THE PURANIC EPISODE

• It is our bounden duty to revere the sacred serenity of the Kshetra Mahatmya of Srirangam, the Sacred abode of the Almighty.
• Once, as it is heard in the Puranas, when the whole world were under the Canopy of Pralaya Kala Andakar and when the non entil took its possession, the All pervading Almighty seeing the earth, which was wrapped in the Thamo Guna thought of illuminating the earth with all His glory and Bless-edness. When the Almighty was lying on the laps of the Adisesha with his consort in the Kshirabdhi, a 1,000 petaled lotus flower appeared from the Naval part of Sri Maha Vishnu with a mighty moorthi of Chaturmukha Brahma. He found only a pitched darkness in his front, and was in a state of profound confusion.
• There arose at that moment a mighty white Hamsa named Parkama. The chaturmukha Brahma asked the Hamsa, Who are you? The Hamsa replied that he was “Hari” the Almighty.
• When the Brahma questioned of its origin, the Hamsa disappeared saying the Sacred single word “OHM”. The very mo-ment, Bhrahma also began to utter the same Sacred word
• “ОНМ”.
• As a result of this, the creation of the earth began with the four Sacred Vedas, as Rig, Yajur, Sama and Adarvana along with the Pancha Bhudas and also the creation of man and Pasu Pakshi. At that time, a rakshasa named Madhukaidaba appeared from the ears of Bhrahma and he took the Vedas and entered the deeps of the oceans. Then Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of Matsya and Kurma and brought back to state the Vedas to the possession of Brahma. Later taking the incarnation of Hayagreeva, Lord Vishnu proclaimed all the Vedas to the Bhrahma.
• Then Brahma took his capital in Satya Loka, but was afraid that at last a day or other his celestial position would seek its ruin. He was thus engrossed in much grief. To seek remedy to this Bhrahma went to the worship of Lord Vishnu in Skshirabhi. Lord Vishnu appeared from the Bhrahma and taught him the invaluable Manthra of Ashtakshar “Om Namo Narayanaya” and Brahma began to chant the Ashtakshara Manthra and began to perform the penance. As the result of his tapas, Lord Vishnu appeared before him from the Kshirasagara, in the Sanctum Sanctorium of Sriranga Vimana. At that mo-ment, the dwellers of all the Lokas, Sanaka-Sanandanas, Sidhas, Yakshas and Gandharvas thronged to worship Lord Sri Ranganatha in the Pranavakara Vimana, Lord Garuda came bearing the sacred Vimana on his head.
• On one side of the Vimana Lord Vikshvaksena was performing the duties of Chamara and on the other side Sri Narada Muni was singing melodiously on his sacred Veena. All the Devas headed by Lord Indra began to sing of the glorious and eternal Victory of Lord Ranganatha. The clouds began to shower as if heavenly flowers were dripped from the heavens.
• Amidst these glories the Pranavakara Vimana of Sri Ranganatha began to shine more and more celestially.
• At that moment, Lord Bhrahma opened his eyes from his Tapas and went into worship Lord Vishnu inside the Pranavakara Vimanam. He saw in the Sacred Vimana all the movable and immovable objects, otherwise told-as he saw on the top the Deva Loka or the Heavens, at the bottom-Bhuloka or the Earth: at the centre-The celestial sky or the Akash; in the innerside- Adisesha; at the entrance-Jaya and Vijaya, the two sacred watchmen-on the sides – Sri Ganesha and The Durgamoorthi; on the top most -Sri Saraswathi Devi, the Goddess of Ohmkara Rupa; On the Kalasams or Kumbams-The Four vedas and Vidya-Rig, Yajur, Sama and Adarvana; on the tip of the fingers- The Tathvas; at the feet – The Yagna Purusha; on the laps- The yashties, Yagas at the heart, the Chit Tathva; at the Bellyside. Havis or the Sacred Sacrificial Prasada on Shoulders the seven Martha and the eight Vasus. The others that were seen were The Eleven Rudhras The Twelve Suns, The Nine Planets and the Starry heavens-The seven sages, Lord Indra, Lord Agni, Lord Yama, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and the Lords of the eight directions and the clouds and so on.
• Lord Bhrahma was wondersturck at this and went round and round the sacred Vimana and prayed that the Sacred Sanctum Sanctorium should be in his place for daily worship. Ac-cordingly, Sri Ranganatha taught Brahma, the Mahatmya of His Archavathar. Lord Brahma carried the Sri Ranga Vimana to the Satya Loka and established the Sanctum Sanctorium with help of Visvakarma on the banks Viraja river on the day of Rohini Star in the Tula masa.
• Lord Bhrahma along with all the celestial Gods and Rishis conducted several festivals. The daily Aradhana or the Pujas were performed conformity with the Pancharatra Samhita.
• Which was already observed by the kings of Manu Vamsa. (Dynasty).
• Lord Sun, Surya handed over the order of performance of Puja to Vaivasvatha Manu and in order was handed over to the king Ikshvaku of the Surya Dynasty and taught the latter about the Hindu Dharma. Then king Ishvaku began to Perform tapas, Lord Indra tried his best to protect the tapas performed by the King pleased by his tapas. Lord Brahma gave King Ishvaku the Sri Ranga Vimana with the enshrined Lord Sri Ranganatha. From that time onwards, Lord Sri Ranganatha had His Sacred Sanctum Sanctorium on the banks of the river Sarayu and was worshipped by many a king of the Ishvaku Dynasty.
• Once, in the Thretha Yuga, King Dasaratha of Ayodhya performed the Yagna of Aswameda. (The Horse Yaga) All the kings of the land were invited to the Aswameda Yagna. Of them king Dharma Varma of Chola Desa- The Tamilnad-also responded to the invitation of king Dasaratha. There the king Dharmavarma happened to worship Sri Ranganatha in the Sacred Golden Vimana. The king was selflessly devoted Sri Ranganatha and in order to bring Him to his Kingdom, he began to perform a severe Tapas. Meanwhile all the sages and Munies, who dwelled around him requested the king to break his tapas, and advised him saying that Lord Sri Ranganatha himself is going to have His eternal abode in his kingdom itself.
• So king Dharmavarma was evoking the providential approach of Sri Ranganatha every now and then from his capital Woraiur, otherwise was called as Nichulapuri.
• After the Victorious return of Sri Rama from the Lanka, he gave very many invaluable presents to every one who served Him in the conquest of Lanka. Thinking of the unselfish and devoted services of Sri Vibishana, Lord Sri Rama presented him the Divine Abode of Sri Ranga Vimana along with Lord Sri Ranganatha to be worshipped by his capital Lanka. On receipt of the Ranga Vimana, Sri Vibhishana returned to his capital of Lanka. On his way he alighted on the banks of Sri Chandra Pushkarani. Placing the Ranga Vimana on the existing abode of Sesha Peeta went on with his daily routine. At the same mo-ment. Lord Sri Ranganatha gave his darsan to all the sages, and to the king Darma Varma of Nichulapur. On the request of the Chola king, Lord Sri Ranganatha had his eternal abode under the Punnaga Vriksha on the banks of the Chandra Pushkarani and was performed the Bhrahmotsava on the Uttara Palguni Day of Palguna month. It should be understood here that even today on the eve of the Brahmotsava i.e. on the day of Thirumalai. Lord Saenesa (sena Mudaliar), is accompanied by Sri Vibhishana to the Thayar Sannadhi for the Ankurarpana observance.
• After the Bhrahmotsava, Sri Vibishana tried to carry home the abode of the Lord, but could not. He became very much Worried Lord Sri Ranganatha told Sri Vibhishana that the island between the rivers Cauvery and the Coleroon was pleasing to Him and that He had blessed already the king Darma Varma, on account of his tapas and said that finally it was his will to preside there itself on the banks of the Chandra Pushkarani and that Vibishana may accompany Him to Vaikunta at the end of the Swethavara Kalpa. So Saying Lord Sri Ranganatha asked Sri Vibishana to return to his capital of Lanka and that he would be always seeing his capital, and blessing him for ever.
• According to the wishes of the Lord, Sri Vibishana returned to Lanka. In this way Lord Sri Ranganatha became the Deity to be worshipped by all the kings of Chola Dynasty.
• It is also told that Sri Vibishana comes unknown to Srirangam once a year to worship Lord Sri Ranganatha.