Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Goratha Moolai
The Goratha
Moolai is the place where royal chariot of Lord Ranganatha is kept during
non-festival days. It is believed that at this very place, existed a cattle
shed. The milk from cattle in this shed was used to prepare holy Prasadam in
the temple. The well-known therapist Sri Ramanuja, also a seer used to touch
the cows and identify its health.
If he
found that any of the cows or buffaloes in the cattle shed were
suffering from ill health, he used to order the care takers to replace the milk
of ill cow with that of other cattle. The ill cows were substituted with
healthy ones from neighboring cattle shed to ensure sufficient supply of milk
to the temple.
This
arrangement ensured that the contaminated milk of ill cattle did not enter the Prasadam
and spread infections. The North and East side of Chithra streets had this
arrangement of cattle substitution, hence the name of Goratha Moolai, giving
prominence to the legend of cattle substitution.
The
ratha is used only during festival period to take out the procession of Lord
Ranganatha in the royal chariot. It is decorated with flowers and other
ornaments during the procession.