Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy
Temple Overview:
· Sri Ranganthaswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu
in the form of Sri Ranganatha, a reclining position.
· This second largest temple in the world of Sri Ranganatha is situated
in Tiruchirapalli (Tirchy), Tamil Nadu, India
· Srirangam
is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines (SwayamVyakta Kshetras) of
Lord Vishnu.
· It is also
considered the first, foremost and the most important of the 108 main Vishnu
temples (Divyadesams).
· This temple
is also known as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam,
Bhogamandabam.
Temple Architecture and Area details
· The temple occupies an area of 156 acres (631,000 m²) with a perimeter
of 4,116m (10,710 feet) making it the largest temple in India
·
There are
21 gopurams (tower gateways), among which the towering
236-feet Rajagopuram (shrine of the main gateway) is the second
tallest temple tower in Asia. The 73m high 13- tiered rajagopuram was
built in 1987 by Ahobila Mutt and dominates the landscape for miles
around, while the remaining 20 gopurams were built between the 14th and 17th
centuries
·
Sriranganatha swamy at Srirangam temple, sriranganathar
is called Anatha Sayana Perumal (seen in lying position in the five headed
snake) and blesses with his three wives namely Sridevi, Boodevi and
Renganachiyar in the first enclosure of temple Srirangam.
·
Srirangam temple is covered by 7 enclosures namely:
Thirunazhi Enclosure
Rajamahendra Enclosure
Kulasegaran Enclosure
Aalinadan Enclosure
Agalangan Enclosure
Thiruvikraman Enclosure (Utra Street, in Tamil uthra veedhi)
Kalugaraman Enclosure (Chitra Street, in Tamil chithirai veedi).
·
Srirangam Temple constitutes of 24 Acres including the
5th enclosure and a total of 156 Acres including the 6th and 7th enclosures.
Towards the South direction of the Srirangam temple stands the Rajagopuram (The
Royal Tower) which had been started to get constructed by the Nayakar Kings 400
years ago and it was completed in part. The Rajagopuram is with 236 feet
height, 13 tires and 13 Copper buds (kalasam) and carried out the kumbabishekam
in year 1987.
·
Srirangam has attained the status of Asia's first
biggest tower.
· Srirangam Temple keeps following Sukla yajure vedha
inner division Vagineye Ganva for its daily worshipping practice.
·
In
the Vaishnava parlance the term "KOIL" signifies this temple only.
The temple is enormous in size. The seven prakaras or enclosures are formed by
thick and huge rampart walls which run round the sanctum.
·
The
21 magnificent towers in all prakaras providing a unique sight to any visitor.
This temple lies on an islet formed by the Twin Rivers Cauvery and Coleroon.
· The
huge number of beautiful statues speak volumes of the excellent sculptural
skills of Tamilnadu having many halls, tanks and shrines.
· This
is one of the biggest temples in India. The procession deity is Namperumal,
Azhagia Manavalan, Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. There are 8 holy springs including
Chandrapushkarani and Suryapushkarani.
· Srirangam
temple Sri Raganatha swami is blessing in three different islands of the holy
river Cauvery.
· It
flows from Karnataka to Tamilnadu. The first island is Sriranga Patinam and it
is called Aathirnagam (Origin of Rangam), located in Mysore (125 km distance
from Bangalore to Mysore route). The second island is Sivanasha Samuthiram and
it is called Mathiyarnagam (Middle of Rangam), situated 70 km distance from
Srirangapatinam. The third island is Thiru navalantheevu and it is called
Srirangam and also called Antharngam (last part of Rangam - meaning of heaven)
is situated in Tamilandu, Trichirappalli district, India.
·
Geographical
Location: Sriranagm temple is 7 km away
from the Trichirappalli Junction (in the south 321 km from Chennai and in the
north east 200 km from Madurai approximately). Srirangam can be reached by bus
and train (International airport is also available in Trichy).
·
This
prehistoric architectural temple welcomes all pilgrims and tourists with open
arms
Belief of the prayers in the temple
·
The
purpose of human birth, according to our scriptures, is to seek total
emancipation from the cycle of births and deaths and to get merged with the
Lord. So is the purpose of worship in the temple. Besides this
lofty aim, people also pray for boons of wedding, child, education, wisdom,
progress in professions, family prosperity, and growth in agricultural yields etc.
and for a life free from material worries.
·
Lord
Ranganatha graces in a reclining form as He did on the Milk Ocean. Lord Brahma
is not in the naval chord. It is believed that Lord Brahma worships the
Lord just before sunrise each day.
·
Chandra
Theertham that cleanses the devotees of His/her sins is within the
temple.
·
Lord
grants the Muthangi Sevai darshan to devotees for six days after the Vaikunda
Ekadasi festival. This is a very famous event in the temple.
·
It
is believed that a priest of the temple threw a stone on Tiruppanazhwar (one of
the 12 Vaishnavite saints) Perumal had it on His forehead bleeding and granted
salvation to Azhwar in this temple.
·
The
temple is believed to have come into being from the milk ocean. This is
one of the Swayambu Kshetras with Lord facing south. The vimana of the
Lord is covered with gold.
·
Except
Madhura Kavi Azhwar, all Vaishnavite saints had sung the glory of the Lord of
the temple.
·
Of
the 108 Divya desams, Sri Rangam the first and Tiruchirupuliyur the 11th
are the only ones facing south.
Sri Motcha
Ramanujar Shrine:
·
Vaishnava
Acharya Sri Ramanuja stayed here rendering his services to the Lord and also
attained salvation here. His disciples interned the Acharya in a sitting
form. After some time, Acharya came alive resurrected in the same
form.
·
Tirumanjanam
is not performed. There is a separate shrine for Sri Ramanuja. On
the Arudra star day in Chithirai month (April-May), a blend of kumkum and other
items are applied on the Acharya.
· Motcha
(attaining the status of no re-birth by residing at the feet of Lord) Ramanujar
lived and worshipped Srirangam Perumal at Srirangam temple very long time.
After the end of his life he got Motcham. Then his student did mummification of
his body in the position of padmasanam using ayurvedaha Muligai (herbal
plants). But mythology explains that his corpse arose out of the earth with no
human intervention.
· Aacharya
Ramanuja is blessing in a separate sannadhi (temple) in the srirangam temple of
3rd enclosure. No abishekam is conducted for his body. The holy ceremony of
applying saffron with Cinnamomum camphora on the divine corpse of Aacharya
Ramanuja is celebrated twice in a year at an appropriate interval, in order to
preserve the holy body of Sriramanuja, which is fully immersed in the thoughts
of Sri Narayana than nothing else.
Prayers and Rituals followed in the
temple
·
On
the Kaisika Ekadasi falling on the full moon fortnight in the month of
Karthikai (November-December) an event of covering the Lord with 365 blankets
is celebrated throughout the night. This is said to make up for the
errors committed in the day-to-day clothing of the Lord during the other days
of the year.
·
As
November-December happens to be winter, it is also said that the event is
followed as a token of the love of devotees to comfort the Lord from the cold
weather.
·
Aani
Jeshtabishek is performed to Lord (abishek with perfumed oil) with Sandal
water. Same day, abishek is performed to Namperumal the procession deity
after removing the gold coverings. Abishek to Namperumal is performed
with 22 pots of Cauvery water. It is said Mother Cauvery Herself performs
the abishek to Lord Namperumal. Abishek on other days are performed
without removing the golden coverings.
·
Aadi
Perukku Utsav is celebrated on the 48th day of the Jeshtabishek to
Lord on the Aani Jeshta star day. This is celebrated on Aadi 18 or 28 in
some years.
·
Lord
Graces from the Amma Mandap and offers gifts to Mother Cauvery with silk sari,
bangles, betels etc. This is taken on an elephant and dropped in the
flowing river.
Lord Narasimha Temple
·
The
mandap where Ramayana Arangettram took place is opposite the Mother’s shrine.
Lord Narasimha is holding only the conch. No discus.
·
While staging the Kamba Ramayana in the temple, some
objected to the mention of Lord Sri Narasimha in the Ramavatar story.
Kambar said that he would withdraw this part of the epic, if Lord Himself so
demanded. Lord Sri Narasimha emerged from a pillar and approved Kambar’s
writing as true. Lord Narasimha in the temple graces from a separate
shrine in the name of Mettazhagia Singar near the Mother’s shrine.
Brahmmotasavam’s:
·
Three
Brahmmotsavams are celebrated in the temple during Chithirai (April-May), Thai
(January-February) and Panguni (March-April).
·
Lord
Brahmma celebrated the Brahmmotsava for Lord Ranganatha in Panguni in His
Satyaloka which is called the Aadhi (first or original) Brahmmotsava.
·
Uthiram
star falls during this festival when the Lord graces darshan with Mother
Ranganayaki. The Thai Brahmmotsava relates to the one celebrated by Lord
Sri Rama in Ayodhya. As Rama is considered Lord of Earth, this festival is also
called Bhoopathi Festival. It is considered that Lord Rama Himself is
still celebrating this festival.
Shrine of Amutha
Kalasa Garudalvar
·
There
is a shrine for Sri Garudazhwar (eagle vehicle of Lord
Vishnu) holding the nectar pot and also the
Vedas handed over to him by Perumal after recovering them from the
demons. The idol is made of Salagrama. Devotees offer dal, jaggery
and sweet pudding balls as nivedhana to Sri Garuda. Special pujas are
performed to Him on Garuda Panchami day.
·
30 metre dhoti to Sri Garuda: 25 feet tall Sri
Garuda graces His Vishwarupa darshan opposite the Lord Ranganatha shrine.
He appears in such a majestic form ready to take off with the Lord wearing
Ashta Nagabaranam (a jewel of 8 serpents). The dhoti vastra of Sri Garuda
is 30 meter long. Abishek is not performed to Sri Garuda. Kozhukkattai
the sweet pudding balls are offered as nivedhana on Thursdays. Sugriva
and Angatha are the dwarapalakas – securities in the shrine. A festival
for him is celebrated on the Margazhi Tiruvadirai star day.
· Srirangam Temple Amutha Kalasa Garudalvar is assigned to keep the
Vedas preserved. In order to execute the order of Lord Vishnu, Garudalvaar
preserves Vedas in Kalasam (small pot) on his hand. His statue is made up of
Salak wood. Here special pooja is made for Garudalvar with jasmine and turmeric.
Garudalvaar relieves those who are suffering from nightmares and
hallucinations. Those who are affected by the radiations and the transitions of
the planets Uranus and Neptune will be safeguarded by Garudalvaar. Garudalvaar
open His wings (whose width and height are immeasurable), covers His devotees
and preserves them from all sorts of harmful causes.
Shrine of Dhanyalakshmi ( Goddess of food) and Anna Perumal (Lord of
Food)
·
Dhanyalakshmi:
A separate shrine is dedicated to Mother Dhanyalakshmi in the prakara of Anna
Perumal temple. Mother Dhanyalakshmi graces with Lord Krishna on the
right and Lord Narasimha on the left. Those afflicted with adverse aspect
of planet Venus (Shukra) worship Mother with white silk sari, garland of white
flowers and offer white pulse as nivedhana. During the
Brahmmotsava, Lord Ranganatha visits this shrine and enjoys the paddy measuring
event.
·
Lord
Anna Perumal (Lord of Food) has His shrine in the second prakara, holding a
staff, pot and a ball of rice. It is believed that worshipping Perumal in
the shrine would keep the devotees free from hunger.
Shrine for Danwanthiri (Lord of
Medicines)
·
The
temple also has a shrine for Danwanthiri, Lord of medicines, with Mother
Mahalakshmi on His chest. He holds conch and discus in His hands and also
a leech. Those suffering from prolonged diseases light lamps with castor
oil. Offer curd rice as nivedhana. On Fridays, a perfume paste
called Punugu is applied on Lord Ranganatha. Along with nivedhanas, a
medicine made of dry ginger and jaggery is also offered to the Lord for
digestion. It is believed that Lord Danwanthiri Himself offers this
medicinal preparation. Also a medicinal preparation is used for the
abishek of Lord on the seventh day of Brahmmotsavam festival.
Three mothers in the shrine:
·
While
traditionally Perumal is seen in Vishnu temples with Mothers Sridevi and
Bhoodevi, Mother Ranganayaki Thayar in the temple is a procession deity with
Sridevi and Bhoodevi behind Her in the same shrine. During arati to
Mother, drum instruments are also played.
·
Daughter of a king of Delhi was too devoted to the
Lord. To remember her, Lord is dressed with Lungi the Muslim dhoti. Roti is offered as nivedhana on Ekadasi and
new moon days and people worship calling her "Thulukka Nachiyar".
Cauvery water Abishegam:
·
In
the Tamil month of Aani (month of July) on the day of the star
"Keytayam" Srirangam temple Swami Ranganathar will be coated with
"herbal fragrance oil"(Thailabisegam), and on the same day 22 pots of
Holy Cauvery water (Abisegam) will be spilled out on Him. On this day only His
golden costumes will be unrobed.
Srirangam Temple Adiperukku
festival
· Sriranganathar at Srirangam temple
swami will be getting Jostabisegam from the 48th day of Adiperukku urchavam.
People celebrate the festival on Aadi 28th or Aadi 18th (in the end of July) at
Srirangam Amma mandpam. On that day Swami Ranganathar will give blessing to his
devotees and people give saris, kungumam (vermillion powder - a holy thing of
Hinduism), Katholai, Karugamani (Palm tree leaf ring for years and black
coloured artificial Pearl) as a present to mother Cauvery. These gifts are
taken from the temple by the temple elephant called Aandal and then left float
on the river Cauvery.
************************************************
After many years of waiting, Lord Ranganatha graced us by letting us visit his abode of peace on 24 May 2015, and we were blessed with a beautiful darshan and amazing vibrations that enriched our experience of visiting Srirangam. It was after the visit, I felt the need to understand the temple and various dimensions, rituals and architecture details, and thats when I was able to gather the above information for the benefit of others. The temple renovation is currently in progress and I am sure once the same is completed, the temple will be looking much more beautiful and amazing. As such, it is such divine experience visiting this temple.
