Sunday, April 10, 2016

Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Prayers & Offerings

Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Prayers & Offerings
The purpose of human birth, according to our scriptures, is to seek total emancipation from the cycle of births and deaths and to get merged with the Lord. So is the purpose of worship in the temple.  Besides this lofty aim, people also pray for boons of wedding, child, education, wisdom, progress in professions, family prosperity, growth in agricultural yields etc., and for a life free from material worries.
Devotees apply butter, kumkum powder, sandal on the chest and feet of the Lord. They offer vastras with Tulsi and flower garlands with incense sticks. Light small lamps. Arrange nivedhanas and distribute it to devotees and also arrange feeding-Annadhana.
Offerings:
Offerings can be directly deposited into the Temple Hundi, still if that is not possible due to the nature of your offerings, they can be handed over to the Temple Staff at the Thulabharam, and the receipt for the same can be obtained immediately.
Thulabharam:
One of the most important vows taken to propitiate Lord Ranganathaswamy is to perform “Thulabharam” i.e. donating various items such as turmeric, rice, dhal, coins, sugar, rice, jaggery, sugar candy, etc. to the equivalent weight of the devotee.
Pilgrims reaches the Thulabharam counter near Thirukkottaram (Granary); there he can perform the Thulabharam as per his wish. The determined price equivalent to the weight of the item will be collected from the pilgrim and a receipt for the same will be issued immediately by the staff in-charge. The pilgrims may also carry the item from their place to perform Thulabharam.