DEVOTEES THRONG A TEMPLE IN INDIA’S SOUTHERN TAMIL NADU TO MARK VAIKUNTA EKADASHI

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Devotees throng a temple in India’s southern Tamil Nadu to mark holy day.

On the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadashi, a Hindu holy day, scores of devotees converge at Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state, to seek blessings.

SHOWS:

TRICHY, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (DECEMBER 28, 2009) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

1. DEVOTEES STANDING OUTSIDE A TEMPLE

2. DEVOTEES CARRYING AN IDOL

3. AN IDOL OF A HINDU GOD

4. DEVOTEES CARRYING THE IDOL

5. DEVOTEES CARRYING THE IDOL

6. MORE OF DEVOTEES CARRYING IDOL

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NAMASHIVAYAM, A DEVOTEE, SAYING: “Today is Ratnangi Sewai (special prayer) and so many people…all over India they will be visiting…. This Srirangam is land of Vaikunta. So people every year they come to Srirangam and they celebrate this Vaikunta Ekadashi and they get blessings from Lord Vishnu.”8. DEVOTEES

9. SECURITY PERSONNEL MANAGING THE CROWD

10. AN IDOL

11. DEVOTEES CARRYING AN IDOL

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAKSHMI, A DEVOTEE, SAYING: “Vaikundatha Ekdashi festival is going on. Emperumal (almighty god) is going to Thirumamani Mandapam with Ratnangi Sewai…. People from all India come here to Ekdashi and celebrate very happily.”

13. DEVOTEES

14. VARIOUS OF IDOL

15. DEVOTEES CARRYING THE IDOL

16. MORE OF DEVOTEES CARRYING THE IDOL

STORY: Scores of devotees converged at Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state to seek the blessings of Lord Ranganatha, reincarnation of Hindu Lord Vishnu, the Preserver, on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadashi, a holy day on Monday (December 28).

‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ is celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi. It is said that those who offer prayers on Vaikunta Ekadashi would get salvation.

Every year, hundreds of devotees throng the temple premises to offer prayers to Lord Ranganatha, the temple main deity.

“Today is Ratnangi Sewai (special prayer) and so many people…all over India they will be visiting…. This Srirangam is land of Vaikunta. So people every year they come to Srirangam and they celebrate this Vaikunta Ekadashi and they get blessings from Lord Vishnu,” said Namashivayam, a devotee.

Vaikunta Ekadashi occurs in December and Vaishnavite (Worship of Lord Vishnu) culture believes that ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to Lord’s Inner Sanctum’ is opened on this day.

The followers of Lord Ranganatha throng the temple during Ekadashi festival as it marks the only occasion when the idol of the God bedecked in diamonds is taken out of the sanctum sanctorum to be placed at Thirumamani Mandapam (thousand pillared hall).

The hall of 1000 pillars is the most splendid part of the Srirangam temple.

Lord Ranganatha then presides over his divine court and is visited by a large number of devotees.

The pilgrims sing Vaishnavite devotional songs and chant religious hymns throughout the day in His honour.

“Vaikundatha Ekdashi festival is going on. Emperumal (almighty god) is going to Thirumamani Mandapam with Ratnangi Sewai…. People from all India come here to Ekdashi and celebrate very happily,” said Lakshmi, another devotee.

The Ranganatha temple is one of the first to be built for the Vaishnavite sect in southern India.

This temple like many other temples of South India is a fine example of Dravidian style architecture and is remarkable for the lofty gates known as Gopurams.

It is said that Lord Rudra (Hindu god Shiva, the destroyer) narrated the origin of the temple to Naradamuni (the eternal sage described in the Hindu mythological accounts).