Age-long custom revived in ancient temple

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Age-long custom revived in ancient temple

 

Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, Dec 11 : The important Vaishnavite ''Sri Ranganatha Swamy

Temple'' here, the first among the 108 ''Divya Desams'' wore a festive look

today, when a group of officials and priests from the Tirumala Tirupati

Devasthanam (TTD) honoured it with holy gifts, in remembrance of preservation of

the processional deity ''Nam Perumal'' in Tirupati during the invasion by

Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the 13th century.

 

The age-old custom which was suspended for some time was revived this year.

 

It was in the year 1323 AD that Mohammad bin Tughlaq invaded south India and

took Madurai as his capital. The temple of Srirangam was then occupied and

transformed into a fortified camp, temple officials said quoting historical

evidences.

 

But the precious idols, some of the jewels and necessary articles for worship

were saved before the Muslim invasion and transported to Tirupati, where they

remained until 1371 AD, they said.

 

The 40 representatives of TTD, led by A P N Narayana Sharma IAS, Executive

Officer, handed over the holy gifts, comprising silk ''parivattams'', silk

clothing to the deity and his consort Sri Ranganayaki and saint Ramanuja and a

decorative temple umbrella, at a glittering function in the temple complex.

 

Earlier, the holy gifts were taken out in a procession in the presence of a

large number of devotees through the important streets around the temple. The

honours were received by the Srirangam temple authorities, led by P Sivakumar,

Executive Officer and Joint Commissioner of the Srirangam temple and Sriranga

Naranaya Jeer.

 

The unique feature of the ceremony was that the temple honours were offered on

the''Kaisika Ekadesi'', an auspicious day for the Vaishnavite tradition.