Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Pudupet – The Temple
This Temple is facing north with three tiered
Rajagopuram. Dwajastambam and Balipeedam can be found
facing the sanctum. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum and a Muka Mandapam.
The Muka Mandapam seems to be of Vijayanagar period. Presiding Deity is called
as Ranganatha Swamy. He is in reclining posture on Ananta Sesha, the
celestial serpent. He is gracing the devotees with four hands, upper
hands holding Shankha, Chakra and lower hands in in abhaya and varada
hastas. Lakshmi Devi is sitting on a lotus flower on his chest.
Lord Brahma can be seen rising from the Lord's navel.
Sridevi and Bhoodevi can be found near Lord's feet. Srirangam Ranganathar is
facing upwards and here he is facing the devotees, head in tilted position.
Lord Ranganatha Swamy is considered as the Lord for planet Venus (Sukra) and
therefore shrine is known as the Sukra (Venus) Sthala. It is auspicious to
offer prayers to the Lord on Fridays during Sukra Hora (6 am - 7 am) as well as
on Wednesdays. The Pooja rituals follow the Agamic Sri Vaikasana Sampradaya.
Dwarapalakas Jaya and Vijaya are guarding the
sanctum. The sanctum door frame is sculpted with bas reliefs madanikas
(Salabhanjika–celestial damsels) and Dashavatara (ten incarnations)
on side frame slabs and Kirtimukha decoration (demon faces) on the roof
slab. The vimana under which the Lord enshrined is eka tala (single tier)
vesara vimana. The base vimana structure (from adishtana to
prastara) is made out of hard granite stones and with griva having
mahanasika, shikara and four finials or kalasas. There is a pillared
pavilion before the sanctum.
The flight of three steps leading to raised level flooring.
The floors are paved with modern tiles. The pillars are coated with paint. The
bottom of the pillars has square base and the octagonal shape
at the top. The Potika is the pushpa-potika (lotus-bud),
characteristic of the Vijayanagar style. The pillars and
prastara are coated with paint. All the pillar bases bear bas reliefs of
incarnations of Lord Vishnu including Lord Parthasarathy of Tiruvallikeni.
Garudazhvar appear in a small sanctum before the Lord Ranganathaswamy.
Mother is called as Ranganayaki. She is housed in a separate shrine, situated on the right
side of the sanctum. Her shrine is facing east. The vimana under which the
goddess enshrined is eka tala (single tier) Dravida vimana. The base
vimana structure (from adishtana to prastara) is made out of hard granite stones
and with square tala and octagonal griva having mahanasika, octagonal shikara
and single finial or kalasa. There is a 16 pillared pavilion before the
sanctum. The bottom and top of the pillars have square
base and the octagonal shape at the middle. The Potika
is the pushpa-potika (lotus-bud), characteristic of
the Vijayanagar style.
There are shrines for Lord Tirupati Venkatachalapathi
(facing the Rajagopuram), Thumbikai Alvar (Vinayagar) (on the left) and Sri Gnana
Anjaneyar in the western corridor. There are shrines for
Chakrathalvar and Yoga Narasimhar in the eastern corridor. Devotees can see the
holy feet of Lord Ranganatha Swamy in the Sri Vaikundavasal Pavilion in the
southern corridor. There are also shrines for Andal (Soodikodutha Sudarkodi), Vikanasar,
Vishwakasena, 12 Alvars and 12 Acharyas in the Temple premises.
