Vontimitta gears up for grand Sita Rama Kalyanam on April 1

Vontimitta temple is for the bifurcated Andhra Pradesh what Bhadrachalam once was for the undivided State before 2014.

The state-sponsored Sita Rama Kalyanam, conducted with great prestige in connection with Srirama Navami and coinciding with the annual Brahmotsavam, will commence from March 26.

Massive stone pillars and intricate carvings of the Vijayanagara period adorn the historic Kodandarama temple at Vontimitta in Kadapa district.

The ancient temple, located in Kadapa district, is renowned for its artistic splendour, which is evident in the intricate carvings on its walls and pillars. The Yali pillars in the Ranga Mandapam, in particular, stand as a testimony to the refined artistic traditions of the Vijayanagara period. Massive stone blocks were sculpted into these Yali pillars, reflecting the extraordinary craftsmanship of ancient sculptors.

Though Yali pillars are seen in many temples built during the Vijayanagara dynasty, the ones at Vontimitta are unique as they contain a hollow space in the middle that is large enough for a person to sit inside.

Temple lore says that Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, travelled through the Dandakaranya forest and reached this place. When Sita felt thirsty, Rama shot an arrow into the ground, leading to the emergence of a spring. This spring is believed to be the present day Rama Theertham pond at Vontimitta.

Another striking feature is that the deities in the temple are believed to be the very idols worshipped by Jambavantha, the mythological bear like character mentioned in the Ramayana.

The idols of Sita, Rama and Lakshmana are carved from a single stone. Because of this, Vontimitta is often referred to as Ekashila Nagaram, meaning city of a single stone. Temple inscriptions reveal that construction began in the 14th century and continued until the 17th century. It was initiated by Bukkaraya in 1356 and later expanded by the Vijayanagara and Matli rulers. The sanctum sanctorum, Ranga Mandapam, spacious courtyard and the gopurams were all built during this period.

Literary link

Vontimitta also occupies an important place in Telugu literature. Noted poet Bammera Pothana is believed to have translated the Bhagavatham into Telugu here. Ayyalaraju Tippayya dedicated his Raghuveera Satakam to Lord Kodandarama of Vontimitta, while Ramabhadra Kavi composed the work Ramabhyudayam at this place.

After taking over the temple from the Endowments Department in September 2015, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams began organising the Sita Rama Kalyanam in a grand manner. This year the celestial wedding will be held on April 1.