Sri Rangam

Srirangam

Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple, Sri Rangam;

       Srirangam is beautiful island surrounded by river Cauvery and Kollidam(tributary of Cauvery). Srirangam is 8 miles in length and 4 miles in breadth. The population of Srirangam is about 50 thousands. It is 7 km from Trichy junction and it also has a railway station. The island town is surrounded by 7 walls. Sri Ranganatha Swami temple is one of the famous vaishnava temples in India. There are 21 gopurams, the rajagopuram (principal tower) is the largest gopuram in south India. The 72m high, 13-tiered gopuram (towers) was built in 1987 and dominates the landscape for miles around.

       Srirangam is a holy place. Importantly for vaishnavas, because, their God Vishnu is in the name of “Renganathar” in a sleeping posture (called Anantha sayanam), which could not be seen any where else like this. Srirangam has got importance because of Ranganath temple.

       Chandra Pushkarini-lake filled with fishes. Ramanujacharya came to that place and washed his hands in that lake. And as soon as he touched that water, water became so sanctified that in everyone's eyes all fishes assumed a form armed forms and descended to Vaikuntha.

Temple history:

Lotus flower emanating from the navel of Lord Vishnu;

In the beginning of the creation, from the wonderful form of the Lord Vishnu comes out a gigantic lotus flower from which takes birth Lord Brahma. His name is Atma Bhu which means he is directly born from the Lord. He did not know where he was, what to do. There was darkness. But Lord revealed to him to do tapasya. Brahma did tapasya and chant the Holy Names.

According to Sri Rangam mahatmya Lord appeared as swamsha – swan and revealed the truth to him. After performing his tapasya transcendental knowledge was given to Brahma and the power to do secondary creation. He created many things. But suddenly two demons appeared from the ears of Lord Brahma. Madhu and Kaitabhya.

These demons stole the Vedas from Brahma. That time the Vedas were within Brahma's heart. They stole the remembrance of Vedas. After that Brahma could not do anything. He lost his power. And could not fight with demons even though they appeared from him. Then he took shelter of the Lord Vishnu.

Lord appeared as Matsya Avatar. Brahma explained to Matsya. Then Matsya Avatar told that He will help him. Then Lord appeared as Lord Hayagriva and defeated the demons and brought back the Vedas.

Lord Brahma wanted so much to see the original form of Maha Vishnu. So he was told to go to the banks of the Ocean of milk and chant the Holy Names: Om Namo Narayanaya.

Matsya Avatar of Lord Vishnu;

For thousand years he fasted and chanted the Holy Names. After that the vimana appeared from the Ocean of milk along with 4 Kumaras and all other Demigods. Within that Vimana Lord Brahma took darshan of Lord Ranganath. That is how this Deity appeared in this universe. Self manifested Deities.

This Deity became life and soul of Lord Brahma and he built a beautiful Temple in Satyaloka.

For a long time he worshiped. Pujari became Surya Dev. Then later on he gave the worship to his son Vaishnavata Manu. Then later on to the son of Manu Ikshvaku. Ikshvaku had his kingdom in Ayodhya.

Ikshvaku was thinking that all of my ancestors have power to go Satyaloka but my future descendents won't have power to go there. Because of that he desired to bring Lord to the Earth and started to do austerities.

During the summer Ikshvaku put fire in 5 directions and meditated on Lord.

Lord Chaitania's dance;

When Lord Chaitania came to South India He danced before the Lord Ranganatha and all around chanted the Holy Names. One of the nice Brahmanas Venkatta Bhatta invited Lord to his home. And Lord went. Venkatta Bhatta had his son Gopal Bhatta Goswami. Venkatta Bhatta requested Lord to stay at his house for whole 4 months in Chaturmasya and Lord stayed.

Venkatta Bhatta’s son is Rahnaraj Bhatt and Murli Bhatt is the son of Rangaraj Bhatt. Rangaraj Bhatt allowed all ISKCON Devotees to enter to the Temple of Ranganath and have His darshan.

Venkatta Bhatta's house, Sri Rangam;

In the winter Ikshvaku used to go to cold places and enter to the cold waters and remain there for 4 months. Indra thought that Ikshvaku is doing it to take away his opulence. Indra then send Kamadev. Menaka, Urvashi were dancing…in order to disturb Ikshvaku. After some time Ikshvaku opened his eyes and offered his obeisance to those girls. Kamadev seeing this became angry and Ikshvaku offered obeisance to Kamadev also. They were surprised. And blessed him that he will see the Lord Ranganath.

And they left to Indra. Indra came himself and attacked with thunderbolts. Ikshvaku prayed to Lord. Then Lord Brahma became heart broken and became before Lord Ranganath and told if Lord is leaving to the Earth and leaving him. He requested Him not to leave. Ranganath told that Ikshvaku is serving to Me with love and devotion I have to go. Lord Ranganath told that Lord Brahma has to worship Him in Mangala Arati.

- Then I will go to the Earth for millions of years. Then I will come when it is noon in Satyaloka. Lord Brahma agreed.

Ikshvaku built very nice Temple to the Lord in Ayodhya. Many years later there was a king Dasharath. But he did not have a son. Because of that he did yagya and invited many kings. And of those kings were Dharma varma the king of chowma dynasty. Dharma varma saw Lord Ranganath and became in love with Him. And told that Iskhvaku did so many tapasya and brought Lord to Ayodhya and I will do tapasya to bring Him to the banks of Kaveri.

He started to do tapasya. Meanwhile Dasharath had 4 sons. They worshipped Lord Ranganath. Lord Ram was vanished to the forest. When Mother Sita was stolen in order to bring Her back He went to Rameshvaram.

From Rameshvaram they built the bridge to cross the Ocean.

Lord Ramachandra coroneted Vibishan after killing Ravana. And gave Lord Ranganath to him to Sri Lanka from Ayodhya.

Mean while this Dharma varman was doing his tapasya.  He built a beautiful place for the Lord. Among the two lakes Chandra Pushkarini and the river Kaveri.

Vibishan put Lord Ranganath in this place for some time. And saw Dharma Varma. Dharma Varma told that there is a festival for 9 days and requested to celebrate that.

And they celebrated. After that Vibishan wanted to take up Lord Ranganath to Sri Lanka but could not move Him. He started to cry. Lord told that this is the place on Earth.

-I will stay here.

Then Vibishan told that he will also stay there. Lord told that he should go and He will put His sight to the side of Sri Lanka so that Vibishan could feel Him.

Dharma Varman built magnificent Temple. But after many, many generations Temple became old and the Deity was gone.

One of the descendents of Dharma Varman king Kili. He happened to be walking and there was a little tile and there was  a parrot and that parrot began to sing the song about Sri Ranganath. And Temple was in that place and he found that Temple and the Deity also. And built a very nice Temple again.

Tirumangay became a sadhu. He was a son of a landowner. He fell in love with a girl. Kumudabali was a very beautiful young lady. He approached a father. Father told to approach his daughter. He did but she told to take initiation. Then she told to feed one thousand Vaishnavas everyday. He did. And through the process of association he became attached to them. After that he married to Kumodabali. But even after marriage he continued to feed Vaishnavas. Due course of time he became a sadhu. Because of his detachment and knowledge various of people became his disciples and Devotees. Even yogis also. One of them could walk on water. One could open any lock in any door. One could step on person’s shadow and make him not move. Another could debate and other person could not leave him as like putting chain on the person. They were traveling all around and came to Sri Rangam.

This place became over grown with jungle. All the Temples were under the forest with wild animals. No one could come here. Even Pujaris were afraid of coming here. They used to come just for offering food and run away. And Lord were living here as like a very poor man.

But around there were many people who lived very richly. Because he used to steal others.

Tirimangay told that Lord is living in this condition but all these people are living like this. They started to ask for charities but they used to take only few coins. Sometimes they were chastised. They tolerated insults. These rich people were pride of their wealth.

Tirumangay decided they are cheating, they are not giving to the Lord. Which is better they get fat, they exploit everyone of we take the money and build a Temple for Ranganath.

They made a plan. They started to recruiting dacoits. One of them told that I will argue with some one and other one will open the lock and when someone will come other one would step on shadow and stop the person. In this way they started to collect money. They also started to feed people with Maha Prasadam of the Lord. All poor people became ecstatic that they were feed nicely again. Tirumangay hired the best architects.

He carried on this fund rising campaign for 60 years. Even though Tirumangay used to live in the forest in bhajan kutir and used to go to the city and beg for rice. They did not use any coin for themselves. By this time they became 80 years. But the rubbers who assisted them wanted money after the Temple was built.

But Tirumangay did not pay them money. Then rubbers decided to kill Tirumangay. And he heard about it and talked it to his disciples.

Then disciples planed how to protect his Guru. The one who could argue started to argue with them. He told that he knows where the money is. It was the time when it was rainy season. He told that there is one island and money is there. All the dacoits  started to move in the boat. One that who could walk on water went along with them. And others stood on the bank. And there was also sink on the boat and they went down under the water of Kaveri. The disciple came back to his Guru and told that they were dead.

Tirumangay told that they were dacoits but we used them to built Temple. And because of that they will achieve the lotus feet of the Lord.

After that they lived for many years with their Guru and then left this world.

Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple, Sri Rangam;

We have no right to imitate Tirumangay but we can understand the spirit of him. He was empowered  by the Lord to do that for the benefit of thousands of people. Tirumangay lived 1500 years. He built this Temple 1500 – 2000 years ago. The Temple became a high sit of Vaishnava culture.

Yamunacharya lived here. Ramanujacharya lived here for over 16 years.

Parasara Bhatta: Ranganath is Lord Vishnu. He is lying in the snake and Lakshmi Devi is there.      One of His hand directing to His face. And another to His feet.

Meaning: the goal of life is for you to see My face to smile. This is the goal of life. And how to make Him smile? By taking shelter of His lotus feet. And how to take the shelter of His feet? By taking shelter of Devotees and by chanting His Holy Names.

Lord Sri Ranganatha Swami, Sri Rangam;

 References:

Taken from the lectures of Radhanath Swami South Indian Yatra 2005-06