Thiru Ayodhya Sri Ramar Thirukovil ~ Ammaji Mandir

Thiru Ayodhya Sri Ramar Thirukovil ~ Ammaji Mandir

I have recently posted about the most auspicious day ‘Sree Rama Navami’ – the celebrations on theday in which Lord Sri Ramachandramurthy, the supreme avatar of Maryada Purush  was born in the blessed land of Ayodhya. While it is ‘Hanumantha vahanam’ in many divyadesam and abhimana sthalams, one thought wandered on the holy land of ‘Ayodhya’ too.

Thiru Ayodhya, also known as Saket is the ancient and holy city where Lord Sri Rama, the hero of Sri Ramayana was born.  Ayodhya  was the capital of the ancient Kosala Kingdom.  Ayodhya is on the  banks of the river Sarayu.  Valmiki is  believed to have begun writing the Ramayana in Ayodhya. Its opening chapters recount the magnificence of the city, the glories of its monarch and the virtues, wealth and loyalty of its people. Geographically it is in Uttar Pradesh closer to  Faizabad city. 

We know of the ‘Nampillai Sannathi’ at Thiruvallikkeni -  situate at the front of Sri Bhandaram Committee place commonly known as “Komutti bungalow”. Around 100 years earlier, there was a great person by name Yogi Parthasarathi Iyengar and his wife was Yogi Singamma. Sri Yogi Parthasarathi Iyengar in his wisdom created a press for re-publishing on paper edition,  the great granthams of our Vaishnavaite mahans and in this venture established a press and persons to take care known as -  “Saraswathi Bhandram Committee” – saraswathi bhandaram meaning ‘library / treasure house’ of the works of Goddess of Learning Saraswathi. He spent his fortune towards establishing this and on this place built a temple for Sri Nampillai as the rightful person to own this treasure house. The idol of Namperumal was also installed alongside. He ensured that there would be festivities at least once a year. This Nampillai sannadhi was renovated and re-built decoratively recently by the Committee, spearheaded by Sri MA Venkata Krishnan Swami. 

Yogi Singamma, a century ago, built a temple of Sri Rama at the historic Ayodhya, a typical South Indian type temple, which is popularly known as ‘Ammaji Mandir’.  This temple is being maintained by ‘Saraswathi Bhandaram Committee’ – being taken care of by Dr MA Venkatakrishnan Swami.  Here  are some photos  of Lord Sri Rama of Ammaji mandir  – Thirumanjana Thirukolam, shared by MA Madhusudhanan. Thanks to him and to Sri VN Kesavabashyam Swami too.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

30^th Mar 2015.