The vengadampettai temple is
unique in many aspects such as lord rama in a reclining posture and guruda in
padmasana.The temple is believed to have been built by a woman named
Venkatamma, who was the sister of a ruler of Gingee, who hailed from this
village. One of the Mac Kenzie manuscripts says that Venkatapathi, who ruled
Gingee about 1478 A.D., was from the village
of Vengadampettai
Although
the presiding deity is Venugopalan, there is also a sannidhi for a 19-feet long
Lord Rama, in a reclining pose, with a reposeful smile. Around 200 years ago,
this idol was discovered in a pond called Senkuttai, which is to the West of
the temple, and the Rama idol was also installed in the temple. Here Rama is
seen reclining on a seven hooded snake, with Sita and Veera Anjaneya at His
feet.
UNIQUE GARUDA
The
Garuda in this temple is unique, as he is seen seated in Padmasana pose, with a
snake draped around his left arm, its stretched hood resting on his thigh.
Opposite
the temple entrance is the unjal madapam, which has 16 pillars, each 50 ft
high. It is dangerous to get too close to this mandapam, because it is in
danger of disintegration. Besides, the path to it is blocked by bushes.
A
little away from this unjal mandapam is the huge temple tank, which is about an
acre in extent. The sthapathy, who designed and built the temple, was buried
close to this tank, and a small mandapam marks the place. There is also a shed
that was once used for the temple elephants - there were three or four once
upon a time. The temple chariot has disintegrated due to lack of attention, but
plans are afoot to have one built again and to celebrate all the festivals once
again with the same fervour. The ‘ther mutti,’ and the shed of the chariot can
still be salvaged. A huge wall - 236 ft in length and 129 ft in breadth runs
around the temple. This is yet to be repaired.
The
main temple has been repaired, and the collapsed walls reconstructed
painstakingly. Plans are afoot to restore the unjal mandapam and the
rajagopuram too. The temple is under the control of the HR and CE, but repair
work has been largely through the initiative of Arumuga Bhaskara Gurukkal, of
the Kamakshi temple in Germany .
That the period look of the temple has not in any way been spoilt is a feather
in the cap of those who have taken up the restoration work. But village
children, despite exhortations to them not to spoil the spruced up walls,
insist on putting down their names and hall ticket numbers on the walls! This
only goes to show, that for conservation efforts to succeed, we need to educate
the public on the value of heritage, and that such education should begin in
schools.
How
to get there: If you are traveling from Pondicherry
proceed towards cuddalore take cuddalore – viruthachalam – Salem road, and ask for kurinjippadi town,
from where vengadampatti temple is 5.4kms.
If you
are travelling from Panruti, proceed towards the Neyveli arch gate.
Vengadampettai is five kms from there.
If you
are travelling from Chidambaram, take the Cuddalore–Vridhachalam road, and ask
for Kurinjippadi town, from where Vengadampettai is three kms.
The
temple is open between 9a.m. and 10.a.m, in the morning and 5 and 6.p.m, in the
evening. If you need to visit, it’s better to inform the bhattar ahead so that
he will be available at that time.
Contact details:
Executive
officer – 94434 34024
Raghava
bhattar – 97880 80280
sathya@sathyaseelan, pondicherry
