It is very rare to find Lord Rama with out His Bow and Arrow.
And Lord Rama with Gnana Mudra?
As far as I know, Vishnu or His avatars do not exhibit Gnana Mudra.
Lord Shiva, that too in the form of Dakshina Murthy, onr who faces South or one who is in the South exhibits Mudra,
Vishnu’s Reclining form is Yoga Nidra.
But there is a rare Temple of Lord Sri Ram , Nedungunam, near Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, where Lord Rama appears without His Bow and Arrow.
And He is with Gnana Mudra.
Yoga Rama,Nedungunam.
Chin Mudra.
The thumb and forefinger on each of the hands are jointed, forming a zero. The rest of the fingers are extended. The hands are placed palms-up on the thighs or knees while sitting in vajrasana. This mudrā activates the diaphragm, making for deep “stomach-breathing” as the diaphragm pushes out the internal organs when it descends towards the pelvis on inhalation. Slow rhythmic breathing in a 5-2-4-2 rhythm (5 being the exhalation, and 4 is the inhalation) makes prana flow in the pelvis and in the legs.
Located 24kms South of Vandavasi on the Kanchipuram – Chetput-Thiruvannamalai route at the foot of the Dheergajala Mountain is the over 500years old Yoga Rama temple in Nedungunam where Lord Rama is seen in a unique sitting ‘Chin Mudra’ posture without his bow listening to Hanuman’s Vedic recital.
Legend.
Answering the prayers of Rishi Shugar, Rama provided darshan to him and stayed here for a day on his way back to Ayodhya after defeating the Lanka King Ravana.
The temple which was built by various kings 700 years ago is a living legend of several periodical specialties and uniqueness. The temple houses several huge mandapams to facilitate the formation of yaga salas. The uniqueness of this schetra is that the ‘Moolavar’ Sree Rama’s divine posture, cannot be seen at other places. Here Sri Rama sits as ‘Yoga Ramar’ without bow and arrow and with the right hand positioned close to his heart in a ‘Gnana Muthirai’. This is further complimented with lord Seetha in sitting position holding a lotus flower and Lakshmana standing with bow and arrow followed by ‘Sri Anjaneya’ sitting in front of Sri Rama in reading posture referring to ‘Brahma Sutra’ inscribed on palm leaves.
Sri Rama and Sri Seetha are sitting on a peetam inscribed with lionheads. According to history the moolasthana moorthis are Rishiprathista. As per sthala purana Sri Rama has visited Suga Bramarishis ashram and blessed him while returning from SriLanka after Thewar and stayed here for a day.
Moolavar : Yoga Rama East Facing Sitting Posture with Sita and Lakshmana by his side
Thaayar : Shengamala Valli Thaayar
Temple Time: 7am-10am and 6pm-8pm
Contact : Badri Narayana Bhattar @ 94452 15776
Nedungunam Sri Ramanithya Pooja Trust
1,VIVEK NAGAR,
GINGEE ROAD,
CHETPET-606801
THIRUVANNAMALAI DT
Contact: Badhri Bhattachar – 81245 42753, 94452 15776( Check the Phone numbers)
Trustee – 94871 20139
Email: contact@nedungunamramar.com
How To Reach.
Bus Numbers 148, 208 and 422 from Koyambedu bus stand go through Nedungunam
By Car from Chennai, one can drive 90kms to Melmaruvathur and then take a right to drive 30kms to Vandavasi.
The alternate route is to taka right at Padalam (15kms after Chengalpet on the GST Road) to reach Uthira Merur. From Uthira Merur, one has to drive 25kms south to reach Vandavasi.
Filed under: Hinduism Tagged: Hanuman, Hindu deities, India temples, Rama, Rama Temples, South India temples., Temples of India, Temples of Tamil Nadu, Yoga Rama
