Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Nammalvar Shrine
A shrine
is dedicated to Nammalvar in Ranganathaswamy Temple. Nammalvar was one of the
twelve Alvar poet-saints who immersed themselves in a love
of Vishnu and who had a considerable knowledge of ancient
Tamil literature and its variants of traditional stories concerning Vishnu and
his associates, as well as the philosophical differences between Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
Pagal
Pathu (10 day time) and Ra Pathu (10 day night time) festival are
celebrated in the month of Margali (December–January) for twenty days
in Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple,
Srirangam. The first ten days are
referred as Pagal-Pathu (10 day night festival) and the second half as Ra
Pathu (10 day day-time festival).
The
first day of Ra Pathu is Vaikunta
Ekadashi. The eleventh day of each
fortnight in Tamil calendar is called Ekadesi and the holiest of
all ekadesis in the Vaishnava tradition is the Vaikunta
Ekadashi. Nammalvar, one of the
12 Alwars, is believed to have ascended to Vaikuntam (the heavenly
abode of Vishnu) on this day. The devotion of the 9th-century poet, Nammalvar,
and his perceived ascent to heaven is enacted annually.
During
the festival, through song and dance, this place is affirmed to
be Bhoologa Vaikunta (heaven on earth). Araiyar Sevai is a
divine colloquium of Araiyars, who recite and enact Naalayira
Divya Prabandam, the 4000 verses
of Alwars (Vaishnavite poets of the 7th–10th century). Araiyars are
born to Araiyar tradition most prevalent in Sri Vaishnava families in
Srirangam, Alwar Thirunagari and Srivilliputhur.
The
tradition of Araiyar Sevai was started by Nathamuni, a 10th-century Vaishnavite who compiled the works
of Alwars. It is believed as per Hindu
mythology that 330 million
demi-gods came down to witness the event. The festival deity is brought to
the 1000-pillared hall on the morning of Vaikunta Ekadashi through
the Paramapada Vasal (gate to paradise).
Lakhs of
pilgrims rush to enter it after the gate is opened and the deity passes through
it as it is believed that one who enters here will reach Vaikuntam (heaven)
after death. The gate is open only during the ten days of Pagal
Pathu (10 day day-time festival). On the last day of the festival, the
poet Nammalvar is said to be given salvation.
The
performance is enacted by priests and an image in the temple depicts Nammalvar
as reaching heaven and getting liberation from the cycle of life and death. At
that point, a member from the crowd of devotees, who are witnessing this
passion play, goes up to the center stage and requests Vishnu to return Nammalvar
to humanity, so that his words and form in the temple will continue to inspire
and save the devotees. Following this performance of the salvation of Nammalvar,
the cantors are taken in procession round the temple.