Present day tradition at Srirangam temple.
The rites built up in
ancient times have been preserved at Srirangam ; in both the form of worship,
and ceremonies which are still followed very closely as per the instructions
recorded in the temple Chronicles.
Every day the Temple opens
at 6;15 a.m. The priest in charge and the personnel begin their duty. The cow
and the temple elephant are brought near the sanctuary and made to stand in
such a way that they face each other while looking toward the holy Lord. The
supply of sacred water drawn from the Koleran is carried by two of the temple
priests, is poured into the five ritual vessels. The door of the sanctuary
padlocked at night is then opened, the premises carefully cleaned, the lamps
are fitted with wick and oil. The curtain (there) remains drawn and the
officials responsible to render the music playing the veena wakes the Lord. At
a given signal the curtain is raised. This darshan is called viswaroopa
darshanam. The curtain is drawn again the elephant and the cow are led away and
next the astronomer stands before the Lord reading aloud the astronomical signs
for that day and the next.
The day begins with the Bhattair washing symbolically the God's teeth, hands and feet, then a mirror is presented and then the consecrated bath is given to the God. with hot water; he is anointed with ghee and dried with saffron powder. Sandal paste is applied to the statues brest and feet. On Fridays and at certain seasons oil mixed with camphor is used. The bath is either given publically or secretly in the sanctuary depending on the circumstances. the God is then clothed in clean dry garments and the sacred sign applied to his forhead. he s decked with jewels and garlands of fresh flowers while the musicians plays the veena.
When the God is ready, the curtain in the sanctuary is again raised, the devotees are allowed darshan of the God for about an hour.
Next comes the presentation of the God's meal which come from the temple kitchen placed in baskets, this is offered to the Lord and then quids of betel nut and areca nut is offered and his mouth is again washed symbolically. Mean time torches are lit. Then follows various offerings on behalf of the devotees, incense, small butter lamps, leaves of basil or tulasi, flowers which is accompanied by recitations these mark the end of the puja, at which the devotees are not generally entitled to be present but in which they take part through their offerings. Then they may freely enjoy the Darshan of the God.
322 festivals and ceremonies some weekly monthly and yearly are commemorated along side these daily rites. the most famous of these is the Vaikuntha Ekadasi which lasts 21 days in Dec Jan of every year. Preparations for this begins by end October with the erection of the first pillar (a coconut tree trunk) of the pandal built for the occasion, which will on completion have 47 pillars. this pandal is erected in the north east court of the third enclosure; before the hall of a thousand pillars. The God is brought there in procession, passing through the northern gate of the second enclosure, which is opened only for this occasion. (this gate otherwise remains closed all year round.) the statues of the Alwars and acharyas are brought one by one and are set out near the God under the mandapam in the centre of this hall. throughout the festival 10 days followed by Vaikunta Ekadasi day and ten nights the four thousand hymns are chanted and recited in the presence of the Lord. the Lord is decked in various ways depicting his various appearances and roles played in his various appearances. He enjoys the recitation (there are stories connected to this particular festivities that for a year in ancient times on the request of the lord this recitation was carried out continuously for a year and all other pujas were stopped ) being a part even a small one of these festival gives one a purpose and satisfaction of life well spent.
Twice a year in January and April the God is carried in a processional car Ratham in the midst of a great throng of people. witnessing this and being a part of this is what one should not miss in life. every thing centers round the Lord. No time frames are maintained. in fact the temple remains shut the Lord has come to his people and they make the best of this occassion no one knows any other details of when this should culminate and when the temple will open etc. they say the god is here amongst us in the Ratham. today we will enjoy him here. this Ratha is taken one round in the four mada streets crores of people assemble and they literally pull the cart which is stopped now and again and offerings are made blessings given and the cart moves on they say this function which begins at day break culminates only at night when the Lord enters the temple when he is taken to the Thayar Sanidhi Tirumanjanam is performed for him there and only after that the temple opens to the public it may be as late as 8 or 9 at night. You can ask any one you will get only a standard reply god decides when the temple will open for the day Moolavar darshanam.
In March a water festival by night Teppam takes place in the tank outside the temple to the west of the seventh enclosure. The God and the two Goddesses are placed in an illuminated barge and towed to the stone pavillion in the centre of the tank where they attend puja. this is wonderful to watch the very well decked Lord coming as if towards you. it gives one a great feeling.
Once a year during March April the God proceeds to the temple of Sri Nachiyar at Woraiyur, to meet his consort. this festival lasts nine days. Irt comprises several ceremonial processions and many rites by day and night, including the royal anointing and a quarrel between the god and the goddess mimed and sung by two answering group of priests. All these festivals bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of the srivaishnavas and vishnu worshipers which has remained to the present day full of activity and rich tradition of which India should be proud.
The day begins with the Bhattair washing symbolically the God's teeth, hands and feet, then a mirror is presented and then the consecrated bath is given to the God. with hot water; he is anointed with ghee and dried with saffron powder. Sandal paste is applied to the statues brest and feet. On Fridays and at certain seasons oil mixed with camphor is used. The bath is either given publically or secretly in the sanctuary depending on the circumstances. the God is then clothed in clean dry garments and the sacred sign applied to his forhead. he s decked with jewels and garlands of fresh flowers while the musicians plays the veena.
When the God is ready, the curtain in the sanctuary is again raised, the devotees are allowed darshan of the God for about an hour.
Next comes the presentation of the God's meal which come from the temple kitchen placed in baskets, this is offered to the Lord and then quids of betel nut and areca nut is offered and his mouth is again washed symbolically. Mean time torches are lit. Then follows various offerings on behalf of the devotees, incense, small butter lamps, leaves of basil or tulasi, flowers which is accompanied by recitations these mark the end of the puja, at which the devotees are not generally entitled to be present but in which they take part through their offerings. Then they may freely enjoy the Darshan of the God.
322 festivals and ceremonies some weekly monthly and yearly are commemorated along side these daily rites. the most famous of these is the Vaikuntha Ekadasi which lasts 21 days in Dec Jan of every year. Preparations for this begins by end October with the erection of the first pillar (a coconut tree trunk) of the pandal built for the occasion, which will on completion have 47 pillars. this pandal is erected in the north east court of the third enclosure; before the hall of a thousand pillars. The God is brought there in procession, passing through the northern gate of the second enclosure, which is opened only for this occasion. (this gate otherwise remains closed all year round.) the statues of the Alwars and acharyas are brought one by one and are set out near the God under the mandapam in the centre of this hall. throughout the festival 10 days followed by Vaikunta Ekadasi day and ten nights the four thousand hymns are chanted and recited in the presence of the Lord. the Lord is decked in various ways depicting his various appearances and roles played in his various appearances. He enjoys the recitation (there are stories connected to this particular festivities that for a year in ancient times on the request of the lord this recitation was carried out continuously for a year and all other pujas were stopped ) being a part even a small one of these festival gives one a purpose and satisfaction of life well spent.
Twice a year in January and April the God is carried in a processional car Ratham in the midst of a great throng of people. witnessing this and being a part of this is what one should not miss in life. every thing centers round the Lord. No time frames are maintained. in fact the temple remains shut the Lord has come to his people and they make the best of this occassion no one knows any other details of when this should culminate and when the temple will open etc. they say the god is here amongst us in the Ratham. today we will enjoy him here. this Ratha is taken one round in the four mada streets crores of people assemble and they literally pull the cart which is stopped now and again and offerings are made blessings given and the cart moves on they say this function which begins at day break culminates only at night when the Lord enters the temple when he is taken to the Thayar Sanidhi Tirumanjanam is performed for him there and only after that the temple opens to the public it may be as late as 8 or 9 at night. You can ask any one you will get only a standard reply god decides when the temple will open for the day Moolavar darshanam.
In March a water festival by night Teppam takes place in the tank outside the temple to the west of the seventh enclosure. The God and the two Goddesses are placed in an illuminated barge and towed to the stone pavillion in the centre of the tank where they attend puja. this is wonderful to watch the very well decked Lord coming as if towards you. it gives one a great feeling.
Once a year during March April the God proceeds to the temple of Sri Nachiyar at Woraiyur, to meet his consort. this festival lasts nine days. Irt comprises several ceremonial processions and many rites by day and night, including the royal anointing and a quarrel between the god and the goddess mimed and sung by two answering group of priests. All these festivals bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of the srivaishnavas and vishnu worshipers which has remained to the present day full of activity and rich tradition of which India should be proud.
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