The ancient Srikodandaramaswamy temple at Vontimitta in YSR district, which belongs to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, is gearing up for the annual Sri Ramanavami Brahmotsavam. This temple, also known as Ekasilanagaram, has a rich and historical background, with idols of Sitarama Lakshmana carved on a single rock. The Sri Ramanavami Brahmotsavam will be held from March 31 to April 9 and was formally inaugurated on Thursday night.
The day started with Tirumanjanam, a purification ceremony for the attendant deities, followed by Vyasabhisheka, Aradhana, and Archana to the Moolavars. In the evening, the priest performed the ritual offering of the bud through Vedic mantras, and Sri Sitarama Lakshmana Utsavamurthys were beautifully decorated and placed on a special stage. This was followed by Vishwaksena Puja, Kalash Pratishta, Kalashapuja, Vasudeva Punyahavachanam, and Kankanadharana. Later, a Puttamannu collection program was organized, which was presided over by Kankanabhattar Mr. KH Rajesh Kumar.
On Friday, March 31, the flag hoisting ceremony will take place between 8 am to 9 am in Taurus Ascendant. Kavi Sammelan will be held from 3 to 5 pm, and Sesha Vahanaseva from 7 to 9 pm. Vahanaseva will be conducted from 8 to 10 am and from 7 to 9 pm every day.
According to Puranas, Sri Mahavishnu incarnated as Sri Ramachandra in Treta Yuga, and while Sita Lakshmana was wandering in Dandakaranyam, Sita Devi shot an arrow into the ground to kill herself, and water sprang up, which became Ramatirtha. Jambavant cooperated in search of Sita, and Sri Ramachandru himself was standing in the Ontimitta temple along with Sita Lakshmana, whom Jambavantu had served.
According to inscriptions, the temple was built in three phases, with construction starting in the 14th century and completed in the 17th century. The Kamparayas, who once ruled Udayagiri, roamed this region, and a cook named Mittadu fed the Kamparayas with spring water created by Lord Rama. On their wish, Kamparaya built the temple and established the village of Vontimitta. Bukkarayalu started this temple in AD 1356.
In later periods, Vijayanagara kings and Matli kings gradually built antarala, rangamantapam, mahapranganam, gopuram, and ratham for the temple, and the revenue from surrounding villages was used for temple kainkaryas. Vavilikolanu Subbarao collected donations and brought back the former glory to the temple.
