HYDERABAD: A huge tree stands opposite this temple more than 1,000 years old. This is the Sri Sitaramachandraswamy Devasthanam at Devar Yamjal. The name of the village means abode of the devas.
Old men sit discussing about who will be the next Sarpanch, even as the chaat handcart does quick business as evening starts to set in.
Birds start chirping as it gets time to settle down for the day. The neem tree inside the temple is large and keeps shedding its flowers on to the stone-clad ground while the mango tree shimmers with its new, auburn tender leaves.
This temple is the closest ancient temple near Secunderabad. Once you reach Tummukunta, on the Rajiv Rahadhari, the first major crossroad after Bolarum, it is just four km off the road. It is in Shamirpet mandal and is surprisingly lush and green.
Apparently, when some students, followers of Chinna Jeeyar Swamy, visited this temple, they pointed out to the priest here that this was a 11th century temple and was built during the period of Sri Ramanujacharya. And the provenance is proved by a small statue of the famous guru in meditation, with his eyes closed and hands in pranam mode, while a Nammalwar is next to him, on the gopuram of the temple.
On top of the gopuram is the Sri Chakra with a namam on it which again proves that this was built during Sri Ramanujacharya’s time.
Like in many villages in India, there are many temples in and around the small village. And while this ancient temple is quite popular, the place also became famous because the Queen of England, Elizabeth once visited this village, including the temple, way back in 1982.
Kandala Seetharamachary, popularly recognised as Ramu, is the hereditary priest of this temple.
With some renovation work happening, he looks full hands on and proudly says, “All the funds come from people who are generous. Teegala Krishna Reddy’s wife belongs to this village and she is a very generous donor. There is also Kukunoor Vinod Kumar, an NRI, who funded the entire cladding outside the temple with stone tiles.”
The priest said that his family has been worshipping at this temple for the past 500 years and says that the Endowments Department is of no help.
The temple is now getting a bit of revamp because of the Telugu New Year, Ugadi, and in another week, Ramanavami. The latter festival is celebrated with great fanfare with daily procession of Lord Rama for nine days.
He along with his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana will be taken on various vahanas, all made of wood, that is brilliantly coloured. In fact, for the first time ever in Telangana, two pujas of Suryaprabha and Chandraprabha are being conducted during Brahmotsavams.
This temple has 28 pillars, which is considered particular of Lord Rama temples and all of them still retain their vernacular style and is painted a bright orange. The main sanctum has Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya and both Lord Rama and Lakshmana hold the Shanghu and Chakra, which is quite unique. Sita’s head gear is also like that of Aandal and all of this is in silver. All the icons are made of black stone.
The other unique factor is that the main mandapam has naaga-bandha yantram and a colourful kurma yantram in the centre.
The koneru on the right side of the temple still retains its old looks and is surrounded by 27 nakshatra mandirams, but most of them were destroyed during the Razakar attacks, according to the priest. But this Koneru is more known for a snake living within its depths, considering there is enough murky water.
The priest says, “In my 13 years as a priest at this temple, I have seen the snake only twice.”
But they say that because of the Nagabandhanam, fear of venomous creatures disappears.
An old Ratha Shala is still protecting a fairly old Ratham which will be brought out during the Ram Navami celebrations.
This temple also has one more Dhwajastambham. The one in front of the temple is a stone one, clad in Pembarthi brass but the one behind the temple is not so tall and is made of stone.
Earlier, in those days, the temple used to have 1,500 acres and much of it is still under court cases. Now, all the land has been taken over by buildings. The temple has only three acres.
This temple also grants wishes, according to the priest, especially when it comes to marriages and children. “I tell people to come on Saturday and do 108 perambulations to the Lord,” says the priest.
