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Finally, Ellandakunta temple in limelight
With Bhadrachalam being the focal point for Lord Rama’s celestial wedding, the other ancient temple at Ellandakunta in Karimnagar district, despite its historical significance, has always got a raw deal by the successive governments.
Ellandakunta (Karimnagar): With Bhadrachalam being the focal point for Lord Rama’s celestial wedding, the other ancient temple at Ellandakunta in Karimnagar district, despite its historical significance, has always got a raw deal by the successive governments.
But now the scenario has changed since Karimnagar was split into four districts. Surprisingly, Karimnagar district which once was a destination for temple tourism is just left with Ellandakunta Sita Ramachandra Swamy shrine with all other major temples - Vemulawada Raja Rajeshwara Swamy temple built in 1083 AD, Kaleshwaram, Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple located on the banks of Godavari at Dharmapuri, Kondagattu Sri Anjaneya Swamy and Odela Mallikarjuna Swamy – going to newly carved out Sircilla, Jagtial and Peddapalli districts.
Against this backdrop, the district administration’s focus invariably shifted to Ellandakunta temple. According to the legend, Lord Rama along with Sita and Laxmana had visited Ellandakunta village during his 14-year exile period (vanavasam). At this very place, Lord Rama came to know the demise of his father Dasaratha. Since he performed the ‘shraddha' (obsequy) of his father with the Ellanda seed, the village assumed the name of Ellandakunta.
It’s also believed in this part of the region that the idols of the presiding deities in the temple were installed by the Lord Rama and Sita. It’s also said that moles on the idols indicate that this was a Swayambhu (self-manifested) temple. Meanwhile, the annual Brahmotsavam began on a grand note on Monday night with the Lord’s entry into the temple premises.
After Punyahavachanam, Vishwaksenaradhana and Ankurarpana on Tuesday, the celestial wedding of Lord Rama and Sita will be performed on Wednesday. It will be followed by Pattabhisheka Mahotsavam on Thursday. The Brahmotsavam will end on April 15.
With the devotee rush is expected to be over 50,000 for the Lord’s wedding on Wednesday, the district administration has made elaborate arrangements. Finance Minister E Rajender will present silk clothes to the deities on behalf of the government on the auspicious occasion of Sri Rama Navami.
Temple chairman Kankanala Surender Reddy said that for the benefit of devotees, the RTC will run free bus service to Ellandakunta temple from Jammikunta, which is around 4 kms, on Wednesday. The driving distance between Hyderabad and Ellandakunta is 190 kms and by train it is 168 kms.
