‘Margazhi' month is considered holy. The objective of being blessed with the human birth can be acquired through prayer in this month. Its significance can be gauged from the fact that the Swarga vaasal (the Gateway for salvation) is opened at Srivaishnavite temples only in this month. The opening of the ‘Swarga vaasal' on the occasion of ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi' is the most important festival at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. It is celebrated for 20 days – Pagalpathu and Rapathu and the festival attracts devotees from across the world.
It is the festival when the ‘Naalayira Divyaprabandham' is recited to Namperumal. The festival can also be considered a tribute to the Tamil language, as these hymns are rich not only from the devotion point of view but are also rich in literary value and content. The Temple is famous for other festivals too celebrated round the year, which too attract a good number of devotees.
The following are the important festivals celebrated at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple:
Flower Carpet (Poochaathi) in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April / May);
Vasanthothsavam in Vaikasi (May/June);
Aani Tirumanjanam (Jyestabhishekam) in Aani (June / July);
Periya Paavadai in Aani (June / July); Pavithrothsavam in Avani
(August / September);
Oonjal festival in Aipasi (October / November);
Deepam festival for Agni in Karthigai (November / December);
Peria Tiruppavadai festival in Margazhi (December / January);
Pantha Katchi (torch) festival in Masi (February / March);
Brahmotsavam, the grand finale in Panguni (March / April).
The temple is rightly called as ‘Bhoologa Vaikuntam', as it has been a
seat for various divine miracles. It is here that many saints and
acharyas attained salvation by worshipping Sri Ranganathar.
Sri Andal, Sri Thulukka Nachchiyar, Sri Nammazhvar, Sri Thondaradipodi
Azhvar, Sri Thiruppannazhvar, Nathamunigal, Sri Ramanujar, Sri Vedanta
Desikar and Manavala Mamunigal are the important saints and acharyas
who attained salvation in this temple.
