Srirangam
Srirangam, also known as Thiruvarangam is one of the foremost among the 108 Vaishnava temples. It is situated 10kms from Tiruchirapalli district in Tamil Nadu. Here, Vishnu in the form of Sri Ranganatha is seen reclining on the coils of Adisesha. A temple in tamil is called 'koil'. However, among the Vaishnavas, the common noun koil is an invariable reference to the temple of Srirangam. Such is the vital position occupied by this temple within the tradition of Vaishnavism. This temple is also one of the Pancha Ranga kshetras, the other four being, Adirangam (Mysore), Appalarangam (Thiruper), Chaturtharangam (Kumbakonam) and Pancharangam of Indalur/ Mayavaram.[1]
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.
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.
Srirangam at a glance [1]
| Vishnu is referred to as | Sri Ranganatha, Peria Perumal, Nam Perumal |
| Lakshmi is referred to as | Sri Ranga Nacchiar, Peria Piratti |
| Kshetra is | A Pancharanga Kshetra |
| Vimana is referred to as | Pranavakara Vimana |
| Pushkarini is referred to as | Chandra Pushkarini |
| Vrksha is referred to as | Punnai |
| River in the vicinity | Kaveri, Kollidam and Vedashrngam |
| Hymns by Alwars | 247 |
| Location of the temple | 10kms from Tiruchirapalli |
Location
Srirangam is an island where the two rivers Kaveri and Kollidam encircle like a garland. It is about 31 kms long and 13 kms broad. And the Ranganatha temple stands on the western part of this island. Located in the picturesque island of palm and plantain trees, with acres and acres of fertile land, makes Ranganatha temple a terrestrial paradise.This holy shrine is also called as antyarangam as it lies encircled by the river Kaveri.[1]
History
Vaishnavism believes eight Vaishnava temple idols to be Svayam-vyakta (self-manifest forms of Vishnu) And Srirangam Ranganatha temple is considered foremost among them. It is said that the actual shrine arose out of the ocean. However, the temple itself has a traceable history. It finds mention in the Silappadigaram (One of the 5 great epics of Tamil Literature) and in Kovil Ozhugu (a chronicle written in the 11th Century).
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.
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.
One case worth mentioning here is of the Mottai Gopuram. It originally, had just two tiers and was left incomplete by the Nayakas of Vijayanagar dynasty. The construction to complete this structure commenced in May 1979 at the instance of 44th jeeyar (pontif) of Ahobila Mutt who was then 87 year old and was completed in 1987 in a record time of eight years. It is mentioned that despite his advanced age, the sanyasi went up the temple tower block almost daily to supervise personally the work in progress.[1]
Structure
The Srirangam Ranganatha temple is known as a Sapta Prakara Sthala. The Ranga vimana embellished with gold stands as a pranava (Aum) encircled by the sapta prakaras. There are in all 21 towers in the temple forming entrances and is encircled by high walls and is dressed in stone and lime. Out of the 21 towers, 7 are on the southern side, 6 are on the north side, 4 are on the east and 3 on the west. The twenty-first tower is the sanctum of Goddess Ranganayaki. The towers are full of myriad sculptures of figures, processions, musicians playing different instruments, beasts and demons, couples in fond embrace, elephants, horses, dancers, devotees and brave warriors. The ceilings and pillars are also lavishly decorated with superb carvings. The walls are ornamented with gold paintings depicting 108 divya desas. As they are labelled in Telugu it is inferred that they may have been presented by the Nayaka kings of Tanjore. Also, the Garuda image at the entrance, hailed as Periya Thiruvadi is the biggest one of its kind. While the thousand pillared hall of the temple erected by Dandanayaka and Perumal Devan during Vijayanagar rule, is supported with 951 monolithic pillars. However, during the construction of this mandapa the place was attacked by an enemy and was therefore left incomplete. Even the Rajagopuram that is 236 feet high is the tallest one in the whole of Asia and the tallest temple tower in the world. The temple has 56 sanadhis (sanctum sanctorums) and is so big that a devotee without a proper guide will get lost at some point. The temple also once upon a time consisted of nine holy theerthas (holy ponds) and 34 Nandavanas.
It is believed that the seven prakaras are symbolic of the seven worlds. The four vedas and shastras are the sthupis. The 24 pillars represent Gayatri mantra. The four sides of the sanctum are guarded by Narayana, Napinalina, Nagasayana and Narasimha. Also, at the northern entrance in the third circuit is the paramapada vasal or Vaikunta Vasal, a most sacred spot. Every year on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day this entrance assumes special importance and devotees who pass through this channel are believed to enter heaven.[1]
The sanctum sanctorum of the Srirangam temple has a golden dome for its roof called the Ranga Vimana shaped like the first primordial sound Aum of the Vedas, called Pranava. The vimana is supported by the hood of Adishesha. The origin of the Ranga Vimana can be traced back to the beginning of creation when Lord Vishnu first created Brahma and initiated him into the Pranava and asked him to meditate on that along with the word Hari. Brahma started meditating on the pranava and as a result the four Vedas, the Gayatri mantra and several living beings appeared. Thereafter, Lord Narayana appeared before him and initiated him into Ashtakshara mantra Om Namo Narayanaya. Subsequently owing to Brahma's tapas, there arose from the Milky Ocean the divine Ranga Vimana shining with the celestial effulgence in which Lord Ranganatha in yoganidra was reclining on the serpent Adisesha. Also the inmates of Sri Vaikunta, Lord Vishnu's heavenly abode, were present. Brahma prayed to Lord Ranganatha to remain in the Vimana forever and the lord granted his wish. Ranga vimana is also the name given to a special chariot for Vishnu carried by Veda Murthis on their heads.[1]
Nandavana
The flowers and garlands that adorn the deities of the Srirangam temple are special. At one point of time this temple is said to have had as many as 34 nandavanams, thanks to the bountiful Kaveri and the Kollidam. And the garlands made from the flowers of these nandavana alone adorn the presiding deity Sri Ranganatha and his consort. The garlands are made of white and red flowers and leaves, making it a colourful spectacle; truly a vanamala, a favourite of the Lord.[1]
Legends
According to Brahmanda puran, aeons ago the deity of the Lord along with the Ranga Viman emerged out of Ksheerabdhi. This was in response to a severe penance of Brahma for thousand long years and more. From Brahma subsequently the idol was passed on to Ikshvaku, the son of Manu. Years rolled by, then came the turn of Vibushana who brought the idol and the viman to the river bank. Vibishana intended to take the Lord and the Viman to his kingdom Lanka. Vibishana kept it on the banks of river Cauvery while he did his evening prayers. The deity forged the earth and was immovable, settling permanently to the ground. Much to his dismay the Viman could not be lifted. Both the Lord and the Viman were to remain ever on the banks of river Cauvery. Vibishana was crest fallen. The Lord assured him that he would always look southward towards Sri Lanka lying on his serpent couch. This event is believed to have occurred in the month of Panguni and this is celebrated in all grandeur as Adi Brahmotsava in Panguni.
Sri Ramanuja spent his last twenty years at Srirangam. His Brindavanam is inside the temple on the east. Just as a king rules his country, Ramanuja controlled this temple and hence was rightly called Yathiraja-king of ascetics. Ramanuja is so inseparably linked with this temple that he is enshrined in Vasanta mandapa. His image has been sculpted and kept for all to admire and worship at Udayavar sannidhi. The town contains many monasteries.
The well in the east is deemed to be the Viraja river of Vaikunta. According to a legend, a huge flood devastated the country side and the idol of Ranga got submerged. In course of time Sriranga temple on the river bank was forgotten and got buried under the sands of time. Thus the hallowed shrine along with the deity did not have adequate patrons in course of time. Consequently, the shrine and the deity were buried beneath the earth. At this place a devotee regularly used to sing hymns of Ranga and a parrot used to listen regularly. Even after the temple was engulfed, the parrot, true to its nature used to recite the hymns daily. A descendant of Dharma Verma, again a Chola King accidentally reached the spot at the riverbank during one of his hunting sojourn. He was astonished at what he heard and saw. The parrot recited the following hymn "What Vraja is to Vaikunta, is Cauvery to Sriranga, Srirangam is Vaikuntam itself, Ranga is Vasudeva, the Vimana is Pranava and it is Ranga who propounds the Pranava." That was what the parrot sang. The same night the wonderful supreme Lord Ranganatha appeared in his dream and informed him of the Viman 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 can find the name of Killi. Silambu relates that Ranga reclined in a thousand headed serpent couch. Therefore it is clear that Srirangam existed when Silappadikaram was composed.
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 Azhagiamanavaian 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 Kanyakumari and then to Kerala on its way to Satyamangalam, Gingee, Tirupati and Melkote before it was redeemed back to his Srirangam.
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 the 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.
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.
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).
Azhwars
The temple is sanctified by eleven Always including Andal. The only exception is Madurakavi Alwar for whom there was no other god other than Nammalwar, his acharya.
Andal would not think of any other mortal to wed. It was her childhood desire and dream to marry the Lord only. She could not imagine anyone other than the unchallenged Master of the Cosmos. She wanted to marry the only Purushottama exalted in the Purusha Suktha. The Lord, the Paratatva, the root cause of the universe, answered her prayers. It was at this temple that she merged with Lord Ranganatha in the sanctum sanctorum.
In honour of the devotion of Sri Kulasekhara Alwar, there is a step in front of the Moola Vigraha. This is called Kulasekhara Padi. It was here that Nammalwar's magnum opus, the Tiruvaymoli attained the status one more exalted than the Vedas.
It is true that at this temple Thirumangai Alwar recited the Tamil Prabhandams to God's satisfaction and immense joy. It was his earnest desire and cherished wish that Prabhandam should be recited along with the Vedas on Ekadashi day during bright Margazhi. The Lord who is the nectarine essence of all Vedas immediately obliged and established the practice of reciting both the Tamil and the Sanskrit Vedas. This is followed till this date during Adhyayanan Utsav, preceding and following Vaikunta Ekadasi.
It was at this temple that Lord Ranganatha asked Manavala Mamuni to chant Thiruvazhmozhi. It is said that the Divine Couple regularly enjoyed the recital. It was again at this Divya desa that Lord Ranganatha as a young boy stood before Manavala Mamuni with folded hands engrossed in his poetic recital. It is believed here that the Tulasi-wreathed Lord himself performs the rituals of Manavala Mamuni every year.
Nampillai, a great Vaishnavite scholar and seer, discoursed on religious themes to groups of devotees at Srirangam. It is believed that the Lord regularly attended all his lectures. An intimate temple servant ordered him to go back to his rightful place, the sanctum sanctorum. Till today this incident is narrated to all the devotees.
This were Swami Desikan composed his Paduka Sahasram, the high watermark of his genius. Facing the Thayar Sannidhi is a special shrine for Swami Vedanta Desika under the control of Sri Ahobila Math.
The great Tamil poet, Kamban chose this temple to inaugurate his lyrical masterpiece famously acclaimed as the Kamba Ramayanam. Kamba Ramayanam was read out by Kamban before a panel of scholars and Lord Narasimha gave his approval with a big roar of joy.
When there was confusion with the identity of the original idol of the Lord, it was left to the washerman engaged in temple services to identify the right deity. Water after ablution of the two idols was given separately to the washerman. He on tasting, in great joy went on uttering this is our Perumal, this is our Perumal by the smell of butter sticking on the butter thief and rightly identified the original deity. The washerman who could distinguish the deity was named as Iramkolli meaning water taster.
Likewise, a farmer, after his first successful crop, offers the grains first to the Lord of Srirangarn with the words, Tiruvarangam Periya Koil. They believe that their offering will be returned multifold by the Lords grace.
Araiyar Seva at this temple is very famous and a specialty. There is an interesting tradition about the procession of the idols known for its captivating and bewitching gait. As per tradition, a group of devotees known as Sri Padam Thangis are only permitted to render Suprabhata to the Lord and it is their prerogative.
Festivals
Here, Sri Ramanuja sampradaya is followed in every letter. Vaikuntha Ekadasi day reaches the apex of its glory.
Srirangam is one of the few temples in South India that has festivals to honour its Lord and his consorts throughout the year. A grand total of, approximately, three hundred and twenty two festivals take place annually at the Srirangam temple. To enjoy all festivals of this renowned temple one has to sojourn at least one whole year.
Once, the king of Vijaynagara, his spouse, his son and daughter-in-law arrived late to witness a festival. When the king wanted the festival to be reenacted, he was asked to come next year. That was the famous Padi Etra Sevai, the Lord's enchanting return to the sanctum climbing the steps A festival in the month of Panguni, on full moon day when the Moon is in conjunction with the star Uthara is of a special significance as far as Srirangam is concerned. On this day both the Lord and the Consort are seen on the same throne. This rare sight of the heavenly couple sent our guru Sri Ramanuja into emotional raptures who immediately composed and presented Saranagati Gadhya. The very next moment he also performed Saranagati and took refuge at the lotus feet of Divine Couple.
The temple is referred by-several names. Koil, Peria Koil, Tiruvarangam, Bhooloka Vaikuntam, Bhogamantapa and Namarangam.
According to tradition Lord Ranganatha has five consorts - Ranganayaki, Andal, Chozhakulavalli, Cherakulavalli and Biwi Nachiyar. Acharya Ramanuja is said to have spent nearly seventy years of his life serving Ranga.
Sriranga Nachiar is known as Padithanda pathni (the chaste lady who never steps beyond the threshold). Therefore all the festivals are conducted at the Nachiar sannidhi adjacent to Vasant Mandapam. To the right of Thayar sannidhi is the shrine of Metter Azhagiya Singar. Here Lord Narasimha is seen pulling out the entrails of Hiranya and wearing it as garland.
Srirangam and Vaikuntham
It is believed that river Cauvery is the very same river Viraja that eternally flows in Vaikunta. Srirangam is considered as a heaven on earth viz., Bhooloka Vaikunta. It is foremost among the 108 divya desas, the last one being Vaikunta itself.