M9-THE HOLY SHRINES INSIDE THE FIRST CORRIDOR

 

BY    PRAGYANSHARMA POLAVARAPU  (VRS.SOMANCHI)

 (1)  Ramanathaswamy sannidhi

There are two  main deities.  The Shivalinga of Ramanatha swamy (made by goddess Seetha with sand) and Viswanathalinga  (brought by Lord Hanuman from Kailas)  .

The Utsava idols  of Ramanathaswamy and  goddess  Parvathavarthini, Lord Rama  and goddess Sita and the idols of  Lakshmana, Sgriva, Hanuman are also  kept in this shrine .

The shrines for  of Sun God with his queen, the Ganthamadhana lingam and Jyothi Lingam (brought by  vibhishanan) are also in the first corridor

There are statues of 63 Nayanars ,the  great Shaivite saints and  great devotees of Lord Shiva.There are shrines of  Dhakshina Moorthi,Saraswathi,Nataraja, Durga Devi and Chandikeswara

(2) Goddess Vishalakshi sannidhi

Goddess Parvathi in the context of worship of Lord Shiva as Viswanatha lingam is called goddess Vishalakshi. Pooja to the goddess is performed along with worship of  Lord Vishwanatha.

( 3 )Goddess Parvathavarthini  Sannidhi–  goddess Parvathi in the context of worship of Lord Shiva as Lord  Ramanathaswamy  is called goddess Parvathavardhini. The vimanas (Roof  gopurams ) of both goddesses Vishalakshi and Parwathavardhini are covered with gold. 

INSIDE THE SECOND CORRIDOR

The second corridor is said to be indergoing repairs .In one area on pedestals 108 Shiva Lingas are installed . Each shivalinga  has its own significance. There is also a statue of Lord Ganapathi(Lord Vinayaka).

 

 INSIDE THIRD CORRIDOR

(1)There are five  Shiva shrines in the west side of the third corridor. They are Naleswarar Sannathi,Neeleswarar Sannathi,Kavayeswarar Sannathi,Bapa paksheshwarar Sannathi and Punya thaaneswarar Sannathi. It is said that these shrines  were constructed by Emperors Paranthaka Chola and Raja Raja Chola during  10th and 11 th centuries AD.

(2)Sethu Madhavar shrine.Sethu Madhava Shrine is located Between third and second Corridor. The holy story of god Sethu Madhava (lord Vishnu) is as below. A hermit once came to  palace of king Sundarapandyan in ancient times. He was treated with respect. But one day he was found holding the  hand of king’s  daughter. The king became very angry and got him caught and kept in chains. Lord Vishnu came in dream of the king as a beautiful shining god in chains. He also saw  his  daughter  adorned with dazzling jewels as  goddess Lakshmi . The king  prayed to Lord Vishnu for pardon.Lord Vishnu  told  the King that he would stay permanently in the kingdom as  a god in chains along with goddess Laxmi . The same god  is known as  Lord Sethu Madhava. There is also the holy pond called Sethu Madhava theertham in the temple complex.

(3)Lord Rama shrine.This temple is on west side of third corridor.In this temple Lord Rama is called Kodanda Rama. Along with Lord Rama’s idol the idols of Laxmana,goddess Sitha and Lord Hanuman are also seen.

(4) “Rama Linga Prathista” shrine.The “Rama Linga Prathista” scene is constructed  in lime stone statues and decorated in colors. The group of statues of this Prathishta scene are in  northwest side of  Third corridor There are  statues of Lord Ramanathaswamy  and Lord Rama ,goddess Sitha,Lakshmana ,Anjaneya,king Sugriva, Lord   Hanuman,  Vibhishna and also figures of  the revered Rishis.

(5)Nataraja shrine.It is in   North east corner of the third corridor. Lord Shiva as Nataraja is decorated here with rudraksha beads. There is also a statue of Lord Vishnu .Devotees place little statues of Naga devathas(snake gods) in this shrine.

(6)There is  Samadhi of the great Yoga teacher and sage  Patanjali . An oil lamp is  kept burning   continuously in this shrine.

(7) Nandi Mandapam.There is statue of Maha Ganapathy in the Nandi mandapam .The statues of Lord Karthikeya(also called Subrahmanya,Murugan or Skanda) and his queens Goddesses Valli and Devasena are stuated north of the big Nandi statue. The majestic  Nandi statue is 17 feet high  and is made up of lime stones and sea shells.

(8) In Navagraha sannidhi there are statues of gods of nine planets as per traditional Hindu calendar.

SHRINES NEAR EAST ENTRANCE OF TEMPLE

(1)Hanuman Temple.The Hanuman statue in the Ramanathaswamy temple is 16 feet height . Half its height is submerged in the water. The statue is  covered with saffron color.

(2)Maha lakshmi Temple.The temple is near to the east gopuram. She is goddess of wealth.

(3)The Maha Vishnu Shrine. It is in the first corridor and near to  the eastern entrance.The god is in the posture of  “Anantha sayana” i.e. reclining on the divine serpent called anantha. He is also called in rameswaram as  Pallikonda Perumal.

(4)Santhana, Sowbagya Ganapathi-This god is prayed for children and also for wealth .this temple is  in first corridor near the eastern gopuram

THE DAILY PALLIYARAI CEREMONY  

Every evening, the Ramanathaswamy Temple hosts a mesmerizing ceremony called “Palliarai Deepa Aradhana.” An oil  lamp is lit in the sanctum sanctorum  and offering are made to the deity amid chanting of hymns. Every night the metal idol of Lord Rama nathaswamy is brought  from the main shrine in a palanquin to this mandir amid singing of hymns and performance of pooja. Again  every morning this idol  is taken back to the main shrine after poojas.