Pon Vilaintha Kalathur Dharbasayana Seturama Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Pon Vilaintha Kalathur Dharbasayana Seturama Temple, Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, Kanchipuram district -603405

Diety

Dharbasayana Seturama

Introduction

• Location: Dharbasayana Seturama Temple is situated in Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, approximately 10 km from Chengalpet in the Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu.
• Significance: Although small in structure, the temple is one of three significant Rama temples in the village, with rich legendary stories enhancing its mythological significance.
• Age: The temple is believed to be around 1000 years old.
• Accessibility: Pon Vilaintha Kalathur is about 65 km from Chennai, with local buses operating every half hour between Chengalpet and the village.

Puranic Significance

• Legend of Name: The village name “Pon Vilaintha Kalathur” means “yield from cultivation” (pon = gold, vilaintha = yield) in Tamil, linked to a story involving Vedanta Desikar, who, unable to find alms for Lord Hayagriva, discovered that a white horse had turned their fields into gold.
• Dharbasayana Episode: The temple’s idol depicts Lord Rama in the Dharbasayana posture, related to the episode in the Ramayana where Rama performs penance to impress Samudra Raja for safe passage to Lanka.
• Temple Structure: The entrance to the Dharba Sayana Ramar temple is through the Kothanda Ramar temple. Lord Rama is depicted with Lakshman behind him, Anjaneya and Samudra Raja praying in front of him.

Special Features

• Utsavar Idol: The Utsavar (processional idol) of Lord Rama is believed to have originated from Dhanushkodi, as indicated by inscriptions on the idol’s crown.
• Recent Installations: The Dharbasayana Sethuramar Sannidhi was recently installed in Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy Temple.
• Discovery of the Idol: The Urchava Vigraham of Sri Ramar was discovered in a well within the temple precincts, revealed to a devotee in a dream, with the inscription “Dhanushkodi Ramar” on the kiridam (crown).
• Moolavar Installation: The Moolavar (main deity) of Dharbasayana Sethuramar was installed by the grandsons of Salem Vijayraghavachariyar, with the Samprokshanam (consecration) performed by the 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt.
• Iconography: The bronze image of Lord Rama is the temple’s main attraction, resembling the Rama image at the Thirupullani temple.

Nearby Temples

• Proximity to Other Temples: The Kodanda Ramar temple, Dharba Sayana Ramar temple, and Lakshmi Narasimhar temple are situated close to each other, with the Chaturbhuja Ramar temple located about 4-5 km away at Pon Padhar Kudam.

Century/Period/Age

1000 Years old

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HRCE)

Nearest Bus Station

Pon Vilaintha Kalathur

Nearest Railway Station

Ottivakkam

Nearest Airport

Chennai

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