Friday, April 22, 2016

Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Chakkarathalwar Shrine

Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Chakkarathalwar Shrine
The temple of Sri Chakkarathalwar or Sri Sudarshana is in the 5th prakara (Akalankan Thiruveedhi) in the western wing, and faces east. Sudarshana is the weapon of the Supreme Lord gifted to him by Agnideva, the fire-god. Behind Sudarshana is Sri Narasimhadev. In Tamilnadu Sri Chakkarathalwar shrine is only at Srirangam, Thirukovilur, Thirumohur (near Madurai) and Kanchipuram.

There is a separate shrine dedicated to Lord Sudarshana who is the holy discuss who adorns lord Vishnu. The belief is that the discus of Lord Vishnu itself is sufficient to ward off all the problems and the Lord Vishnu need not be approached for small problems. This shrine is thronged by devotees who are looking for some kind of divine protection - protection from enemies, nature etc.

The greatest thing about the Srirangam temple is the size - starting from the temple towers, main deity to other deities - they are so huge and magnificent. Devotees can light any number of oil lamps in this shrine and do an archana. The number of lamps has to do with the magnitude of the problem. Others can also light lamps on behalf of his/her beloved ones.