Dedicated to Sri Rama
The gopuram above the shrine of Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal, Vada Madurai.
SITUATED 25 km from for Tiruvallur on the Periapalayam route is a small town called "Vada Madurai", which has a temple for Adikesava Perumal. Incidentally there is a town of the same name near Dindigul. The temple for Adikesava Perumal and Consort Adhilakshmi Thayar was built by King Rajendra Chozhan in commemoration of his victory over the kingdom of Kosala, near Punjab, Delhi. Kosala Desa belonged to Lord Rama, and the Chozha king installed Vadivazhakia Raman as the presiding deity of this temple constructed during his regime. The beauty of the Rama idol is discernible even though rulers after Rajendra Chozhan did not pay much attention to the image developing the temple as the abode of Sri Adikesava Perumal.
There is no raja gopuram but the vimanam above the shrine is attractive with colourful images of Dasavatharam. The renovation of the temple was done in 2001. The presence of Sri Bhakta Anjaneyar near the entrance makes it apparent that the temple was dedicated to Sri Rama. Sri Adikesava Perumal is in a standing posture flanked by Sridevi and Bhoodevi on either side. Garudazhwar is facing the deity. Sri Adikesava's upper hands hold chakra and sankam and lower ones are in Abhayahastha and Varadahasta. The utsava idol of Lord Adikesava is captivating. In fact both moolavar and utsavar are of the same size. Besides there is the idol of Krishna in the main shrine, either side of which are the Dwarapalakas.
Sri Rama in one of His most beautiful manifestations is placed for worship in the sannidhi mandapam.
The song "Antharama Sowndaryam" composed by Arunachalakavi in Tamil perfectly suits the idol. While the image of Bharatha seems to be as old as that of Sri Rama the idols of Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya could have been later additions. Vishwaksena and Lord Srinivasa have also shrines next to Sri Rama. Sri Adhilakshmi Thayar has a separate shrine and in a sitting posture bestows Her grace on the devotees in both the moolavar and utsavar positions.
The Thayar sannidhi mandapam has images of the lion on the roof signifying the temple's association with the Pallava Kings. The Utsava Thayar is known as Vedavalli. The main festivals celebrated in the temple are Srijayanthi, Karthigai Deepam and Vaikunta Ekadasi.
R. S. RAGHAVAN
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