Pallikonda Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Idigarai – The
Temple
The Temple is facing towards east with three tiered rajagopuram. There is a front mandapam covering the frontal façade of the rajagopuram and the front side wall. Deepa Sthamba can be found in front of this mandapam. The Temple is built on a higher level to ensure the safety of the temple from flash floods. There are 12 steps need to be climbed to reach the temple.
The 12 steps represents 12 names of Lord Vishnu namely Kesava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusudhana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrishikasa, Padmanaba and Damodara. Devotees climb the steps chanting these names of Lord. The Temple consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and 36 pillared maha mandapam. Dhwaja Sthambam and Garuda can be found in the maha mandapam facing towards the sanctum.
The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Pallikonda Ranganatha Swamy, in Sayana posture similar to Srirangam Ranganatha Perumal. Utsava idol is Kasthuri Rangan. He is housed in a separate shrine. The Sadari (the Padukas of Lord fixed on a crown-like object and placed on the heads of devotees as blessing of Lord) in the temple was originally installed in the Yagna in Tiruvallur Vaidya Veera Raghava temple (one of the 108 Divya Desams) and offered pujas.
The Sadari blessing is considered a great boon for the devotees. The Paramapada entrance is situated in the northern side of maha mandapam. Mother is called as Ranganayaki Thayar. She is housed in a separate shrine. Shrines of Satyanarayana, Radha Krishna, Kalinga Nardana, Anjaneya, Nammazhvar, Periazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Ramanuja, Koorath Azhwar, Nikamanda Maha Desikan and Nagas can be found in the temple premises.
