The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c32.74

v1.c32.74

The most important act of Rama Raya in connection with Sri Vaishnavism is the restoration of the idol of Govindaraja to the temple of Chidambaram. The Prapannamrtam, relates that there was at that time a Vaishnava scholar named Mahacharya who lived in the sacred town of Ghatikachala (Sholighur). He had defeated all the Saiva scholars of Chitrakuta (Chidambaram) among whom was the celebrated Appaya Dikshita. After this victory he grew desirous of re-establishing the worship of Govindaraja in the temple of Chidambaram, abolished since the time of the Chola King, Krimikantha (Kulottunga II) 2. Rama Raya seems to have been then at Chandragiri with his teacher Tatacharya. Mahacharya went there, and with the assistance of the Emperor and his guru, succeeded in restoring Govindaraja's idol to its old place at Chidambaram 3.