Devadanam Sri Ranganathar (Vada Srirangam) Temple, Thiruvallur

Address

Devadanam Sri Ranganathar (Vada Srirangam) Temple, Devadanam, Minjur Thiruvallur District -601203 Mobile: +91 97868 66895 / 98410 90491

Diety

Lord Ranganatha Amman: Ranganayaki Thaayar

Introduction

Ranganathar Temple is a Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Devadanam Village near Ponneri in Thiruvallur District of Tamilnadu. Located 30kms North of Madras, and 4kms North East of Minjur in a small village away from the noise is the Ranganatha Swamy temple in Devadhanam, Here Lord Ranganathar is in a reclining (Bhoga Sayanam) posture measuring about 18 feet in length and is bigger than Srirangam. The Temple dates over 1000 years to the rule of the Chalukya kings and situated on a large sand mound. The temple is called as Uthara Rangam (North Srirangam) of Thondai Nadu.

Puranic Significance

Being an Abhimana Sthalam (temple built out of love), there is no big legend behind. Chalukya rulers who visited Srirangam wanted to recreate an idol, within their empire, like the sleeping Ranganatha. They came back here and constructed an idol even bigger than the one in Srirangam. Hence, this temple is also referred to as Vada Srirangam (North Srirangam). Yet another story goes that tired of measuring the paddy during the harvest season, Lord Ranganatha is believed to have relaxed his head on the same grain measure (One has seen a similar kind of story relating to the Sarangapani temple where Thirumazhisai Azhvaar enquires the sleeping Aravamudhan if he is tired after his long walk and requests the Lord to give him darshan). Lord appeared in a devotee dream, Saroja Sadasivam, from a leading business house here, had a vivid dream in 1983. She dreamt of a supine Ranganatha Swamy in a derelict temple, totally neglected, beseeching her for attention. The eighteen and a half feet stone idol, lying on a giant Adhiseshan, was sweating copiously in her dream, telling her that it had had no oil application for very many years, and so could not bear the heat. From the very next day she began the search for this temple, and in the process, visited scores of them. Two years later, on a chance suggestion, she visited Devadanam, and found the then undeveloped village and temple to be the one in her vision. The deity was all covered in dirt, and the temple completely weed-ridden, and broken down. From then, till now, almost 20 years later, constant effort and a great deal of money has been spent, with the temple finally done its Kumbabhishekam.

Beliefs

It is believed that worshipping Lord Ranganatha by lighting ghee lamps for seven Saturdays and worshipping Lord Nagaraja of the snake hill shrine will result in the fulfillment of all the wishes and prayers of the devotees. All obstacles regarding marriages are removed. Reasonably good job opportunities are assured. Childless devotees are blessed with children.

Special Features

The Temple has 3 tiered Rajagopuram with single prakaram. There are Sudhai sculptures of Vinayagar and Kalinga Krishnar at the back wall on either side of the Rajagopuram entrance. The Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and the Chakrathazhwar shrines are located at the entrance. Next to Kodi maram, a separate Sannadhi for Periya Thiruvadi – Sri Garudalvar is found facing towards the Moolavar Sannadhi. Presiding Deity is called as RanganatharIn the sanctum sanctorum, Ranganathar is in a reclining (Bhoga Sayanam) posture measuring about 18 feet in length and is bigger than Srirangam according to the priest. The Lord is facing east having the measuring vessel (Padi) as his pillow with his right hand placed over it, reclining on the bed of Aadhi Sesha with his five heads as umbrella. The Adhiseshan forms a 5.5 foothigh 3 layer bed to him. Legend has it that he is resting after getting tired over giving away the grains in the measuring vessel to feed the world during the harvest season. The idol is a Sudhai sculpture made of many Salagrama stones which are considered very sacred for worship. The Lord has a perfectly chiseled face with flaring nostrils.

Festivals

Rama Navami, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikunta Ekadesi are celebrated here but there is no procession of the deities. In the month of Panguni that is March to April is the Thirukalyanam or celestial marriage of the Lord.