Kodandarama Temple Vontimitta

Kodandarama Temple is built for Lord Rama. The temple is situated in Vontimitta town in Rajampet taluk of Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh. It is 25 kilometers from Kadapa and is near Rajampet. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is the administer of the temple run by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. It is also considered the largest temple in the region.

The architectural style is of Vijayanagara, which dates back to the 16th century. The legend of the temple describes the creators of the temple named Vontudu and Mittudu. Both were first robbers who then turned into staunch devotees of Lord Rama and established the idol.

There are various stories related to the temple, which increase its significance.

• Bammera Potana, who lived in Vontimitta, wrote Maha Bhagavatham in the Telugu language, dedicating it to Rama.
• Vavilakolanu Subba Rao, who was known as “Andhra Valmiki,” translated the Valmiki’s Ramayana in Telugu and worshipped Rama here.
• The saint-poet Annamacharya is also believed to visit the temple and composed songs for Rama, which are revered in the Kirtans.
• Bhavanasi Mala Obanna was a devotee of Rama who sang a song admiring the Lord in front of the temple. A symbol depicting Mala Obanna can also be seen in front of east Gopuram.
• Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a French traveler who visited this temple in 1652 and was mesmerized by the construction.

The Architecture of the Temple

The architecture of the temple remains in Vijayanagara style. The building is the largest in the region, which is built within a rectangular yard enclosed by walls. There are three ornate Gopurams in which the central one faces East and is also the entryway to the temple.

The other two Gopurams face North and South. The central tower has five tiers that can be stepped using the stairs provided. There are beautiful sculptures in the mandapa, which are worth noticing. The mandapa is known as Madhyarangaradapam, supported over 32 pillars.

One can notice the carved figurines in the walkways of the mandapa. The southern side of the central support system depicts carvings of Krishna and Vishnu. There are layers containing the carvings of apsaras and deities.

The central part of the mandapa also contains piers where one can see the images of Vali. The roof of the central part is well adorned with different decorative brackets. The mandapa also holds the images of Lord Rama with his brother Lakshman. Here Rama can be seen in a standing position holding the bow in the right hand and arrow in the left. The Lord is adorned with the Kundalas (ear-rings), garlands, sacred thread, and other items.

Lakshmana stays in tribhanga posture with his right hand held down free, and there is a bow in his left hand. Here the adornments are the conical crown, graivevakas, channavira, waistband, yagnopavita, and purnaruka.

Since the image of Krishna is also in the temple, it is in dvibhanga posture with the left leg firmly on the ground, and the right leg bent at the knee and crossed over the left leg. In his right hand, Krishna holds the Govardhan Hill, and the left hand is resting on Kati. There are many other ornaments that adorn the Krishna here; kirtimukuta is one of these adornments with two cows as well by his side.

To reach the sanctum sanctorum, there is an inner chamber where there are beautiful sculptures. Here the idols of Lord Rama with his consort Sita and brother Lakshman are the prime idols. These idols are carved out of a single rock; the sanctum sanctorum is believed to have been carved out of a single block.

There is no idol of Hanuman; the sanctum sanctorum itself is considered to be the Hanuman. However, there is a separate temple for Hanuman; there is an image of Ganesha as well in dancing posture.

There are two sacred water tanks, Rama theertham and Lakshmana theertham, located within the boundaries of the temple.

Festival

Rama Navami is the major festival that happens in the Kodandarama Swamy Temple every year. The festivity used to be celebrated in Bhadrachalam Temple before the state of Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Still, Rama Navami is the most significant festival here in the temple.