Ranganayaki
Encyclopedia
Ranganayaki, is the presiding Goddess
of Ranganatha Swamy temple at Srirangam
. Affectionately called ThAyAr ("Holy Mother" in Tamil
), she is the consort of Lord Ranganatha
, the male deity of Srirangam. She is regarded as the manifestation of Lakshmi
. She is also called Ranga NAchiAr.
Ranganayaki is held in high reverence by the people of Srirangam and by Vaishnavites. Acharya
s that sang the grace of Ranganatha venerate her. She is the feminine aspect of the universe and certain Vaishnavite traditions regard her co-equal to Ranganatha himself; she is both the means and the end of worship to them. Other traditions of Vaishnavism
hold her only as the means--the end is Narayana
alone. Despite these philosophical differences, all Vaishanvites revere her as ThAyAr.
Once a year, in the month of Panguni Uthiram, the day in the Tamil month of Panguni when the star Uthiram is in ascension, Dhivyadhampathigal, the divine couple (Lord Azhagiya ManavAlan and ThAyAr), come together for a day. (This day is not fixed, but falls sometime in the Western months of March or April.) This Darshan
is called "SErthi SEvai." In Tamil, SErthi is alongside/together and SEvai is Darshan.
Unlike many temples, Srirangam does not have a Thirukkalyana uthsavam, The Marriage Festival, between Namperumal and ThAyAr. They are regarded as Divtadhampathigal (divine couple), existing beyond mortal confines or limitations.
In the Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy temple, along with the goddess Ranganayaki, one can also find, just behind her, Bhooma Devi
and Sri Devi, in sitting posture.
There are many Shlokas composed about the goddess Mahalakshmi but the "Sri Gunaratna Kosam," a Sanskrit
Shloka composed by Parasara Bhattar
, is exclusive to Sri Ranganayaki. However the traditional Lakshmi Astothram is recited in the temple during rituals. Apart from this, Sree Sthuthi composed by Vedanta Desika and Kanaka dhara Sthothram given by Adi Shankaracharya are chanted by devotees of the temple.
All Acharyas of Hindu tradition, irrespective of their philosophical positions, have visited and continue to visit the Srirangam to pay their homage to Ranganatha and ThAyAr.
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
of Ranganatha Swamy temple at Srirangam
Srirangam
Srirangam , Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil name is Thiruvarangam , is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli , in South India....
. Affectionately called ThAyAr ("Holy Mother" in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
), she is the consort of Lord Ranganatha
Ranganatha
Ranganātha , also known as Sri Ranganatha, Ranganathar, or Ranga, is a Hindu deity, more well known in South India. The deity is a resting form of Lord Vishnu, one of the foremost of Hindu Gods. His consort is Goddess Lakshmi, also known as Ranganayaki, Thayar...
, the male deity of Srirangam. She is regarded as the manifestation of Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
. She is also called Ranga NAchiAr.
Ranganayaki is held in high reverence by the people of Srirangam and by Vaishnavites. Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
s that sang the grace of Ranganatha venerate her. She is the feminine aspect of the universe and certain Vaishnavite traditions regard her co-equal to Ranganatha himself; she is both the means and the end of worship to them. Other traditions of Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
hold her only as the means--the end is Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
alone. Despite these philosophical differences, all Vaishanvites revere her as ThAyAr.
Temple
As with Hindu tradition, the shrine has both a Moolavar and a Uthsavar (presiding deity). Unlike other temples, the Uthsavar of ThAyAr never leaves her sannathi. It is a temple custom that the goddess of the temple takes her place beside the god of the temple during processions. In Srirangam, however, ThAyAr never leaves her shrine. All others, including Ranganatha himself, come to see her.Once a year, in the month of Panguni Uthiram, the day in the Tamil month of Panguni when the star Uthiram is in ascension, Dhivyadhampathigal, the divine couple (Lord Azhagiya ManavAlan and ThAyAr), come together for a day. (This day is not fixed, but falls sometime in the Western months of March or April.) This Darshan
Darshan
or Darshan is a Sanskrit term meaning "sight" , vision, apparition, or glimpse. It is most commonly used for "visions of the divine" in Hindu worship, e.g. of a deity , or a very holy person or artifact...
is called "SErthi SEvai." In Tamil, SErthi is alongside/together and SEvai is Darshan.
Unlike many temples, Srirangam does not have a Thirukkalyana uthsavam, The Marriage Festival, between Namperumal and ThAyAr. They are regarded as Divtadhampathigal (divine couple), existing beyond mortal confines or limitations.
In the Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy temple, along with the goddess Ranganayaki, one can also find, just behind her, Bhooma Devi
Bhumi
Bhumi can mean:* Bhūmi, Hindu goddess of the earth**also, earth as a classical element in Hindu tradition* Bhumi , the ten stages a Bodhisattva advances through in the path to become a Buddha...
and Sri Devi, in sitting posture.
There are many Shlokas composed about the goddess Mahalakshmi but the "Sri Gunaratna Kosam," a Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
Shloka composed by Parasara Bhattar
Parasara Bhattar
Parasara Bhattar was a follower of Ramanuja, a 12th century Vaishnava teacher, born at the end of 12th century CE, who wrote a commentary in Tamil on Vishnu sahasranama from a Sri Vaishnavite viewpoint, in contrast to the Advaita view of Adi Sankara. He was appointed as the head of Sri Vaishnavites...
, is exclusive to Sri Ranganayaki. However the traditional Lakshmi Astothram is recited in the temple during rituals. Apart from this, Sree Sthuthi composed by Vedanta Desika and Kanaka dhara Sthothram given by Adi Shankaracharya are chanted by devotees of the temple.
All Acharyas of Hindu tradition, irrespective of their philosophical positions, have visited and continue to visit the Srirangam to pay their homage to Ranganatha and ThAyAr.