Eri Katha Ramar- Madurantakam

All of us have at some time or the other read or heard the story of Sri Rama known as Ramayana. How Lord Rama even as a mere youth under the tutelage of Rishi Viswamitra helped the sages performing yajnas, from the evil forces, was an early indication of his compassion to the good and the devoted, the sincere and the steadfast. The Lord has his own way of making the agnostic believe and the unbelieving sing his praise and even build his temple story of the Eri katha Ramar of Madurantakam is an emphatic testimony of his ways. That God is not only omni potent, omniscient and omnipresent but also Eternal and that his acts of grace and succour are constantly evidenced in our own time can be seen in the story of Madurantakam Rama. The fact that the central character in this story is a British official lends further credence to the theory that Godhead is one whatever name it may be known by or worshipped as.

During the period 1795 to 1799 the Collector of Chengalpattu District was a British officer called Colonel Lionel Blaze. During his collectorship, Colonel Lionel had witnessed two breaches to the huge tank in Madurantakam taluk. The enormity of the problem can be appreciated only when we know of the massive size of the tank. Having an area of 13 square miles and a depth of 21 feet, the breaching of the tank following torrential downpour was any official's nightmare. Wanting to take preemptive action in the year 1798 the Collector camped in Madurantakam. During his sojourn the Collector was exploring ways and means to undertake urgent repairs of the breaches if and when they happened. During the course of his inspections, he happened to see a large collection of granite and other stones in the precincts of the Rama temple. The Collector mentioned to his subordinates that these could be put to use in restoration of the bunds. Hearing this the temple priests submitted that the stones were meant for constructing a separate shrine for Janakavalli Thayar and since there was paucity of funds the construction could not commence.

Hearing this the Collector is said to have remarked that where was the need for a separate shrine when more urgent work like repairing the bunds were crying for resources and asked the priests jestingly as to why the Lord was not able to save the tank each year? The priests replied saying that the Lord was always known to answer a sincere prayer from the heart. The rains came and it poured. Within a few days the tank was full to the brim and a breach seemed imminent. That night a worried Collector camped near the tank hoping against hope that the bunds would hold. As he was inspecting, Colonel Blaze saw a miraculous sight. He saw two warriors bearing bow and quiver guarding the bunds. The British officer went on his knees and prayed, for he knew it was none other than Lord Rama and his divine brother Lakshmana. It was indeed strange that nobody else who was a part of the Collector's retinue saw the Lord. After a while the vision evanesced and the rain stopped. The grateful Collector undertook the building of the shrine for Janakavalli thayar and the Rama in the temple came to be known as the erikatha Ramar (Rama who saved the tank). The edict with the Collector's name citing him as a benefactor can be seen even today in the Madurantakam temple.

The temple of Madurantakam is situated 50 km from Chennai on the Grand Southern Trunk road leading to Trichy. It is a busy, dusty little township off the highway and it is an achievement to find a parking place near the temple which is plop in the middle of the shandy bazaar. The temple has a beautiful look and the main deity of Lord Rama bearing the kothandam and accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana is sight that is an anodyne to a million ills. The utsava murthy of Lord Rama and Karunakara Perumal can also be seen. Karunakara Perumal is none other than Lord Vishnu with Sree Devi and Bhoo Devi. Lord Rama himself is said to have worshipped the utsava murthy at Madurantakam, which was then known as Vaghularanyam. The temple has shrines to Lakshmi, Narasimha, Udayavar, Peria Nambi, Vishwaksena, Vedantadesikar, Azhwars and Andal. The Anjaneya shrine is on the south-eastern corner of the temple tank.

Just ahead of the sanctum one can find some of the most beautiful kirtanas on Rama composed by Saint Thayagaraja. The miracle of Madurantakam only reinforces faith in the Almighty's limitless compassion and his awesome powers. Sree Rama Navami is probably the best time to contemplate his greatness and see the site of his miracle in the temple of Madurantakam. As you behold that massive sheet of water and picture in your mind the God with his mighty bow, you can feel the transcendence of divine power, and his glory for a brief second will empower you beyond imagination.