Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Ranganayaki Shrine
(Thaayar Sannidhi)
Ranganayaki
shrine is in the second precinct of the temple. The common reference to the
goddess is Padi Thaanda Pathini, meaning lady who doesn't cross the
boundaries of ethics. Literally, the festival deity of Ranganayaki also does
not come out of the shrine and it is Ranganathar who visits Ranganayaki. There
are three images of Ranganayaki within the sanctum.
Ranganayaki
Thayar idol is beautiful and she is in a sitting posture and has the Panchaloha
idol in front. There is also a Gold plated mandapam here to conduct special
poojas for the deity. There is a small gallery in front of the Thayar Sannidhi
and there are some fabulous paintings of Narasimha Moorthy.
The
shrine of Ranga Nayaki, the Goddess, looks like a separate temple. It has
its own prakara and a huge mandapa with paintings on the ceiling. The holy tank
and the sub-shrine of Lakshmi Narayana are located adjacent to the Thaayar
(Goddess) shrine. Ranga Nayaki is found in the sitting posture. The old idol is
still found behind the current idol. The Utsava idol is also found in the same
shrine.
Sri
Ranganayaki Thayar is the Utsava vigraha with Sridevi and Bhudevi behind her in
the same sanctum sanctorum. After Lord Ranganatha declared Thulukka Nachiyar as
his wife and ordered the priests to worship her like other Nachiyars of the
temple, Lakshmi Devi became angry. Hence she came out of the temple and settled
in a different temple. Lord tried to pacify her; however she did not agree to
return. She is also known by the name of ‘Padi Thanda Pathini’ meaning one who
does not cross her limits or the doorstep. She is the quintessence of all the
feminine qualities.
Ranganayaki
is the presiding Goddess of Ranganatha Swamy temple at Srirangam. Affectionately called Thayar ("Holy
Mother" in Tamil), she is the consort of Lord Ranganatha, the male deity of Srirangam. She is regarded as the
manifestation of Lakshmi. She is also called Ranga Nachiyar.
Ranganayaki
is held in high reverence by the people of Srirangam and by Vaishnavites. Acharyas that sang the grace of Ranganatha venerate her.
She is the feminine aspect of the universe and certain Vaishnavite traditions
regard her co-equal to Ranganatha himself; she is both the means and the end of
worship to them.
Other
traditions of Vaishnavism hold her only as
the means - the end is Narayana alone. Despite these philosophical differences,
all Vaishnavites revere her as Thaayar.
As with
Hindu tradition, the shrine has both a Moolavar and a Utsavar (presiding
deity). Unlike other temples, the Utsavar of Thaayar never leaves her Sannathi.
It is a temple custom that the goddess of the temple takes her place beside the
god of the temple during processions. In Srirangam, however, Thaayar never
leaves her shrine. All others, including Ranganatha himself, come to see her.
Once a
year, in the month of Panguni Uthiram, the day in the Tamil month of Panguni when the star Uthiram is in ascension, Dhivyadhampathigal, the divine
couple (Lord Azhagiya Manavaalan and Thaayar), come together for a day. (This day
is not fixed, but falls sometime in the Western months of March or April). This Darshan is called "Serthi Sevai." In Tamil, Serthi
is alongside/together and Sevai is Darshan.
Unlike
many temples, Srirangam does not have a Thirukalyana Uthsavam, The Marriage Festival, between Namperumal and Thaayar.
They are regarded as Dhivyadhampathigal (divine couple),
existing beyond mortal confines or limitations.
There
are many Shlokas composed about the goddess Mahalakshmi but the "Sri Gunaratna Kosam," a Sanskrit Sloka composed by Parasara
Bhattar, is exclusive to Sri
Ranganayaki. However the traditional Lakshmi Astothiram is recited in the
temple during rituals. Apart from this, Sree Sthuthi composed by Vedanta Desika
and Kanakadhara Sthothram given by Adi Shankaracharya are chanted by devotees
of the temple.
All
Acharyas of Hindu tradition, irrespective of their philosophical positions,
have visited and continue to visit the Srirangam to pay their homage to
Ranganatha and Thaayar.