New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a two-day tour to Tamil Nadu, visited Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli, this morning and offered prayers before reclining form of Lord Vishnu.
PM Modi chose a special traditional dress for worshipping at one of the most important Lord Vishnu temples. He also got blessed by a elephant named ‘Andal’.
Chief Priest of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sundar Bhattar told reporters that this was first visit to the temple by any Prime Minister and this has made the entire shrine staff elated & overjoyed.
PM worships idol that Lord Ram worshipped in Tretayug
Like Nashik’s Kala Mandir, Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple also holds special connection & significance with Ayodhya & Lord Ram.
The deity worshipped here is Sri Ranganatha Swamy, a form of Vishnu.
As per the Vaishnav scriptures, Sri Ranganatha Swamy’s idol is the same statue that was worshipped by Lord Ram & his ancestors in ‘Tretayug’. This was given to them by Lord Brahma. Lord Ram & his ancestors kept offering their prayers to this idol and took it everywhere.
Once, Vibhishana called for a precious demand from Lord Ram and the latter gave this to him. Vibhishana intended to take it to Sri Lanka but the idol got fixed here.
Today, the deity idol & temple in Srirangam of Tiruchapalli holds special significance for Vasihnaviites and also those having deep faith in Lord Ram.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli.
PM Modi is the first prime minister to visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. pic.twitter.com/9sQteB7PWk
— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024
About Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple & tale associated with it
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, situated in Srirangam of Trichy is one of the most ancient temples in the country and boasts of various ancient texts including the ones from the era of Puranas & Sangam era.
The main deity worshipped here is Sri Ranganantha Swamy, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. According to the scriptures, there is a striking connection between Sri Ranganathaswamy and Ayodhya’s temple.
It is believed that the statue of Lord Vishnu that is worshipped in Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple originally hails from Ayodhya. It was worshipped by Lord Ram and his ancestors until he gifted it to Vibhishana to take it to Sri Lanka. As per old tales, the idol somehow got fixed in Srirangam and this is how it developed an intrinsic connection with Ayodhya.
