Adikesava Perumal Temple, Sriperumpudur – The Temple
The
temple is built in Dravidian architecture occupies around 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) and has
two precincts. It is located in Sriperumpudur, a suburb in Chennai, the capital of the Indian state of Tamilnadu. The temple has a rectangular plan surrounded by
10 ft. (3.0 m) high walls, pierced by a seven-tier gopuram, the gateway tower. The presiding deity is housed in
the sanctum and is an image made of granite seen in standing posture. The
shrine of Garuda facing Adi Kesava, the vahana of Vishnu, is located axial to the central shrine.
The central shrine is approached through a worship hall and a narrow
Ardha mandapam.
The flag
post is located behind the shrine of Garuda, axial to the central shrine and
the gateway tower. There are images of Azhwars in the worship hall on both sides and the shrine
of Yathirajavalli is located on in the second precinct. The gold plated hall in
front of the shrine of Ramanuja was endowed by the Maharaja of Mysore. There
are no separate Sorgavasal, the sacred entrance way opened during the Vaikunta
Ekadasi festival. There is a
Bhoodakal hall where the festive images of the presiding deity and is consort
are housed during the festival.
Sri Aadhikesava
Perumal with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi in standing posture facing east and
Goddess Ethiraja Valli Thayar (Ranga Nachiyar) in separate shrines. She does
not move out of the temple Complex her Utsavams are done inside the temple
Complex. There is an idol of Ramanujar here which was embraced by Ramanujar
himself. At the time of eye opening ceremony of Ramanujar’s idol here,
Ramanujar was preaching at Srirangam and it is said that at that instant, blood
oozed out from both real-life Ramanujar (at Srirangam) and the idol here. Other
deities like Rama, Andal, Udayavar, Desikan, and Alavandar are there. Theertham
of this Temple is Anantha Saras.
It is
the Avathara Sthalam of Sri Ramanujar. The Avathara Rahasyam of Ramanuja is
known to world through the Adhi Kesava Perumal. This is the only temple where
Goddess Lakshmi has a name derived from the name of a devotee of the Lord. She
is considered to be a varaprasathi, (one who grants all wishes).The east-facing
temple has a golden vimana (dome over the sanctum) with Sri Ramanuja’s image
etched on it. This is the first golden vimana and was installed in 1912. To the
right of the sanctum is the shrine of Saint Ramanuja, the philosopher-teacher
of Vaishnavism.
The
Dwajasthambam is the first thing that you see as you enter Ramanuja Swamy
Temple. On the right is the Kudraikal Mandapam (horse-leg hall) and next to it
is the Thanga (gold) Mandapam that has a grand entrance leading to the shrine
of Acharya Ramanuja. As you come out of this shrine, you can see the shrine of
Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Opposite this shrine
is that of Garuda Alwar, the vehicle of Vishnu. To the left of the Perumal
Sannidhi (Vishnu’s shrine) is Andal.
The
Golden Mandapam stands majestically in front of Sri Ramanuja shrine built by
the Maharaja of Mysore. There are four Kalasas representing the four
Vedas with Lord Paravasudeva Perumal, Sri Ranganathar under the
Kalasas. Still below are Namperumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi,
Garuda the eagle vehicle of Lord Vishnu and Dwarapalakas. The Mandapam
looks like a separate temple by itself within a temple.
Outside
the main shrines there is a small prakaram (enclosure) and in the corner is the
Sannidhi shared by Nammalvar with his chief disciple, Madhurakavi Alwar and
Nathamunigal. As you go around the prakaram, in the northeast corner is a
beautiful painting at the spot where Manavala Mamunigal delivered his
discourse, Sri Bhashya Kalakshepam. Devotees pay their respects by prostrating
here. Nearby is a pillar with a small bronze icon on it. The shrine of Thirukkachi
Nambigal, Pillailokacharya is also in this area.
There
are three Ramanuja idols, the first in Melkottai in Tirunarayanapuram in
Karnataka, the second in Sri Rangam in Tiruchi and the third in this temple at
Sriperumpudur. These are called Than Uganda Thirumeni – that which
are liked by the Acharya. These idols were made by his disciples as
suggested by him. The Acharya embraced these idols and infused his
power into them. Hence, these idols are known as Than Uganda
Thirumeni. These idols were made when Sri Ramanuja was 120 years
old. The ear, hip bones are so realistically sculpted resembling his
age.
To the
right at a lower level, is the Gayathri Mandapam which was built by Swami Nigamantha
Maha Desikan contains the image of Goddess Yathirajanatha Valli Thayar. The
prakaram surrounding this shrine has murals of 108 Divya Desha which is sacred
to Vaishnavaites. Other interesting features of the Ramanuja Swamy Temple,
Sriperumpudur are the Ramar Sannidhi (shrine), Ouyali Seva Mandapam (leisure
hall), Kannadi Mandapam (mirror chamber) Yaga Salai and the shrine of Vishnu as
Venugopalan, the flute playing Krishna. In front of temple there are the 16
pillars and 4 pillared mandapams and opposite this, the 100-pillared mandapam.
Many of
the pillars are embellished with Yazhi, the mythological animal. The birth
place of Ramanuja is situated here and next to it are shrines for his chief
disciples Koorath Alwar and Manavala Mamunigal. As you walk along the four
walls surrounding Ramanuja Swamy Temple there is a lovely little shrine to Lord
Krishna. At the back of the temple is the water body called Anantha Sarasu or
Pushkarini.