----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2007 6:21
PM
Subject: Divya Desam series - Koyil -
Tiruvarangam / Srirangam
I wish to share with our members of the Divya Desams by
posting information on each Divya Desam each day.
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KOYIL (Tiruvarangam/
Srirangam)
Srirangam, the premier
Vaishnava temple in South India is the first and foremost among the 108 Divya
desams. All the Azhwars have sung in praise of the deity enshrined in this
temple. In the Vaishnava parlance, the term "Koil" signifies the Srirangam
temple only. Located near Tiruchirappalli,
on an island formed by the rivers Kaveri and Kolledam, stands the massive
temple of Srirangam .
It has a main shrine for
Lord Ranganatha, also called Nam Perumal, in a reclining posture on Adisesha.
The Thayar is Ranganayaki with a shrine in the fourth prakaram. The Theertham
is Chandra pushkarini and the Vimanam Pranavaakriti Vimanam. There are also
shrines for Rama, Krishna , Nachiyar, Chakratalvar, Garuda, Hanuman, and
Andal. In Srirangam there is the Dasavathara temple, the only one of its kind
enshrining all the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
According to the Sriranga Mahathmyam the glittering
Sriranga Vimana sprang as a result of the tapas of Brahma in the depths of the
Milky Ocean . It was borne by the celestial bird Garuda. Adisesha had spread
his hood over it.
Brahma found Lord Vishnu
resting on Adisesha, and was informed that He had come as
Swayamyakta - on his own as an idol. He would also appear likewise in
seven other places on earth -- Srimushnam, Venkatadri, Saligram, Naimisaranya,
Thotadri, Pushkar and Badri. Ranga Vimana is the first and the earliest of all
these. Brahma carried the Vimana to Satyaloka and installed it on the banks of
the river, Viraja. He appointed the Sun God to perform the daily worship.
Responding to the prayers of the King of Ayodhya of Iswaku race (Surya Vamsam)
Brahma permitted him to take the Vimanam to Ayodhya.
Thus, the Vimana came to Ayodhya. After Ikshvaku, his
descendants continued the service of worshipping the Lord. . Rama,
himself an avatara of the Lord in the Ishwaku race, worshipped Ranganatha and
thereafter Lord Ranganatha came to be known as "Periya Perumal". On his
triumphant return from Sri Lanka and
during his coronation, Rama gave the Vimana as a gift to Sri Vibheeshana for
worship.
When Vibheeshana set out for Sri Lanka , He
got down on the Kaveri banks to perform his mid-day prayers. He placed the
Ranga Vimana at a place known as "Sesha Peetam" (Srirangam) near the
Chandrapuskarani. Later when he tried to lift the Vimana, it would not move as
it got stuck. When Vibheeshana was overcome with grief, the
Lord appeared before him and consoled him saying that He had already decided
to make this place His abode and Vibheeshana could come and worship him daily.
It is said that even today Vibheeshana worships the Lord daily at midnight.
All the Azhwars except
Madhura kavi Azhwar have composed pasurams in praise of the Lord in this
shetram. Vedanta Desika composed Paduka Sahasram (1008 slokas) in different
metres.
Azhwar
Mangalaasaasanam:
Periyaazhwar ? 183, 189,
212, 245, 402-432
Andaal ?
607-61
Kulasekhara Azhwar ?
647-676, 728
Tirumazhisai Azhwar ?
772, 800-806, 844, 870, 2384, 2411, 2417, 2441
Tondaraipodi Azhwar ?
872-926
Tiruppan Azhwar ?
927-936
Tirumangai Azhwar ? 1019,
1213, 1378-1427, 1506, 1571, 1664, 1829, 1978, 2029, 2038, 2043, 2044, 2050,
2062, 2063, 2065, 2069, 2070, 2073-76, 2673, 2771
Poygai Azhwar ?
2087
Bhootathaazhwar ? 2209,
2227, 2251, 2269
Peyaazhwar ? 2342,
2343
Nammaazhwar ? 2505,
3464-3474 (pasuram number as found in Naalaayira Divya prabhandam)
It is significant that Ramanuja completely overhauled
the administrative system in this temple and saw to it that great care was
exercised in the matter of control of the temple affairs.
The physical body of
Ramanuja, who lived for nearly 120 years, is still being preserved in a
sitting posture in the sannidhi dedicated to him on the southwest corner on
the fifth prakaram of the temple. Shrines for all the Azhwars and Acharyas are
also found within the temple precincts.
Arayar Sevai one of the ancient arts of rendering and
expressing Naalaayira Divya prabhandam, in a dance form originated at this
shetram under the auspices of Nadamuni. Arayar Sevai is also performed at
Srivalliputtur, Azhwar Tirunagari, Tirukkurungudi, and Melkot.
This temple is enormous in size and is the largest temple complex with 156 acres in extent, surrounded by seven concentric walls (the outermost
wall having a perimeter of over 3 kilometers) and 21 gopurams. It has seven Prakarams or Tiru
Veedhis running around the sanctum. The total length of these seven walls is
32,592 feet, approximately around 9 Kms. There are magnificent towers in all
Prakaras and the latest addition is the 236 feet high thirteen tired
Rajagopuram built at the southern rampart by the late 44th Jeeyar of Sri
Ahobila Mutt.
Pilgrims
from all over India visit this shrine, and there are festivals all through the
year. Vaikunta
Ekadasi during Margazhi and the Tirukalyana festival during Panguni
attracts very large crowd.
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Om Namo
Narayana
Padmashri
Sampathkumar
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