During first weekend of April'2012 we were in Virndavan, which is also known as town of Temples in India. During this visit, we had a quick visit to different temples in early morning. Shri Rangji Temple was the first one...
The very first Photograph shows main gate of Shri Rangji Temple in Vridavan and the photograph above shows the next gate to the main temple. Architecture of this temple resembles with South Indian Temples and most of the priests were from South. Overall environment of the temple was quite peaceful.
Sri Rangji Mandir is dedicated to Lord Sri Goda-Rangamannar. Goda or Andal is popularly known in South India was a famous 8th century Vaishnava saint who had composed 'Tiruppuvai' which centers around her love for her beloved Lord Krishna and his leela bhoomi Vrindavan. She pines for him, fasts for him, sings songs in his praise and wants to attain him by marrying him. Lord Ranganatha who is none other than Krishna answers her prayers by becoming her bridegroom. In Sri Rangji Mandir, Lord Krishna is present as the bridegroom with a walking stick in his hand as is the custom in a traditional south Indian marriage. To his right is Andal and to his left Garuda, the vahana of Lord Krishna.
When we reached inside the temple, there were multiple rows of the folks who were lined up for Prasadam at the temple. Curd-rice were being served at Ranganatha Temple in the morning. He had some and it was enough for us in breakfast :)
Andal had expressed three wishes in 'NachiyarTirumozhi'. Her first wish was to spend her life at the feet of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. Her second wish that Lord Krishna accept her as his bride came true when she married Lord Krishna and the third wish that Lord Ranganatha (Lord Krishna) be offered 'Ksheeranna'(dessert made of rice and milk) in a hundred pots was fulfilled by the eleventh century vaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya.
Her first wish which had not been fulfilled by any of the previous Vaishnava acharyas was fulfilled by Sri Rangadeshik Swamiji by constructing this temple where Sri Goda-Rangamannar reside as divya dampathi.
There are lot of other stories associated with this temple. The pillar you see above is made up of gold and dedicated tp parents.
There is a beautiful water-pond, which was closed and no one can go inside this space. In the moring, it looked magical.
SriRangji temple is considered as one of the largest temples in the whole of North India. Its one of the very few temples in India, where regular festivals are celebrated and all the traditions and rituals are performed according to the prescribed Vedic norms.
In SriRangji temple one would find a unique mixture of both south and north Indian traditions. In addition to celebrating all the festivals which are part of South Indian SriVaishnava temple tradition, several festivals which are part of the North tradition are also celebrated here. For example its only at SriRangji temple where devotees can enjoy the pleasure of playing holi with the Lord during SriBrahmotsav.
Here is a photograph showing some yogis coming out of their rooms. It seemed there are various rooms/houses inside the temple campus and are in use by various families associated with temple by one or other mean. I don't remember the exact number now, but our guide had told us the number of rooms around the temple;.
Here is a photograph with kids living around the temple ! One of the our group member wanted to have a photograph in front of main gate of Temple and these kids volunteered to joined her :)
All of us were wondering about the ticket amount mentioned in Paisas and not sure if these actually mean 'Paisa' or something else. btw, we didn't see Sheesh-Mahal inside the temple.
Here a photograph showing lot of people lined to get Rice Prasadam in the morning. Lot of people visit Vrindavan on daily basis and city has a huge religious significance.
Whole group listening very carefully to the stories being told by our guide !
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