Located 6kms North of Jolarpet, off the Jolarpet-Vaniyampadi Railway route is the Aravamudhan Temple in Kethandapatti, a serene village dating back to the 16th Century AD and to the Nayak rule.
The Story
The village was donated by the Nayak rulers of Thanjavur to Nallaan Raghunatha Chakravarthy of Srimushnam. Following this, a saint from Srimushnam came here to Kethandapatti and performed daily aradhana on the banks of the river Kallaar. In course of time, invoking the blessings of the Lord of 5 Perumal temples, he carved out of the rock sacred foot prints dedicating it to the five Lords- Srirangam, Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam, Srisailam and Ahobilam.
To this day, one finds the rock cut sacred foot prints dedicated to the five Lords on the banks of Kallaar, one km west of the temple just off the Jolarpet-Vaniyampadi railway line.
It was during this period that a temple for one of these five Lords was built dedicated to Varadaraja Perumal and Perundevi Thaayar.
Aravamudhan Vigraham from Thiru Kudanthai
A couple of centuries later, the now famous Kethandapatti Swami of Lakshmipuram (a village near Kuppam- Chittoor in AP) went with his disciples to the Sarangapani Divya Desam in Thiru Kudanthai and brought a utsava moorthy of Lord Aravamudhan from there and installed it here at Kethandapatti and introduced year long festivals at this temple.
With this, the temple came to be referred to as the Aravamudhan temple of Kethandapatti. Similar to the divya desam at Thiru Kudanthai, the moorthy of Komalavalli Thayaar was installed here. Being West of Thiru Kudanthai, this Aravamudhan temple is also referred to as ‘Mel-Kudanthai’.
Grand Avathara Utsavam in Aippasi
Even today, the avathara utsavam of Kethandapatti Swami is celebrated in a grand manner in Aippasi (Moolam) in Srirangam, Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam, Thiruvahindrapuram and at his birth place in Lakshmipuram.
There is a handsome looking Garuda Vahana at this temple.
Festivals
Pavitrotsavam
Margazhi Utsavam – Temple opens at 5am this month
Aadi Pooram
Panguni Uthiram
Ugadi- Moolavar Thirumanjanam
Quick Facts
Moolavar: Varadarajan East Facing Standing Posture
Thaayar : Perundevi Thaayar
Utsavar : Aravamudhan
Utsavar Thaayar: Komalavalli Thaayar
Time : 6am-9am and 5pm-8pm
Contact : Narasimhan Bhattar/ Sowmya Narayanan Bhattar @ 86082 40944/ 98411 77333
How to reach there ?
Auto from Jolarpet Railway Station will cost Rs. 120. Town bus from Jolarpet will take about 30 minutes.
Courtesy: Sri S. Prabhu
It is interesting to read about this temple.
There are also sannadhis for Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar, Sri Ramar, Andal and Azhvar aacharyals. Madhilsuvars are considerable in size. Dhwajasthambam was recently renovated. Temple premises has a Thirukkeni, Thirumadappalli and a small Nandhavanam near entrance. I grew up watching the temple Gopuram from our house for first 15 years of my life 🙂
Superb I lived exactly in front of the temple. This temple belongs to my mothers forefathers. My grand father and my uncle used to be priest in this temple. During my childhood days I used to spend the whole day in this temple playing. Cant forget those glorious days.
Remembering my past.
Wonderful to see the temple back in glory. I have witnessed utsavams in he temple in my childhood days from nearby Koothandakuppam. Visited the temple a couple of years ago.
Swamin, My grandfather too was frm Koothandakuppam. His family is organising Sudarshana homam on 26.1.14 at this temple along with family get together. Just for information.
Srinivasan, Pune
I visited the temple way back in 1984 when i came to meet my grand parents (mother side) whose house is the first one opp to temple on the left side. I think nowthe house will be in rumble but nice to see the temple in good shape/ Thanks for the efforts taken for all those who renovated the temple
Y
Small but neatly maintained. Though there is no large turn out, the way Sri.Narashiman and his son dedicate them selves for this temple is to be much appreciated.
Very nice article with pictures.My mother hails from this wonderful place, nestling near the Yercaud hills. In 2010 a beautiful Lakshmi Narasimha Utsava Vigraha was consecrated. A serene scenic village in which great Vedic scholars were born and nurtured our great Satsampradaya. My nostalgic memories are still green spending times here. Grateful to this website which is doing yeoman service by giving excellent coverage to all temples and Acharyas.It is impossible for one to visit all the temples and events happenings in the Matam or Ashrama. But this website and the people behind achieve the impossible to be possible by the dedicated coverage. Long live this service. Dasan
Kethandapatti is very beautyful