Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – First Enclosure
(Dharmavarman Thiruveedhi)
This 1st
prakara was constructed by the Chola King Dharma Varma. There are 24 pillars
inside this enclosure where Lord Ranganatha is in his reclining pose, facing
South (Lanka). These 24 pillars denote the 24 letters of the Gayathri mantra.
It is considered as Sathyaloka.
First
Enclosure is also called Thirunazhi Enclosure or Dharmavarman Thiruveedhi. Sri
Ranganathaswamy Temple’s first enclosure, like the second, has only one
entrance - a gate to the south. On either side of the Nazhikettan Gopura are
figures of Sankhanidhi and Padmanidhi, the conch and the lotus respectively,
which are the attributes of Vishnu. To
the southwest, storerooms have been fitted up.
To the
southwest, more storerooms have been added. Large mirrors are placed in the
corners help to reflect the statue of the Lord when the processional deity is
brought out from the sanctum sanctorum. The northwest corner contains the
Yagasala (fire-ritual enclosures). The Tondaiman Mandapam ceiling is decorated
with paintings. The eastern part of this enclosure contains two Mandapams-
Arjuna Mandapam and Kili Mandapam.
