While the celestial wedding of Lord Sita Rama was celebrated across the country in all Sri Rama temples and other shrines on Tuesday, authorities of Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy devastanam, stayed away from Sri Rama Navami celebrations.
Temple trustees and officials believe that they would face some threat, if they perform the kalyanam of Lord Sri Rama and his consort, Sita Devi, during Sri Rama Navami festival.
It is said that the historic Kodanda Rama Swamy temple was built by Choda Kings during 11th Century and family used to perform pujas to the deities. Later, a jamindar of Narsaraopet developed the temple and renamed it as Vijaya Raghava Swamy Kodanda Rama Swamy temple.
The temple management made elaborate arrangements to perform ‘kalyanam’ to the deities several decades ago. But, there was some ‘apasruthi’ in the ritual and two priests were burnt to death in the mishap. Since then, devotees stopped celebrating Sri Rama Navami in the temple, said Endowments Assistant Commissioner B. Maheswar Reddy.
Again a few years back, the devotees tried to perform Sita Rama Kalyanam during Navami festival. But, a woman of the family was charred to death during the celebrations , said the locals.
“We arranged a meeting a couple of days ago in connection with Sri Rama Navami. But, the temple priests opined that it is not good to celebrate the festival, in view of the past tragedies during Navami celebrations”, temple in-charge Executive Officer G. Rama Krishna told The Hindu on Tuesday.
Temple hereditary priest, Narayanam Rammohana Charyulu, said the kalyanam of the deities would be performed during Tyagaraya Swamy Aradhana Utsavams. The devastanam management will perform ‘special pujas’ and ‘abhishekams’ during Sri Rama Navami, said Mr. Rammohana Charyulu.
“I served for about 34 years in Endowments Department here. But, I have never seen Sri Rama Navami celebrations in Kodanda Rama Swamy temple in the town”, said a retired employee Koteswara Rao.
