Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Garuda Shrine
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.
In the 4th enclosure
one can find the biggest mantapa for Garuda amongst the 108 Divya deshams. This
has over two hundred pillars and is also possibly the most beautiful mantapa in
this temple. 25 feet tall Deity of Garuda is seen graciously joining his palms
and sitting opposite the temple of Lord Ranganatha. He is adorned with Ashta Nagabaranam.
He
appears in such a majestic form ready to take off with the Lord. The dhoti of
Sri Garuda is 30 meter long. Abhisheka or Thirumanjana is not performed to Sri
Garuda. Kozhukkattai – the sweet pudding balls are offered as naivedyam on
every Thursday. Sugriva and Angada are the Dwarapalakas of the sanctum – sanctorum
of this temple. On the Margazhi Tiruvadirai star day, a festival for Sri Garuda
is celebrated. Hanuman shrine is also found much behind the Garuda shrine; it
is also facing the direction of main shrine.
The Garuda
Mandapam (hall of the legendary bird deity of Vishnu, Garuda) located
on the south side of the third enclosure is another Nayak addition. Courtly
portrait sculptures, reused from an earlier structure, are fixed to the piers
lining the central aisle. A free-standing shrine inside the hall contains a
large seated figure of Garuda; the eagle-headed God faces north towards the
principal sanctum.
Garudalwar
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 Garudalwar. Garudalwar open his wings (whose
width and height are immeasurable), covers his devotees and preserves them from
all sorts of harmful causes.
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. Abishekam 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.
