The annual Vaikunta Ekadasi, a spiritually important Hindu festival, is celebrated with great fervor and grandeur at the Sri Venkateswara Temple, under the management of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). With a view to ensuring quiet and hassle free darshan for the tens of thousands of devotees visiting the hill temple between December and January, 2025 made online booking of special entry darshan tickets available including Special Entry Darshan. The booking began at 11 am on 26 December, 2014 through the TTD website. here what is called the Vaikunta Dwaram, the sacred passage encircling the sanctum sanctorum (Swarga vasal), will remain open during the 10-day Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations, providing devotees with a unique opportunity to experience the spiritual exuberance.
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| Sri Balaji temple, Tirupat, Pinrest.com |
One of the important events at Titupati is the religious procession of the Swarna Ratham or the golden chariot. The processional idol of God Vishnu is mounted on the golden chariot and this procession symbolises his divine grace on the earth. On the following day 11th of January, 2025 yet another important event will take place called Chakrasnanam. It occurs in the morning between 5:30 to 6.30. The venue of divine Sudarshan Chakra bath is the pushkarani (water tank) near the temple, it makes the festival holier. it makes the ceremony holier. Lots of devotees take part in this event at the Pushkarani
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| Sri Vishnu at Tirupati temple adorned with diamond crow, etc. |
. indiacafe24.com/
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| Shrine in the Ranga mandapam, Thirumla AP twitter. com, |
Tirupati Balaji temple and the Srirangam Ranganathar temple of Tamil Nadu have historical links that go back to several centuries. The Namperuma Idol idol of Srirangam had a long sojourn here for more than four decades when Srirangam and the neighboring temples faced a tumultuous political situation.
The Ranga Mandapam at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, holds a significant yet lesser-known place in history due to its role in safeguarding the panchaloha (alloy of five metals) idol of Namperumal from the Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple during the turbulent period of the 14th century. This was a time marked by invasions from the Delhi Sultanate's armies, whose primary objective was to loot the immense wealth stored in Hindu temples.
Historical Context:
In 1323, the Srirangam temple faced a devastating invasion led by the forces of the Delhi Sultanate. To protect the idol of Namperumal, revered as the processional deity of Srirangam, temple priests and others secretly transported it to Tirumala. The idol remained there for nearly 48 years, until 1370, before being ceremonially returned to its rightful abode in Tamil Nadu.
The Ranga Mandapam became a safe sanctuary, symbolizing the resilience and devotion of Hindu communities both in Tamil Nadu and Andhra striving to preserve their spiritual heritage during the dark era.
Features of the Ranga Mandapam:
Location: Situated near the Sampangi Pradakshinam and the Pratima Mandapam. It includes a small granite shrine at its southern end, spanning 3.6 sq. m, where the Namperumal idol was once safely housed.
Architectural Highlights: Built between 1320 and 1360 CE, attributed to Sri Ranganada Yadavaraya, a Yadava ruler.
The mandapam measure 32 m long and 18 m wide, with intricately carved pillars featuring Ramayana episodes. A notable sculpture in the structure is that of a boar holding a sword, reminiscent of the Vijayanagara royal crest (Varaha emblem), underscoring the influence of Vijayanagara art and architecture.
Present-Day Use: The small shrine now houses idols of Malaippa (Vishnu) and his consorts and is opened only on festival days such as the Brahmotsavam. A portion of the mandapam is currently occupied by TTD offices, limiting its accessibility.
Cultural and Spiritual Significance:
The Ranga Mandapam stands as a an example of firm commitment determination of the custodians of Hindu temples, who went to great lengths to safeguard their deities and traditions. It also serves as a reminder of the cultural and artistic exchanges that flourished during the Vijayanagara period. During festivals, the structure comes alive with vibrant decorations, echoing the spiritual fervor of the past.
This piece of history also adds depth to the connection between Tirumala of Andhra and Srirangam of Tamil Nadu and the responsibility of the Hindu communities to safeguard the time bound traditions and rituals of two important centers of Vaishnavism in India.
Based on the old article posted earlier:
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