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Line 73: − + − Here the Lord is ravishingly beautiful As his charm attracts all, he got the name Azhagiya Manavala. According to tradition, this utsava deity of the Lord known as Azhagia manavaian is one of enchanting beauty. During the invasion of Mallikafur's army the deity was taken round the entire southern districts - to Azhagar koil near Madurai and from there to + + + + − He is fondly referred to as Namperumal, our friend, philosopher and guide. Thus the Lord's universal compassion is denoted. The two rivers, Cauvery and Coleroon girdle thKanyakumari and then to Kerala on its way to Satyamangalam, Gingee, Tirupati and Melkote before it was redeemed back to his Srirangam.e temple like a queen's necklace. The temple, a swayam vyaktha kshetra covers an area of 156 acres, the biggest in the whole of India. + − + − − − Unable to bear the pangs of separation from the deity, a Muslim princess is believed to have breathed her last at Srirangam. Till date she is worshipped as Bibi Nacchiar or Tulukacchi Nacchiar. Everyday she is offered roti and butter as prasada seva. It was at this temple that the Bibi attained salvation and merged with the Lord. − − Chola Kula Valli, daughter of Chola King Dharma Verma and Chera Kula Valli, daughter of Chera King Kulasekara attained eternal bliss at this temple. Another interesting incident is recorded during the period of Nanda Chola. He once found in his lily pond a heavenly female child floating on a lotus. He took it as a gift from God Almighty. Because he found the child on the petals of a lotus flower she was named Kamalavalli. When she came of age she met Lord Ranganatha. She immediately fell in love with him. The king Nanda Chola consummated her marriage to Ranganatha with great pomp when the heaven born daughter was taken inside the sanctum she merged with the Lord in a blaze of light. In commemoration of his daughter's marriage, Nanda Chola constructed two temples, one for Karnalavalli and the other for vyi,„ Ma_navala at Uraiyur − − A staunch devotee, a Lady at Karambanoor would not touch ford without worshipping Martavaia Perumal. During Muslim invasion. when the deity was taken away from Srirangam she followed the camp soldiers and became their camp follower. She reached Delhi with the Moghul soldiers and managed to locate the deity in the bedroom of the princess. She returned to Srirangam and narrated to the chief priest the whereabouts of the Manavala Perumai. She was rightly named Pinsendravalli (the lady who followed the idol). Kodavar's son who brought back the idol to Srirangam was named as Thiruttazhvarai Dasar. The troupe of dancers who helped in reverting the deity were named as Isai Ariyum Perumal Kootattar (the troupe which brought back the idol with music).
→Names and Legends: Editing
== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
Deities in the Indian culture are eulogized by various names. Mahavishnu in each of the temples dedicated to Him, is attributed a specific name and so, is his consort Mahalakshmi given a unique name in each kshetra. Not just the deities, even the gopurams (vimanas) ie. the conical structure that is erected towards the sky are also called by specific names. Each temple also has its own pushkarini (pond). And it is mostly, geographically, situated in the vicinity of a river.
Deities in the Indian culture are eulogized by various names. Mahavishnu in each of the temples dedicated to Him, is attributed a specific name and so, is his consort Mahalakshmi given a unique name in each kshetra. In Srirangam, He is fondly referred to as Namperumal, our friend, philosopher and guide denoting the Lord's universal compassion. While the utsava deity of the Lord is known as Azhagiya manavalan (one of enchanting beauty) as His charm attracts all.<ref name=":0" /> Not just the deities, even the gopurams (vimanas) ie. the conical structure that is erected towards the sky are also called by specific names. Each temple also has its own pushkarini (pond). And it is mostly, geographically, situated in the vicinity of a river.
The Alwars or saint-poets of the Vaishnava tradition are known to have sung hymns in praise of Vishnu residing in each of these 108 temples. That is also what makes these 108 temples very pivotal and sacred in the Vaishnava tradition.
The Alwars or saint-poets of the Vaishnava tradition are known to have sung hymns in praise of Vishnu residing in each of these 108 temples. That is also what makes these 108 temples very pivotal and sacred in the Vaishnava tradition.
According to Prof. S. Narayanan, it can be deduced from the well preserved inscriptions that this temple enjoyed the patronage of almost all the famous ruling dynasties of South India; that rich endowments were made to the temple by the Cholas, Pandyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar Nayakas, Pallavas and Marathas. Itihasas like Ramayana and many puranas like Padma purana and Bhagavata purana also refer to the glory of this kshetra. However, it was during the Vijayanagara rule that the temple attained its pinnacle of glory.
According to Prof. S. Narayanan, it can be deduced from the well preserved inscriptions that this temple enjoyed the patronage of almost all the famous ruling dynasties of South India; that rich endowments were made to the temple by the Cholas, Pandyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar Nayakas, Pallavas and Marathas. Itihasas like Ramayana and many puranas like Padma purana and Bhagavata purana also refer to the glory of this kshetra. However, it was during the Vijayanagara rule that the temple attained its pinnacle of glory.
13th Century was a crucial period in the history of the temple. During the Muslim invasion in 1327, Swami Vedanta Desika, one of the greatest vaishnava acharyas shifted the deity to Melkote and then to Tirumala. Finally, it is said that two Vijayanagar generals brought the Lord back to Srirangam. This is reinforced by Vedanta Desika's praise of them engraved on the walls of the temple.
13th Century was a crucial period in the history of the temple. During the invasion of Malik kafur's army in 1327, the deity was taken round the entire southern districts - to Azhagar koil near Madurai and from there to Kanyakumari and then to Kerala on its way to Satyamangalam, Gingee, Tirupati and Melkote before it was redeemed back to Srirangam. It was Swami Vedanta Desika, one of the greatest vaishnava acharyas who shifted the deity to Melkote and then to Tirumala. Finally, it is said that two Vijayanagar generals brought the Lord back to Srirangam. This is reinforced by Vedanta Desika's praise of them engraved on the walls of the temple.
Prof. S. Narayanan says, ''"Very few temples in the country have so much religious, architectural and historical splendour as Srirangam temple. Even the architectural features of the temple demonstrate that the present temple was not the work of one dynasty but has gone through the centuries from modest beginnings."'' The handiwork of several dynasties collectively constitutes the massive temple complex.
Prof. S. Narayanan says, ''"Very few temples in the country have so much religious, architectural and historical splendour as Srirangam temple. Even the architectural features of the temple demonstrate that the present temple was not the work of one dynasty but has gone through the centuries from modest beginnings."'' The handiwork of several dynasties collectively constitutes the massive temple complex.
According to a legend, a huge flood devastated the country side and the idol of Sri Ranga got submerged. In due course of time, Sriranga temple on the river bank also was forgotten and adequate patrons, got buried under the sands. However, a devotee used to regularly sing the hymns of Sri Ranga at this place and a parrot used to listen. Even after the temple was engulfed, the parrot, true to its nature recited the hymns daily. A descendant of Dharma Verma, a Chola King, accidentally reached the spot at the riverbank during one of his hunting sojourn and was astonished at what he heard and saw. The parrot recited the following hymn, "What Viraja is to Vaikuntha, is Kaveri to Srirangam, Srirangam is Vaikuntham itself, Ranga is Vasudeva, the Vimana is Pranava and it is Ranga who propounds the Pranava." The same night, the supreme Lord Ranganatha appeared in the king's dream and informed him of the Vimana buried under the sand dune. Like a true devotee, the King excavated the divine treasure and also renovated the temple. A shrine rose into being, Srirangam flourished and the Chola became Killi Cholan. Even in sangam classics we find the name of Killi.
According to a legend, a huge flood devastated the country side and the idol of Sri Ranga got submerged. In due course of time, Sriranga temple on the river bank also was forgotten and adequate patrons, got buried under the sands. However, a devotee used to regularly sing the hymns of Sri Ranga at this place and a parrot used to listen. Even after the temple was engulfed, the parrot, true to its nature recited the hymns daily. A descendant of Dharma Verma, a Chola King, accidentally reached the spot at the riverbank during one of his hunting sojourn and was astonished at what he heard and saw. The parrot recited the following hymn, "What Viraja is to Vaikuntha, is Kaveri to Srirangam, Srirangam is Vaikuntham itself, Ranga is Vasudeva, the Vimana is Pranava and it is Ranga who propounds the Pranava." The same night, the supreme Lord Ranganatha appeared in the king's dream and informed him of the Vimana buried under the sand dune. Like a true devotee, the King excavated the divine treasure and also renovated the temple. A shrine rose into being, Srirangam flourished and the Chola became Killi Cholan. Even in sangam classics we find the name of Killi.
=== Names and Legends ===
=== Nacchiars ===
* An interesting incident recorded during the period of Nanda Chola is that the Raja once found in his lily pond a heavenly female child floating on a lotus. He took it as a gift from the Almighty and named her Kamalavalli as she was found on the petals of a lotus flower. When she came of age, she met Lord Ranganatha and immediately fell in love with him. The king Nanda Chola consummated her marriage to Ranganatha with great pomp. When the heavenly born daughter was taken inside the sanctum, it is said that she merged with the Lord in a blaze of light. In commemoration of his daughter's marriage, Nanda Chola then constructed two temples, one for Kamalavalli and the other for Azhagiya Manavala at Uraiyur.
* It was at this temple that unable to bear the pangs of separation from the deity, a Muslim princess Bibi is believed to have breathed her last. She attained salvation and merged with the Lord at Srirangam. And hence, till date she is worshipped as Bibi Nacchiar or Tulukacchi Nacchiar. And everyday prasada seva of roti and butter is offered to her.
* Even, Chola Kula Valli, daughter of the Chola King Dharma Verma and Chera Kula Valli, daughter of Chera King Kulasekara are believed to have attained eternal bliss at this temple.
* A Lady at Karambanoor, staunch devotee, would not touch food without worshipping Manavala Perumal. During Muslim invasion, when the deity was taken away from Srirangam, she followed the camp soldiers and became their camp follower. Once she reached Delhi with the Moghul soldiers and managed to locate the deity in the bedroom of the princess, she returned to Srirangam and narrated to the chief priest the whereabouts of Manavala Perumai. For this act of steadfast devotion, she was rightly named Pinsendravalli (the lady who followed the idol). Kodavar's son who brought back the idol to Srirangam was named as Thiruttazhvarai Dasar and the troupe of dancers who helped in reverting the deity were named as Isai Ariyum Perumal Kootattar (the troupe which brought back the lord with music).
=== Dhanvantari ===
The shrine of Dhanvantari (the celestial physician) is a special feature of Srirangam not found in any other temple. The legend goes thus. Once when Lord Ranga was afflicted with severe cold and cough after consuming Jambu fruits with curds, it was the physician Dhanvantari who prepared a mixture and cured the Lord and naturally a shrine was built for him.<ref name=":0" />
The shrine of Dhanvantri is a special feature not found in any other temple. Dhanvantri is the celestial physician. Once when Lord Ranga was afflicted with severe cold and cough after consuming Jambu fruits with curds, it was the physician Dhanvantri who prepared a mixture and cured the Lord. Naturally a shrine was built for him.
== Azhwars ==
== Azhwars ==