Since most of the DDs (82 of them) are in TN, we will start…

The first and foremost DD not only for Chozha naadu but for all DD's is Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam.. I will attempt to give a quick overview of how this temple referred to as "Boologa Vaikuntam" or Heaven (Vaikunta) on earth came to be..

According to the Sriranga Mahathmiyam, Lord Vishnu in the Sri Ranga Vimanam sprang up from the depths of the milky ocean as a result of the tapas of Brahma, carried by Garuda, his mount with Perumal resting on Ananthan or Adi Sesha 2/N

Brahma was informed that Lord Maha Vishnu would appear like this in 7 other places on earth - Srimushnam, Venkatadri, Saligramam, Naimisaranyam, Thotadri, Pushkar and Badri but of all these places Srirangam would be the earliest

Brahma was also informed that Lord Maha Vishnu would appear as a Swayamvaktha ie in his original form as an idol at these places.. Brahma then carried the glittering Ranga Vimana and installed it on the banks of the Viraja river..

He appointed Surya, the sun god to do the daily worship to Lord Ranganatha.. based on the prayers and request of the King Ikshvaku of Ayodhya, Brahma permitted him to take this Vimana with Perumal in it to Ayodhya..

King Ikshvaku and his descendants diligently continued doing the daily prayers to Lord Ranganatha.. Lord Rama who himself is an avatar of Maha Vishnu, did his prayers to Lord Ranganatha.. since Lord Rama was referred to as Perumal, Lord Ranganatha was named Periya Perumal..

On his triumphant return to Lanka after the war with Ravana, Lord Rama gave the Ranga Vimana as a gift to Vibeeshana for worship.. as Vibeeshana was proceeding to Lanka with the Ranga Vimana, he stopped on the banks of the Cauvery river since it was time for the daily prayers..

He placed the Vimana at a place known as the Sesha Peetam to perform the prayers.. once he completed the prayers, as he attempted to lift the Vimana, he found that he could not move it and Vimana was stuck to that place.. He was overcome with grief and dejected..

Lord Maha Vishnu appeared before him and consoled him saying that he had decided to make this place his abode and Vibeeshana would come and offer his prayers everday.. it is still believed that Vibeeshana offers his prayers to Periya Perumal every night..

Even today Periya Perumals holy feet point in the direction of Sri Lanka as they continue to bless Vibeeshana and of course all of us..all the Azhwars except Madurai Kavi Azhwar have dedicated Pasurams from the 4000 divya Prabandhams to Lord Ranganathan..

Some interesting facts about Sri Ranganathaswamy temple.. it is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world..spread over 156 acres, has around 21 gopurams or towers, surrounded by seven concentric walls..the total length of the 7 wells is almost 9kms..

It also boasts of a magnificient rajagopuram which was constructed under the supervision of his holiness the 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila mutt and is almost 236 ft in height with 13 tiers..every day there is some utsavam or festival that happens at this temple..

We all owe it to Swami Ramanuja who completely overhauled the administrative system of this temple.. even today, what he set up as methods and practices for prayer are followed after 1000 years after Swami returned to Sri Vaikuntam..

Swami Ramanuja lived for 120 years in his physical form and to this day his physical body is preserved and can be found in a sitting posture in the southwest corner of the 5th prakaram where there is a sannidhi dedicated to him..

I can keep going on and one about Srirangam as one lifetime would not be enough talking about this heaven on earth.. kindly visit this temple atleast once in your lifetime to get the divine blessings of Lord Ranganatha and Ranganayaki Thaayar (the divine mother)..

Moolavar is called as Lord Ranganathan or Periya Perumal, Utsavar is known as Azhagiya manavalan or Nammperumal, Thaayar is known as Ranganayaki Thaayar.. interesting there is only one day in the year, Panguni Utthiram that they give darshan together 🙏🙂

To reach Srirangam, you should get to Trichy or Tiruchirupalli which is easily accessible by Air, rail and road transport.. Srirangam is barely 8kms from Trichy.. once you reach Trichy you have various modes of local transport which will take you to the temple..

Remember which gopuram or tower you are entering the temple through as you could come out through an entirely different tower if you are not used to this temple or visiting it for the first time🙂Will come back with the next DD shortly.. Srimathe Ramanujaya Namah🙏

Since most of the DDs (82 of them) are in TN, we will start off with the DDs in this part of the country.. based on the break up that I gave in my earlier tweet, we will start off with the Chozha naatu DD's which are around 40 in number..

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