R ARIVANANTHAM
SRIRANGAM, JAN 6
Religious fervour marked the temple town of Srirangam on Monday, as thousands of devotees thronged Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and offered worship to Lord Namperumal on the occasion of Vaikunda Ekadasi
The main event of the Vaikunda Ekadasi festival – the opening of the Paramapada Vaasal, was held early in the morning at 3.30 hour. The processional deity Namperumal, attired in a Ratnangi (gem-studded armour) exited through Paramapada Vaasal followed by milling crowds of devotees, chanting Ranga, Ranga and Govinda, Govinda occupied the air.
Braving chilly weather, thousands of devotees even from distant towns lined up around the temple complex patiently waiting their turn to have a darshan of Namperumal at Srirangam, considered to be the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams.
The deity was taken in a procession through the Raja Mahendran Thiruchutru and Kulasekaran Chutru before reaching the Vraja Nadhi Mandapam. Vedas were rendered by scholars and vedic pandits at the Vraja Nadhi Mandapam which was decked with flowers where the deity halted for some time. The deity thereafter proceeded towards the Paramapada Vaasal which was opened at around 4.45 a.m. Later, Namperumal was taken to the Thirumamani Asthana Mandapam inside the Thousand Pillar mandapam.
The entire temple town was brought under a thick security blanket with police personnel drawn from various parts of the State engaged for security duty and to regulate vehicular movement.
The festival which commenced at Srirangam temple on December 26 conclude on January 16 with Nammazhwar Moksham, as per schedule.
Traffic was diverted by the city police from 8 p.m. on Sunday to 8 p.m. on Monday.
