Sri Kodandrama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta, Hindu temple in Vontimitta, India
Sri Kodandrama Swamy Temple is a Vijayanagara-era temple in Vontimitta with three gopurams: a five-tiered eastern rajagopuram entrance and towers facing north and south. Its Rangamantapam festival hall rests on 32 carved pillars showing apsaras, yali figures, and Rama with Lakshmana. The main icons of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana are cut from a single stone.
The sanctuary was established during the Vijayanagara period and displays architectural features characteristic of this powerful South Indian dynasty. Its structure and religious importance were documented by European travelers passing through the region in the early modern era.
The name Vontimitta comes from two brothers, Vontudu and Mittudu, robbers turned devotees of Rama, who are said to have built the shrine and then turned to stone. Every year from Chaitra Shuddha Navami to Bahula Vidiya the Brahmotsavams are held, with the Kalyanam on Chaturdashi and the Rathotsavam on Pournami; on Navami, Potana Jayanti honours poets. The processions take place at night, following a legend that the moon god Chandra was granted the boon to watch Rama's wedding by moonlight.
The sanctuary sits roughly 25 kilometers from Kadapa along the road toward Tirupati and is easy to access. Visitors should respect the temple's regular hours and dress appropriately for a Hindu place of worship, as this is an active site for daily devotion.
Inside the main sanctum sits a single stone carving depicting three key figures from Hindu mythology. This sculpture is a rare example of the craftsmanship of its era and captures the attention of those who reach the inner chamber.
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