Ellandakunta, the next Bhadradi, soaks in devotion

​Ellandakunta (Karimnagar): The serene agrestic environs of Ellandakunta in Karimnagar district has on Monday come alive with bhajantris marking the celestial wedding of Lord Sita Ramachandra Swamy, an annual celebration that happens on every Chaitra Sukla Navami, the 9th day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month, also referred to as Sri Ram Navami. It may be mentioned here that Chaitra Sukla Navami also happens to be the birthday of Lord Rama.

Despite the scorching sun, the ambience at the temple was electric with the devotees chanting ‘Jai Sri Ram’. Amid Vedic hymns, priests and devotees carried the processional deities in a tastefully decorated palanquin to the Kalyana Mandapam as per the pancharatragama sastra. The rituals –edurkollu,mangalasutra dharana etc - were much like those followed in Bhadrachalam temple. 

District minister Etala Rajender along with his wife Jamuna presented silk robes and mutyala talambralu on behalf of the government to the deities. Known as the next Bhadradri, Ellandakunta has its date with mythos. Many a place from Nasik (Maharashtra) to Bhadrachalam encompassing Dandakaranya sequence the myth of Ramayana. Ellandakunta is also part of Ramayana where Lord Rama along with His Consorts Sita and Laxmana spent sometime during his vanavasam (exile).  

It’s also believed that moles on the idols of Sita Ramachandra Swamy indicate that it’s a Swayambhu (self-manifested) temple. The temple stands next best to Bhadrachalam to witness the Lord Rama’s celestial wedding. Although, the temple has been so popular in erstwhile district of Karimnagar it never got its due.

Since its split into four districts, Karimnagar that once destination for temple tourism is just left with Ellandakunta temple. This augured well for the temple as the administration started to focus on its development. The Brahmotsavams that started on March 24 continue till April 5 attracting a sizable number of devotees.

The legend has it that when Lord Rama during his vanavasam had come to know the demise of his father Dasaratha. Here in Ellandakunta, he performed the ‘shraddha' (obsequy) of his father with the seed of Ellanda tree. Since then the place assumed the name of Ellandakunta. According to local lore, the idols of the temple were sculpted by Lord Rama himself. These idols were unearthed by a group of shepherds, it’s said.