4th Praakaaram

NAMASKARAM!

Let’s continue our journey of Virtual tour to Srirangam.

We are going to visit 4th praakaaram today.

Before we visit each sanctum in the 4th enclosure, let’s get a gist about it.

Our journey to the 4th praakaaram from the 7th praakaaram.

7th Praakaaram

This is the South Side RaajaGopuram, 7th praakaaram.

We have already seen about RaajaGopuram.

For those who didn’t turn up during the visit to RaajaGopuram, refer – http://vaikuntam.in/srirangam-raajagopuram-7th-praakaaram/

6th Praakaaram

Fig.1

Fig.2

The front and backside of the Gopuram is given here, as Fig.1 & 2.

To know more about the 6th Praakaaram, refer – http://vaikuntam.in/srirangam-6th-praakaaram-chithirai-veedhi-or-kaliyuga-raaman-thiruchuttru/

5th Praakaaram

5th Praakaara Gopuram

The front side of the praakaara Gopuram can be seen here.

We have also visited Manavala Mamunigal Mutt, yesterday.

For those who didn’t turn up for the visit, yesterday..refer –http://vaikuntam.in/srirangam-5th-praakaaram-manavala-mamunigal-mutt/

4th Praakaaram

Sri Ranga Ranga Ranga Gopuram, Fig.1

Sri Ranga Ranga Ranga Gopuram, Fig.2

SRI RANGA RANGA RANGA GOPURAM is one of the most favourite entrance to the temple for most of them and Adiyen is one among them. This prakara is known as Aalinaadaan Thiruchuttru or Aalinaadaan thiruveedhi (street) and is the 4th praakaaraa.

Now, we will be entering this temple through this entrance. As you can see, the name of this gopuram itself is Sri Ranga gopuram, which has the name of the main deity Lord Ranganatha of this temple, embedded in it.

By the way, what I’m doing now is just taking all the readers through a virtual tour via this writing to experience this temple in peace, joy and definitely in slow motion. My goal is not to experience the temple in rapid speed just to say I’ve got a Birds-eye view on the temple. No, this doesn’t work that way. My view is that, even if we learn about one sanctum in this temple, it should be complete and yes, it is definitely a blessing to learn about this temple, its architecture, its sanctums, etc. All that I need is your patience, interest and support.

Let’s continue our journey to the temple.

Inside Ranga Gopuram, Fig.1

Inside Ranga Gopuram, Fig.2

I shall now just brief you on what is present within this gopuram. You can see a 4 pillared mandapam here. This 4 pillared mandapam is known as Thiruvandhi-Kaapu mandapam. It has sculptures of Tirumalai Nayak, a king from the Naayak dynasty. And, you can see that this mandapam has 4 lions on both sides (front and backside of the mandapam), each side consists of 2 lions and has one garuda on both sides (both front & back side) of the mandapam. Please remember this king Tirumalai Naayak, about whom I will give you a gist later. Please do bear with me.

Inside this gopuram (Sri Ranga Gopuram), we can find lot of shops and sanctums too.

List of Sanctums within Sri Ranga Ranga Gopuram

I shall just give you a gist of sanctums present in this Praakaaram. The list is as follows: –

1. Koorathaazhwaan Sanctum;

2. Thondaradi Podi Aazhwar,

3. Ashtabhuja Venugopaalan Sanctum;

4. Sriman Naathamunigal Sanctum;

5. Venugopaala Krishnan Sanctum;

6. Ull Andal Sanctum,

7. Kodhanda Ramar Sanctum;

8. Vitthala Pandurangan Sanctum;

9. Veera Anjaneyar Sanctum & Thirupaan Aazhwaar Sanctum;

10. Anjaneyar Sanctum;

11. Amrutha Kalasa Gaudar Sanctum;

12. Chakrathaalwar Sanctum, Thiruvarangathu Amudhanaar Sanctum;

13. Ramanujar Sanctum

14. Varadarajar Perumal Sanctum;

15. Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sanctum;

16. Sri PillaiLokachaaryaar Sanctum;

17. Sri Kodhanda Ramar Sanctum;

18. Sri Ranga Naachiyaar Sanctum;

19. Sri Desikar Sanctum,

20. Sri Hayagrivar Sanctum;

21. Sri MettazhagiyaSingar Sanctum;

22. Sri Radha Rukmini Krishnar Sanctum;

23. Sri Periyavachan Pillai Sanctum;

24. Sri Lakshmi Naaraayana Perumaal Sanctum;

25. Sri Vasudevar Sanctum

We can even find sculptures done by Naayak Dynasty, Hoysaalaas& other Andhra Kings.

Please place your mind within this Praakaara and do remember about King Tirumalai Naayak, till you read my next post. I will take you all into each sanctum in this Praakaara, starting from Koorathaazhwaan Sanctum. I shall give a gist about each of them and we can definitely experience them in a better way.

Non-Hindus are allowed up to this Gopuram.

Vijaya Sthambam

Vijaya Sthambam

Vijaya Sthambam with Bali Peetham on the right.

There is one common misconception about the sthambam present in this gopuram. People unknowingly assume the sthambam present in this gopuram to be the Dhwajasthambam for this temple. The Dhwajasthambam for this temple present inside the Aariyabhattal Vaasal (way to Rengan sannidhi or sanctum), and it is coated with gold. The sthambam present in this Ranga Ranga Gopuram, behind Ranga vilaasa mandapam is the Vijaya sthambam.

I’m damn sure that we cannot experience each sanctum in reality like how we experience now, due to time constrain, work, etc. So, just enjoy, love, and experience this temple now during this Lockdown.

So, will start with Koorathaazhwaar Sanctum tomorrow.

Will meet at Sri Ranga Ranga Ranga Gopuram.

Reach Safe. Stay Safe.

Inform once you reach home.

#4thpraakaaram #SriRangaRangaGopuram #VijayaSthambam