When a work has been started to have continuity and consistency need to do it on consecutive days. Usually said for courses that one joins. To join a new course ‘New Moon day’ is considered to be auspicious. Just like moon, one is likely to make progress in the course undertaken is the belief.. Though (16th April 2017) the previous day wasn’t a new moon day, wanted to continue and wanting consistency and commitment to be blessed by the almighty here is the second post on divine vibes.
Thinking to write about ‘Sriranganatha Swamy Temple’ so many thoughts line up in mind. The place is very close to heart as it is my home town and I have been blessed an association with this place for the past 25 years. The thought of writing about temples actually stuck one fine day, precisely on 14th March 2017, especially to write about less widely known, small but beautiful temples around Chennai and the palpable divine vibrations they emit. But to start with something familiar can make it comfortable and slowly moving out of the comfort zone seems to help in long run rather jumping into the unknown suddenly without doing much of the spade work. Hope almighty blesses thoughts, ideas, authentic information about kshetras that can come through this series, importantly less or no typos in posts, strength to write something good and useful without hurting another soul.
Srirangam is an island sandwiched between the Rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. There are N number of songs, verses on this Kshetra. Not sure how many will come into written form, may like to have a series on this Kshetra owing to overloaded information that has caught eyes. Not sure though, as in any case the post will have to seek and decide on the amount of information as it unfolds. Srirangam is called ‘Thiruvarangam’ in tamil. When split it is ‘Thiru’ and ‘Arangam’. Sri means Lakshmi/auspicious/ denotes prosperity; Arangam means stage. Stage which is an abode of prosperity.
Saiva and Vaishnava Sampradhaya has close association with each other. Lord Shiva is called ‘Pashupathi’ and Lord Vishnu is called ‘Govindha’ both meaning the same ‘Lord of cow herds’. And also as Sita and Sati are anagrams as Shiv and Vish are, tell the close association between the two sampradhayas. With that as the thread, ‘Chithambaram’ is called ‘Kanaka Sabai’. Srirangam is called ‘Thiru Arangam’. Both symbolically represent ‘The stage’. The stage that William Shakespeare states in his work ‘As you like it’.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.”
So spiritually it signifies that the protector of Dharma, the destroyer of Adharma take a lead and guide us on this stage play called life.
( The majestic Raja Gopuram )
Srirangam is called ‘Buloka Vaikundam’. The topography of the place is similar to Vaikundam, the abode of Vishnu with 7 praharas. The presiding deities are Sri Ranganathar and Sri Ranganayaki here. As one gets down at Srirangam bus stand, opposite to Ragavendra Brindavan Arch, looking around the place one cannot miss the majestic Raja Gopuram facing south. The 13 tiered tower was built only in the year 1987 till that it was called ‘Mottai Gopuram’. Raja Gopuram is the tallest temple tower in Asia. As it was constructed only years after the construction of ‘Srivilliputhur’ gopuram, which was the tallest in Tamil Nadu, Sriranga gopuram is not used as the symbol of Tamil Nadu Govt. Walking through the Raja Gopuram one can feel the force of wind pushing people aside. There are N number of Sannidhis starting from ‘Munishwarar sannidhi’ at the entrance of Raja Gopuram to ‘Dasavadhara Sannidhi’ near Kollidam bank with beautiful related histories which can take one effortlessly to eras behind in no time.
Many petty shops, restaurants, flower and vegetable markets keep the walk busy as one reach ‘Ranga Ranga’ gopuram in uthra veedhi. The temple has 21 gopurams. A view point is present close to 'Ranga Vilasa Mandapam' to the left as one enters Ranga Ranga gopuram. There are also various sannidhis of gods associated with Lord Vishu. The Kshetra history takes one back to the age of Ramayana. The Ranga Vimana – Shrine over the main sanctum is called ‘Ishvaku kula dhanam’. It was worshiped by the kings who came in the lineage of King Ishvaku till King Ramachandra. During his pattabishekam, after his 14 years of exile King Ramachandra gave it to Asura King Vibhishana as a token of love. While he was travelling to Sri Lanka along with the Vimana, Lord Ganesha diverted his concentration so as to place the Vimana in Srirangam. Lord Ranganatha is said to be facing south as per Vibhishana’s request. Lord Ranganatha is in ‘Kidandha kolam’ that is in reclining position on the serpent ‘Adisesha’. He is affectionately called ‘Periya Perumal’. The utsavar is called ‘Azhagiya manavala perumal’.
( Mottai Gopuram, before 1987 )
Thinking to write about ‘Sriranganatha Swamy Temple’ so many thoughts line up in mind. The place is very close to heart as it is my home town and I have been blessed an association with this place for the past 25 years. The thought of writing about temples actually stuck one fine day, precisely on 14th March 2017, especially to write about less widely known, small but beautiful temples around Chennai and the palpable divine vibrations they emit. But to start with something familiar can make it comfortable and slowly moving out of the comfort zone seems to help in long run rather jumping into the unknown suddenly without doing much of the spade work. Hope almighty blesses thoughts, ideas, authentic information about kshetras that can come through this series, importantly less or no typos in posts, strength to write something good and useful without hurting another soul.
Srirangam is an island sandwiched between the Rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. There are N number of songs, verses on this Kshetra. Not sure how many will come into written form, may like to have a series on this Kshetra owing to overloaded information that has caught eyes. Not sure though, as in any case the post will have to seek and decide on the amount of information as it unfolds. Srirangam is called ‘Thiruvarangam’ in tamil. When split it is ‘Thiru’ and ‘Arangam’. Sri means Lakshmi/auspicious/ denotes prosperity; Arangam means stage. Stage which is an abode of prosperity.
Saiva and Vaishnava Sampradhaya has close association with each other. Lord Shiva is called ‘Pashupathi’ and Lord Vishnu is called ‘Govindha’ both meaning the same ‘Lord of cow herds’. And also as Sita and Sati are anagrams as Shiv and Vish are, tell the close association between the two sampradhayas. With that as the thread, ‘Chithambaram’ is called ‘Kanaka Sabai’. Srirangam is called ‘Thiru Arangam’. Both symbolically represent ‘The stage’. The stage that William Shakespeare states in his work ‘As you like it’.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.”
So spiritually it signifies that the protector of Dharma, the destroyer of Adharma take a lead and guide us on this stage play called life.
Srirangam is called ‘Buloka Vaikundam’. The topography of the place is similar to Vaikundam, the abode of Vishnu with 7 praharas. The presiding deities are Sri Ranganathar and Sri Ranganayaki here. As one gets down at Srirangam bus stand, opposite to Ragavendra Brindavan Arch, looking around the place one cannot miss the majestic Raja Gopuram facing south. The 13 tiered tower was built only in the year 1987 till that it was called ‘Mottai Gopuram’. Raja Gopuram is the tallest temple tower in Asia. As it was constructed only years after the construction of ‘Srivilliputhur’ gopuram, which was the tallest in Tamil Nadu, Sriranga gopuram is not used as the symbol of Tamil Nadu Govt. Walking through the Raja Gopuram one can feel the force of wind pushing people aside. There are N number of Sannidhis starting from ‘Munishwarar sannidhi’ at the entrance of Raja Gopuram to ‘Dasavadhara Sannidhi’ near Kollidam bank with beautiful related histories which can take one effortlessly to eras behind in no time.
Many petty shops, restaurants, flower and vegetable markets keep the walk busy as one reach ‘Ranga Ranga’ gopuram in uthra veedhi. The temple has 21 gopurams. A view point is present close to 'Ranga Vilasa Mandapam' to the left as one enters Ranga Ranga gopuram. There are also various sannidhis of gods associated with Lord Vishu. The Kshetra history takes one back to the age of Ramayana. The Ranga Vimana – Shrine over the main sanctum is called ‘Ishvaku kula dhanam’. It was worshiped by the kings who came in the lineage of King Ishvaku till King Ramachandra. During his pattabishekam, after his 14 years of exile King Ramachandra gave it to Asura King Vibhishana as a token of love. While he was travelling to Sri Lanka along with the Vimana, Lord Ganesha diverted his concentration so as to place the Vimana in Srirangam. Lord Ranganatha is said to be facing south as per Vibhishana’s request. Lord Ranganatha is in ‘Kidandha kolam’ that is in reclining position on the serpent ‘Adisesha’. He is affectionately called ‘Periya Perumal’. The utsavar is called ‘Azhagiya manavala perumal’.
Opposite to Shri Ranganatha Swamy Sanctum is a Garuda Mandapam where the mighty ‘Suparnan’ one who has beautiful wings and the king of birds, Garuda, made of teak wood is graciously seated. Over years after Ramayana Era, the temple was covered with sand. In the period of Chola king Killivalavan the temple was restored and maintained. The temple has survived Mughal attacks, slack of Malik Kafur. The eastern gopuram is called ‘Vellai Gopuram’ which stands as a symbol of sacrifice of the lady ‘Vellayi’, who killed one of the Mughal kings to save the temple. It is still painted only in white to mark her bravery.
The presiding goddess is Shri Ranganayaki, embodiment of Lakshmi graciously blessing her devotees with abundant love. She is called ‘Periya Piratti’. The temple is the first divya desam out of 108 sri vaishnava divya desams. This is the only kshetra where all 12 alwars has made compositions about the kshetra and the presiding deities. The entire work of all Alwars put together is called ‘Naalayira Divya Prabandham’.
The temple has many historic significances and lot of hidden tales. 1000 pillars hall is a phenomenal architectural beauty. Saints like Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy Dikshitar has composed kritis on this kshetra. 12thcentury poet Kamban, who wrote Kamba Ramayana presented his work in front of scholars in a Mandap, the one situated opposite to the sanctum of the presiding goddess.
( A view of Vellai Gopuram )
This divya desam celebrates utsavams throughout the year and hence is called ‘Nithya utsava kshetra’. Notable ones are ‘Vaikunda Ekadesi’, ‘Panguni Utharam’, ‘Aadi Pooram’. Perumal Kovil famous Puliyodarai never fails to amaze along with festive special ‘Sambara dosa’ and ‘Vella kesari’.
As one comes out to board bus back to home or even before entering the Raja Gopuram the smell of Murali Coffee, a small shop just for coffee pulls devotees to either get the strength to stand in long Qs for darshan or to etch the memories of darshan and code them permanently with taste buds receptors.
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