Thiruvadhigai is well known as being home to the Saranarayana Perumal (Vishnu) and Veerataneshwarar (Siva) temples constantly visited by devotees. However, not many know that there is another Vishnu temple for Ranganatha Perumal in this town. Like the famous Ranganatha Svami temple in Srirangam which is situated between two rivers, the Cauvery (Kaveri) and the Coleroon (Kollidam), this Ranganatha kshetram in Thiruvadhigai too is situated in the middle of two rivers, the Gadilam and South Pennai (Then Pennai).
The main deity is a large and majestic image of Ranganatha Perumal, approximately thirteen feet in length reclining on Adisesha. The right hand of Perumal is under the head and left hand is bent at the elbow and held above. Behind Ranganatha are goddesses Sri Devi and Bhu Devi (Ubhaya Nachiyar). The processional deity (utsava-murti) is a four-armed standing Vishnu, flanked by Ubhaya Nachiyar. On the side wall of the main shrine are small images of sages Brighu and Markandeya, facing the deity.
Ranganatha Perumal is enshrined under the Anantasayana Vimanam To the right of the central sanctum, in the circumambulatory passage (prakaram), is the sanctum for goddess Lakshmi worshipped here as Ranganayaki Thayar as in Srirangam. This grand image of goddess Ranganayaki is much larger than those seen in other temples, even in the Divya Desams (important temples praised in the verses of the Azhvars or Vaishnava saints). Sanctums for Sudarsana (Chakrattazhvar), Andal, Kodandarama and Azhvars are there too.
Numerous festivals are celebrated in this temple which follows the codes of the Vaikhanasa Agama. In addition to the well known Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival in Margazhi (December-January), the Thayar Adhyayana Utsavam is held in the same month. This utsavam is unique as it is done only in a few select Vishnu temples like the ones in Thirukoilur, Kallakurichi and Thiruvendipuram.
Sacred tank
The holy tank is called Amrita Pushkarini
Code of worship
The rules of the Vaikhanasa Agama are followed
Unique festival
A rare celebration for Goddess Lakshmi is held here
Chithra Madhavan
cityexpresschn@gmail.com
The writer is a historian who focuses on temple architecture