Sunday, April 10, 2016

Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Goratha Moolai

Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Goratha Moolai
The Goratha Moolai is the place where royal chariot of Lord Ranganatha is kept during non-festival days. It is believed that at this very place, existed a cattle shed. The milk from cattle in this shed was used to prepare holy Prasadam in the temple. The well-known therapist Sri Ramanuja, also a seer used to touch the cows and identify its health.
If he found that any of the cows or buffaloes in the cattle shed were suffering from ill health, he used to order the care takers to replace the milk of ill cow with that of other cattle. The ill cows were substituted with healthy ones from neighboring cattle shed to ensure sufficient supply of milk to the temple.
This arrangement ensured that the contaminated milk of ill cattle did not enter the Prasadam and spread infections. The North and East side of Chithra streets had this arrangement of cattle substitution, hence the name of Goratha Moolai, giving prominence to the legend of cattle substitution.
The ratha is used only during festival period to take out the procession of Lord Ranganatha in the royal chariot. It is decorated with flowers and other ornaments during the procession.