Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Greatness of
Temple
Lord
Ranganatha graces in a reclining form as he did on the Milk Ocean. Lord
Brahmma is not in the naval chord. It is believed that Lord Brahmma
worships the Lord just before sunrise each day. Chandra Theertham
that cleanses the devotees of his/her sins is within the
temple. Lord grants the Muthangi Sevai darshan to devotees for six
days after the Vaikunda Ekadasi festival. This is a very famous
event in the temple. A priest of the temple threw a stone on Tirupanazhwar
(one of the 12 Vaishnavite saints) Perumal had it on his bleeding forehead and
granted salvation to Azhwar in this temple.
Daughter
of a king of Delhi was too devoted to the Lord. To
remember her, Lord is dressed with Lungi the Muslim dhoti and Roti is offered
as nivedhana on Ekadasi and new moon days. Brahmotsavam is celebrated thrice a
year during January-February, February-March and April-May. The
temple is believed to have come into being from the milk ocean. This
is one of the Swayambu Kshetrams with Lord facing south. The vimana
of the Lord is covered with gold.
Except
Madhura Kavi Azhwar, all Vaishnavite saints had sung the glory of the Lord of
the temple. Of the 108 Divya desas, Sri Rangam the first and Tiruchirupuliyur
the 11th are the only ones facing south. Vaishnava Acharya Sri
Ramanuja stayed here rendering his services to the Lord and also attained
salvation here. His disciples interned the Acharya in a sitting
form. After some time, Acharya came alive resurrected in the same
form. Thirumanjanam is not performed. There is a separate shrine for
Sri Ramanuja. On the Arudra star day in Chithirai month (April-May), a blend of
kumkum and other items are applied on the Acharya.
On the
Kaisika Ekadasi falling on the full moon fortnight in the month of Karthikai
(November-December) an event of covering the Lord with 365 blankets is celebrated
throughout the night. This is said to make up for the errors committed in
the day-to-day clothing of the Lord during the other days of the year. As
November-December happens to be winter, it is also said that the event is
followed as a token of the love of devotees to comfort the Lord from the cold
weather.
Aani
Jeshtabishek is performed to Lord (abishek with perfumed oil) with Sandal
water. Same day, abishek is performed to Namperumal the procession
deity after removing the gold coverings. Abishek to Namperumal is
performed with 22 pots of Cauvery water. It is said Mother Cauvery herself
performs the abishek to Lord Namperumal. Abishek on other days are
performed without removing the golden coverings.
Aadi
Perukku Utsav is celebrated on the 48th day of the Jeshtabishek to Lord on
the Aani Jeshta star day. This is celebrated on Aadi 18 or 28 in
some years. Lord graces from the Amma Mandap and offers gifts to
Mother Cauvery with silk sari, bangles, betels etc. This is taken on
an elephant and dropped in the flowing river.
While
staging the Kamba Ramayana in the temple, some objected to the mention of Lord
Sri Narasimha in the Ramavatara story. Kambar said that he would
withdraw this part of the epic, if Lord himself so demanded. Lord
Sri Narasimha emerged from a pillar and approved Kambar’s writing as
true. Lord Narasimha in the temple graces from a separate shrine in
the name of Mettazhagia Singar near the Mother’s shrine. The mandapa where
Ramayana Arangettram took place is opposite the Mother’s
shrine. Lord Narasimha is holding only the conch with no discus.
Three Brahmotsavam
is celebrated in the temple during Chithirai (April-May), Thai
(January-February) and Panguni (March-April). Lord Brahmma
celebrated the Brahmotsavam for Lord Ranganatha in Panguni in His Sathyaloka
which is called the Aadhi (first or original) Brahmotsavam. Uthiram star falls
during this festival when the Lord graces darshan with Mother
Ranganayaki. The Thai Brahmotsavam relates to the one celebrated by
Lord Sri Rama in Ayodhya. As Rama is considered Lord of Earth, this festival is
also called Bhoopathi Festival. It is considered that Lord Rama himself is
still celebrating this festival.