Often referred to as the Sacred space sanctified by the timeless beauty and divine grace of Lord Ranganatha , the presiding deity the Island of Srirangam between the rivers Cauvery and Kollidam is like Booloka Vaikuntam for God Vishnu's devotees. The stone pillars and the large mantapams rejoice not only god's sublime beauty and his attributes but also remind us of the sacrifices of innumerable devotees in the past so that the future generation of devotees immerse themselves in the adoration of His name and form. First and foremost among the 108 Diva Desam shrines, Srirangam temple stands apart in the annals of India's rich culture, art, literature, religion spirituality.
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| Srirangam Ranganathar temple, TN Adobe.com |
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| Srirangam temple, Mangaimalar.com. |
Above image: Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is held from Dec. 30, 2024 to January 20. The District administration and the police have installed about 200 CCTV cameras on the temple premise. Abou 200 police personnel will be on duty during the Pagal Pathu and Raa Pathu events. Apart, on the day of Swarga Vaasal Thirappu (January 10), 2000 policemen will be managing the crowd entering the temple. The HR & CE has made relevant facilities for the devotees attending various rituals here. This year about 4 million people are expected to visit the temple town........
Among the festivals of this sprawling temple, Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is the most popular one. Also called Paramapada Ekadasi or Adhyanotsava and Swargavaasal, this 22 day long festival begins with the waxing moon date of Tamil month Magazhi or Margasira month (December to January). The origin of this famous festival goes back to 9th CE. It was Thrumangai Azhwar who introduced the festival by bringing the urchava murthy of Namazhwar from Azhwar Thirunagari and recitation of 1000 pasurams from Thiruvaimozhi before Namperumal for ten days. The festival became an elaborate one during the time of Srivaishnava Acharya Nathamuni
When SriVaishnava Acharya and pontiff Sri Ramanuja took over the administration, the festival was expanded to 20 day period to facilitate the recitation of the rest of the hymns in the Naalayera Divaya Prabhandam. Vaikunta Ekadasi festival commences with the recitation of Thirumangai Azhwar's pasurams Thrunedunthandakam each day. Namperumal is taken to the Arjuna mandapam on the Simha Gati (Vahana). To the same spot the murtis, Azwars and Acharyas are brought reverentially. Before them the hereditary Ariyars perform Ariyar Seva for the first 10 days called Pagal pathu - it is a visual presentation of simple dance with abinaya and story telling. On the 10th day, dressed in white silk the lord in Mohini Avataram blesses the devotees.
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| old image Namperumal emerging fom Swarka vaasal, Srirangam hindudevotionalblog.com |
On the day of opening of Paramapadavassal - the main event on January 10, 2025 the urchavar deity - Sri Namperumal will pass through it and will be kept at the ‘Thirumamani Asthana Mandapam’ for darshan to the devotees.
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| Namazhwar Moksham Thiruvadi seva.Srirangam.thehindu.com |
The ‘Raa Pathu’ ‘Uthsavam’ commences from January11. Following the rituals of ‘Thirukaithala Sevai’ and Thirumangai Mannan ‘Vedupari’ on January. The final event is Namazhawar Moksham.
‘Thirunedunthandakam’ written by Thirumangai Azhvar is said to be his last prabandham before his eternal journey to Paramapadham (heaven) but is considered as one of the most important ones among divya prabandhams.
So impressed, Sri Parasaa Bhattar and Nanjeeyar mentioned in the glorious vaibhavam.
https://www.navrangindia.in/2024/12/vaikunta-ekadashi-of-2024-and-2025.html
https://www.navrangindia.in/2022/12/vaikunda-ekadasi-festival-began.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruvali-Thirunagari
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 began at Srirangam with ‘Thirunedunthandakam’){kind=link}