NICA: 181759830 Photo: M.Srinath
Holy gifts are sent from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam to Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple on the occasion of Kaisika Ekadasi festival every year. Dry fruits, holy vastharam for Sri Ranganathar, Sri Ranganayaki and garlands besides temple umbrellas are received from Tirumala.
Many may not be aware of the significance of the gift. It is not just religious gift but denotes a historical link between these two temples. It mainly pertains to the care and custody extended to the idol of Namperumal at Tirupati for four decades. The disciples and Srivaishnavvites had struggled hard to protect the idol from the invasion of Muslims. Wherever they went, they found the invaders behind. But, it was in Kerala initially and Tirumala finally that they could ensure safety for the idols. It also signifies the role played by Pillailokachariar in protecting the idol of Namperumal from invaders.
In 1323, when the Muslim invasion commenced in Srirangam, Sri Pillailokachariar, along with his disciples, took the
idols of Namperumal along with Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhoodevi towards Madurai. On the outskirrts of Madurai, at Jyothishtakudi, now called as Kodikulam, Sri Pillailokachariar was protecting the idols. Meanwhile, the invasion at Srirangam was at its peak and as many as 12,000 Sri Vaishnavites who attempted to resist the attack, were beheaded. The invaders who were quite angry over the absence of idols of Namperumal and His Consorts, caused extensive damage to Pandriazhwan Temple, damaged number of idols and set fire to Dhanvantri shrine which was then functioning as hospital. A golden dwajasthambam donated by Sadayavarman Sundarapandian I, was ransacked
and looted. The invasion later extended from Tiruchi to Madurai. Hence, the disciples took the idols from Jyothishtakudi to Azhagarmalai where the idols were kept in safe custody for about a year.
Sri Pillailokachariar, who was aggrieved over these incidents, attained paramapadam. He nominated Tirumalaiazhwar to take up the responsibility of protecting the idols. It is widely believed that the idols were taken to Kozhikode via Natham, Dindigul and Palakad. The idols were later taken to Tirukanambi and Tirunarayanapuram.
The disciples considered Tirumala, which was then ruled by Hariharar Pukkar was safer than any other place. The Vijayanagara Dynasty was powerful in its rule then. The idols of Namperumal and His Consort were kept and worshipped in the dense forest first and later in the Ranga Mandapam built by Yadavarayan in 1360.
It was Gopanna Udayar, a chieftain of Gingee, who in consultation with the ruler of Chandragiri, took the initiative to take back Namperumal to Srirangam. He also brought the idols to Singavaram near Gingee and even organised Adhyayonathsavam. The idols were later brought and kept at Azhagiya Manavalam village about two km from Mannachanallur in Tiruchi district. In 1371 AD, in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, Azhagia Manavalan and Sri Ubaya Nachiars were brought to the third thiruchutru in Srirangam.
It was in 1383 a festival was conducted at the Srirangam temple, after a gap of six decades. Virupanna Udayar, son of Veerakambanna Udayar,contributed 17,000 varahaans for the festival. He also appealed to people to
contribute vegetables, grains and cows. That spirit still marks the festival with people from villages participating in good strength every year.
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