Ramaswamy Temple

About Ramaswamy Temple

Far From City: 2 kms from city center
Cost: About Ramaswamy Temple Weather: Time Required:1-2 hours Open Time:6:00 AM - 9:00 PM Cost:No entry fee

History of Ramaswamy Temple From the architecture of the temple, it can be readily concluded that it was built during the rule of the Nayaks in Thanjavur. From being merely the feudal lords under the Vijayanagar Empire, the Nayaks went on to have their own autonomy over the land for a better part of the 16th century. They did a lot of cultural, political and administrative reforms to the area south of the Vindhyas. At some point during the Nayakkar rule, Govinda Dikshitar, the prime minister of the Nayaks for three consecutive rulers of Thanjavur, built this temple for Lord Rama. He also added a commercial corridor to the architecture between this temple and the old Vishnu temple, Chakrapani. Ramaswamy Temple Architecture The Ramaswamy Temple of Thanjavur owes its architecture to the trademark, age-old Dravidian style. The main deities of the temple is Lord Rama himself, and his chief companions throughout the story of Ramayana - his wife and consort Seeta, brother and protector Lakshmana and loyal and powerful devotee, Anjaneya Hanuman. The central shrine houses the idols of all these figures as well as some more, perfectly depicting the last scene of Ramayana as we know. Lord Rama and Seeta sit on a throne, flanked by Lakshmana with a bow and arrow, their other two brothers Bharat and Shatrugna, with an umbrella and a fan respectively, while Hanuman sits near the Lord's feet in a praying posture and sings his praise with a veena. Between the sanctum and the three-tiered gopuram of the temple lies the Maha Mandapam with 64 pillars, which are sculpted with certain episodes from the great epic. Events like the coronation of Vibishana and Sugriva, Hanuman playing the Veena, relieving Agalya from her curse - these are carved on the single-stone pillars of the hall. The carvings are delicate and tell the episodes of Ramayana in artistic details. Around the three-tiered gopurams or gate, which is typical to almost all south Indian Hindu temples, there are wall paintings on the rock walls of the temple precincts, nearly 219 in number, telling the whole story of Ramayana in pictures. If you take rounds of the sanctum, following the rule of pradakshinam, then you can read through the whole story told through pictures in three turns. There are temples of some other deities like Alwar Sannathi, Sreenivasa Sannathi, and Gopalan Sannathi as well.

How to Reach Ramaswamy Temple The temple is situated in Kumbakonam town of Thanjavur. Buses run to and fro from the main city areas to the temple. If you are planning a whole day trip, including some other sites, it is best to hire a car for the day for ease of conveyance.

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