Chitra Pournami :This is
Celebrated in Tamil Month Chithirai (April–May) This is actually the
enactment of Gajendra Moksham. It shows how Lord Sriman Narayana Cares a
lot for his Devotees. The Background story is Once there lived a
Elephant named Gajendra and it is very much attached to the Lord Sriman
Narayana and He daily picks the Lotus from the river and offers it in
Lords feet. Then one fine day a crocodile catches its feet and drags it
to river and elephant tires to go back to banks. then at last Gajendra
cries for help to Maha Vishnu saying ADHI MOOLAME and as usual our Lord
who is very compassionate to his Devotees ( human beings , rishis or
devathas or Animals) comes in Garuda Roopam and kills the crocodile ,
gives Moksham to both Elephant and crocodile who were actually
Gandharvas and due to curse they were born as Elephant and crocodile ,
This is enacted in banks of Cauvery.
Kodai Thirunal (Flower Carpet Festival) Celebrated in Tamil Month
Chithirai (April–May) in order to cleanse the impurities of the flowers
used in adorning the Lord.
Vasanthothsavam: Celebrated in the Tamil month Vaikasi (May-June). In
Vijayanagara dynasty king named Annappa Udayar established Vasantha
Mandapam in 1444. Mallidevan puthur village has been donated to conduct
Vasantham festivals. Vasantham festival starts 8 days before Pournami
(Full moon day) In Pournami festival comes to end. Lord comes in Kudrai(
Horse) Vahanam around Chitra Streets then comes to Vasantha Mandapam.
Thirumanjanam will be performed in the vasantha Mandapam. First and
Seventh day of festivals Lord is accompanied by Ubhaya nachiyarmars to
the Vasantha Mandapam. Remaining days Lord comes to Vasantha Mandapam in
Solo. When Lord comes back to sanctum sanctorum everyday he visits
Kambar Mandapam. Everyday Alwar Prabhandam is recited in the presence of
Lord. In the Goddess Ranganayaki Sannidhi also the Vasanthothsavam is
being performed within her Sannidhi complex.
Jestabishekam: This is Celebrated in Tamil month Aani (June-July) in
order to get rid of the accumulated impurities. That day sanctum
sanctorum is cleaned, specially made herbal oil prepared in the temple
is applied on Periya Perumal ( Thaila Kappu) . Namperumal and Goddesses
golden plates (Kavacham or Angi's in Tamil) are cleaned by goldsmith.
Large number priests and devotees visit to Cauvery to take holy water in
Gold and Silver pots. Gold pot is brought on the elephant and silver
pots are carried by Priests and devotees from Cauvery to temple amidst
of Veda recital. Then pots are put in the Western side, all the idols
brought to “Thiruvennaiyali Praharam” Then Thirumanjanam is done after
Kavachams are removed from the idols and handed over to Koil Jeer Swami
and Vadhula Desikan Swami. Then plates are cleaned by goldsmith. After
public worship the Kavacham they fixed up in evening.
Pavithrothsavam : Celebrated in Tamil month Aani (August –September)
dedicated to the Pavithram (sacred thread ) worn by the Lord and for
removing blemishes in daily rituals. First day the 365 times
thiruvaradhanam is conducted to the Uthsavar in Yagasala and in the
second day 1008 times thiruvaradhanam is conducted in the sanctum
sanctorum for all the deities and are fully covered with Pavithram holy
thread which is named as BhooKandi seva (Angobanga Seva). This festival
is to rectify the defects happened in day to day poojas performed to
Lord. This festival being conducted in Pavithra Mandapam. This Mandapam
was established by Jadavarma Sundarapandian. After Muslim invasion Lord
and goddesses entered after 60 years in 1371. Sanctum sanctorum
goddesses installed in the above Mandapam. This function first started
by Brahma. Due to this festival Holy Cotton thread Garland (pavithram)
being worn to all idols.
Sri Jayanthi: Lord Krishna’s birthday is celebrated in all Krishna
temples, which are inside of Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple campus.
Particularly in Kili Mandapam Krishna Sannidhi, There you can find lord
Sri Krishna with his parents, father Nandagopan, his mother Yasodha and
Ro hini . Thirumanjanam is done to Krishna and his Parivaram. Krishna
and Namperumal are taken on procession in the four Chithirai streets.
Oonjal Usthavam ( Swing Festival) : This festival is held in Tamil Month
Aipasi (October-December) . This festival is known as Dolothsavam. This
festival was started in 1489 by Kandhadai Ramanuja. Now it is celebrated
as 9 days festival. In 1st and 7th day Lord comes to cradle with
goddess, remaining days god alone will be in cradle. In the presence of
Lord Arayar recites songs daily, Last day Lord visits to
Chandrapushkarani, theerthvari being performed. Then Namperumal comes to
Oonjal Mandapam, Thirumanjanam being performed. Then night goes back to
sanctum sanctorum. This oonjal festival commences eight days before
Ekadesi during the dark fortnight of the month Aipasi. The last day
festival comes on Ekadesi day.
Kaisiga Ekadesi : This festival is celebrated before one month of
Vaikunta Ekadesi. Lord comes to Santhana Mandapam, Thirumanjanam is
being performed. Then evening goes back to sanctum sanctorum. Again in
night Lord comes to Arjuna Mandapam. Here 365 poojas being performed.
365 garments are adorned to Lord. Kaisika puranam is being recited till
Midnight. When he return to Sanctum Pacchai Karpooram (Refined camphor)
is sprinkled, and then he enters the sanctum sanctorum.
Vaikunta Ekadesi : The most important and big festival , it celebrated
for full twenty one days during Tamil month Margazhi (December-January),
is divided to two ten days as Pagal pathu (Day) and Ra pathu ( Night) ,
with all pomp and pageantry. On Vaikunta Ekadesi day, Lord Nam Perumal,
attired in splendid garment angi with pandiya Kondai, proceeds in a
magnificent procession through Paramapada Vasal early in the Morning,
arrives at Thirumamani Mandapam in the Thousand in a pillared hall to
the thrill and joy of the devotees gathered in lakhs who have come from
all over India and abroad to witness their Lord. This occasion is the
peak point of all festivals conducted in the Temple, on this day of
days; Sri Ranganatha becomes a virtual king and is known as Sri
Rangarajan. He holds his Divine Durbar in that huge hall which is
further extended by a specially erected and tastefully decorated pandal,
throughout the day Nalayira Dhivyaprabandham is recited, and gets back
to the Temple only late in the night. Milling crowds of devotees
constantly keep moving from dawn to midnight. Teams of devotees,
engaged in non-stop bhajans, fast throughout the day and keep endless
vigil during the whole night, singing and dancing to the beat of
cymbals. Verily, it is the sight for the gods to see. A paradise on
Earth indeed! Moolavar will be adorned in rathna Angi a great sight
people should witness once in their life time.
Sri Ramanavami : This festival is celebrated to mark the Birth of Sri
Ramachandra Moorthy. In Srirangam it is celebrated to mark the wedding
of one of the greatest Rama Bhaktha Sri Kulasekara Alwar's daughter to
Lord Rangarajan. This festival is celebrated in in Arjuna Mandapam. Lord
Ranganatha and Cherakulavallinachiar (daughter of Kulasekara Alwar) both
are seated , Thirumanjanam is performed to them marriage is conducted.
