200th year of the Temple. On the Kalyanam day young members of the founding family carried the deity around the temple complex to pay respects to the Lord in their own way.

1991: Major repairs were carried out to the Temple car (రధం), and its height was reduced to the present 45 feet.

2000: All the flooring inside the main temple was replaced with Galaxy black granite.

2001: An Annadanam program was started by serving the devotees on every Full-moon (పౌర్ణమి) day.

2001: A compound wall was built around the Temple tank.

2002: The Temple tank was de-silted.

2003: Mandapams inside the temple and one near the Koneru were repaired.

2009: The Bramhotsavams were held in additional grandeur, when the founding family celebrated the 225th year of the temple Bramhotsavams (బ్రహ్మొత్సవము). A silver crown was contributed by a devotee to the moola virat of Sri Kodandarama Swamy. Another devotee contributed a pearl haram for each of the three deities in the main temple, in addition to the pearls mixed in the 'Talambralu'. Another devotee contributed a 'Golden Thali' to the Sitadevi to be used during the swami vaari kalyanam.

Dharmakarta

This temple has been efficiently managed by the members of the family, and they are traditionally called 'Hereditary Trustee' (వంశపారంపర్య ధర్మకర్త), but this title has been since changed after a Supreme Court ruling to 'Founder Trustee'** (వ్యవస్తాపక ధర్మకర్త). The family identifies the most suitable person to administer the temple and hands over the responsibility to them.

Dharmakarta Name From Date/Year To Date/Year
Sri Dodla Rami Reddy 1784 -
Sri Dodla Varada Reddy - -
Sri Dodla Raghava Reddy - -
Sri Dodla Venkatanarasa Reddy - -
Sri Dodla Balarami Reddy - -
Sri Dodla Pattabhirama Reddy - -
Sri Bezawada Ramachandra Reddy - -
Sri Putta Kodandarama Reddy - -
Sri Bezawada Papi Reddy - -
Sri Bezawada Subba Reddy - -
Sri Bezawada Obul Reddy - 1894
Sri Dodla Venkatrama Reddy 1894 5-8-1935
Dodla Varada Reddy 5-8-1935 6-4-1942
Sri Dodla Balarama Reddy 6-4-1942 8-7-1953
Sri Dodla Muddukrishna Reddy 8-7-1953 18-6-1984
Sri Dodla Panduranga Reddy 18-6-1984 01-10-1998
Sri Dodla Muralikrishna Reddy** 01-10-1998

Temple precincts

This temple has the following deities in its precincts: Sri Kodandarama Swamy, along with Seetha and Lakshmana (సీత, లక్ష్మన సమేత శ్రీ కోదండరామ స్వామి), Chaturbja Lakshmi Ammavaru (చతుర్బుజ లక్ష్మీ అమ్మవారు), Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami (శ్రీ లక్ష్మీ నరసింహ స్వామి వారు), Andal Ammavaru (ఆండాళ్ అమ్మవారు) in the main temple, and Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy (శ్రీ ప్రసన్న ఆంజనేయ స్వామి వారు) outside the main temple within the temple property.

On Chaitra Sudda Pournami day the 45-foot well-decorated temple car (రధం) is pulled by the devotees, chanting 'Jai Sriram' ('జై శ్రీరాం'), around the main streets of the 'Pedduru' part of the town. This program is attended by well over 25,000 people every year.

This temple has a huge tank, one hectare in area. During the Bramhotsavams (బ్రహ్మత్వమ) a well-decorated float (తెప్పొత్సవం) is taken around the tank three times. This is witnessed by thousands of people who sit on the banks of the tank. A compound wall has been constructed around the tank.

Rituals

Daily

Morning

The idols placed in the main sanctum (గర్బ గుడి), namely Sri Srinivasa Murthy, Sri Chakra and Saligrama, are worshiped every day by performing Abishekam (అభిషేకం) to them.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Utsava Vigraham is worshiped by performing an Abishekam (అభిషేకం) to it.

Nitya Homam is performed in the 'Yagasala'.

In all sanctums 'Thiruvaradhana' (Nitya archana kramam) and 'Dhoopa Deepa Nivedhana' are performed to the respective Gods. In the morning 'Bala bhoga nivedana' (పెరుగు అన్నం) is offered to the Gods as prasadam.

'Bali Harana' (బలి పీఠం పై ప్రసాదం ఉంచు కార్యక్రమము) is performed to appease the 'Ashta Dikpalakulu' (అష్ట దిక్పాలకులు).

A 'Saatumora' offering of Harathi to the gods is performed.

Noon

In all sanctums 'Thiruvaradhana' (Nitya archana kramam) and 'Dhoopa Deepa Nivedhana' are performed to the respective Gods.

After the 'Thiruvaradhana' is performed, the gods are offered 'mruta sahita annam', or 'suddannam' (పప్పు అన్నం) is offered as prasadam.

'Bali Harana' (బలి పీఠం పై ప్రసాదం ఉంచు కార్యక్రమము) is performed to appease the 'Ashta Dikpalakulu' (అష్ట దిక్పాలకులు).

A 'Saatumora' (శాతుమొర) offering of Harathi to the Gods is performed after 'Bali Harana'.

Evening

After the 'Thiruvaradhana' is performed, the gods are offered 'Chitranna' (పులిహొర) as prasadam.

'Bali Harana' (బలి పీఠం పై ప్రసాదం ఉంచు కార్యక్రమము) is performed to appease the 'Ashta Dikpalakulu' (అష్ట దిక్పాలకులు).

A 'Saatumora' (శాతుమొర) offering of Harathi to the gods is performed after 'Bali Harana', after the 'Theerthakars' (తీర్థకార్లు) read 'Prabhandams' (ప్రభంధం).

Weekly

Sri Chaturbuja Lakshmi Ammavaru: Every Friday Abhishekam (అభిషేకం) is performed to the Goddess.

Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy: On every Saturday Abhishekam (అభిషేకం) is performed to the Lord. In addition there is a 'Palanquin seva' (పల్లకీసేవ) round the inner precinct of the main temple by the devotees.

Monthly

On every Pournami day 'Annadanam' ('అన్నదానం') is carried out by the Sri Kodandaramaswamy Charitable Trust; the devotees visiting the temple are fed on that day.

On every Friday prior to the 'New Moon Night' (అమావస్య), 'Palanquin seva' (పల్లకీ సేవ) round the inner precinct of the main temple is offered to the Goddess Sri Chaturbuja Lakshmi Ammavaaru.

On 'Punarvasu' Star (పునర్వసునక్షత్రం) day, Abhishekam (అభిషేకం) is performed to the main deities Sri Kodandarama Swamy, Sethammavaaru and Lakshmana Swamy in the Temple.

Bramhotsavams

In the Hindu month of Chaitra the Bramhotsavams are initiated on the Bahula Sudda Ashtami day with a yagnam, and the Dharmakata and his immediate family are protected from all evil until the end of the utsavams by having the chief priest of the temple tie a 'Raksha Kankanam' around their wrists.

DAY MORNING EVENING NIGHT
Chaitra Sudda Ashtami Ankuraropanam అంకురారోపణం
Chaitra Sudda Navami Dwajarohanam ధ్వజారోహణం, Tirchi Utsavam తిర్చి ఉత్సవము Seshavahanam శేష వాహన సేవ
Chaitra Sudda Dasami Sorya Prabha Vahana Utsavam సూర్యప్రభ వాహన ఉత్సవము Hamsa Vahana Seva హంస వాహన సేవ
Chaitra Sudda Ekadasi Tirchi Utsavam తిర్చి ఉత్సవము Vyali Vahana Seva యాళివాహన ఉత్సవము
Chaitra Sudda Dwadasi Tirchi Utsavam తిర్చి ఉత్సవము Hanumanta Vahana Seva హనుమంతవాహన సేవ
Chaitra Sudda Triyodasi Mohini Avatara Utsavam మొహిని అవతార ఉత్సవము Garuda Vahana Seva గరుడవాహన సేవ
Chaitra Sudda Chaturdasi Sri Vaari Kalyanam కల్యాణోత్సవము Gaja Vahana Seva గజవాహన సేవ
Chaitra Sudda Pournami Radhotsavam రథోత్సవము Teppotsavam తెప్పోత్సవము Ponnamanu Vahana Seva
Chaitra Bahula Padyami Tirchi Utsavam తిర్చి ఉత్సవము Aswa Vahana Seva అశ్వవాహన ఉత్సవము
Chaitra Bahula Dwitiya Tirchi Utsavam తిర్చి ఉత్సవము, Alakala topu అలకలతోపు, Chakra Snanam చక్ర స్నానం Dwaja Avarohanam ధ్వజ అవరోహణము
Chaitra Bahula Tritiya Ekanta Seva ఏకాంతసేవ

References

External links