Kothandaramar Unamancheri

Kothandaramar, Unamancheri

Vaishnavite Temples, Chengalpet Taluk

God

Kothandaramar, facing east

Goddess

Sita with the main deity, facing east

Other Deities

Anjaneya, Garuda, Azhwars

Kothandaramar Unamancheri is a small and ancient east facing temple. The main deity here is Kotanda Rama with Lakshmana, Sita, and Anjaneya together in the sanctum sanctorum. The entrance to the sanctum is small. There is a large temple pond behind the temple in the west. The Vimaana though painted up looks majestic and large.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Kothandaramar Unamancheri was built by Achyuta Varma Raya, a Vijayanagar King probably in the 15th-16th Century CE. The Boar and Sword insignia of the Vijayanagar Empire has been beautifully carved in the outer wall of the small Mahamantapa. There are stone inscriptions also here at Kothandaramar Unamancheri indicating the antiquity of the temple.

Legend

Achyuta Varma Raya of the Vijayanagar Dynasty was lame and he was told in a dream by Lord Vishnu to create a Pushkarini and build the temple here at Kothandaramar Unamancheri. He saw the main deity when he arrived and built up the temple. Bathing in the Pushkarini behind he worshiped the Lord and got relieved of his physical defect. Thus the name of the village came to be known as Unam Maaikkum Cholai which later got corrupted to its present name of Unamancheri.

Directions

Kothandaramar Unamancheri is 1.25 kilometers south from the Bus stop at Kolapakkam Village which is 3 kilometers before Vandalur when you come from Kelambakkam, Mambakkam side. The temple is located in a narrow lane towards the end of Unamancheri Village. There is also a Shiva Temple nearby. See our map below for exact location.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest are the restaurants in the National Highway at Vandalur.

Vaishnavite Temples

Kancheepuram Temples

Tamilnadu Temples