Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Vahanas
The Vahanas (Vehicles
on which The Lord is mounted and carried on the shoulders by devotees) are by
themselves excellent pieces of architecture on wood. Wood is carved into the
shapes of animals, exotic birds, sun, moon, trees etc. and elegant gold or silver
plating is done on them.
The
Garuda vahana, Simha vahana, Yanai vahana, Kudirai vahana, Hanumantha Vahana,
Yazhi vahana, Sesha vahana, Annapakshi Vahana, Otrai and ettai Prabhai vahana
are all examples of unmatched beauty. To see Lord Ranganatha mounted on them is
a treat to watch especially as he moves along the streets of Srirangam inch by
inch amongst a sea of devotees.
An
interesting piece of history is the Yanai Vahana. An ordinary eye would
describe it as an Elephant; however on a closer look one would observe that it
has four tusks. A quick search on the Encarta Encyclopedia will let us know
that these four-tusked elephants were known as Mastodontoidea, which are said
to have evolved around 38 million years ago and became extinct about 15 million
years ago when the shaggy and two tusked Mastodons increased in population.
A side
entrance from Ranganayaki Shrine leads to another massive courtyard, at the end
of which is yet another towering gopuram. The various Vahanas for the annual
Brahmotsavam are kept in a mandapam here. The pillars in the mandapam are rich
with sculptures.
The
front of the mandapam is embellished with those Vijayanagar Nayak specialty
horsemen fighting lions. So detailed are the sculptures that the craftsmen have
left nothing to the imagination. The carvings above and below this tapestry in
stone are equally rich in detail. The base depicts women in various postures.
One of the pillars shows a rider, with the horse reared up, while below are a
number of foot soldiers.
