Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited various significant temples in Tamil Nadu on Saturday. PM Modi participated in a programme at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli. Prime Minister also listened to various scholars reciting verses from the Kamba Ramayanam in this temple.
PM Modi worshipped in the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple while clad in traditional Tamil attire. During his visit to this ancient shrine of Tamil Nadu, Modi wore a spotless ‘veshti’ (dhothi) and an angawastram (a shawl) and prayed with folded hands in the Lord Vishnu temple. He took blessings from the temple elephant after feeding it.
Modi prayed to Sri Ranganathaswamy and he was blessed with ‘Sadari’ (Crown, symbolising Lord Vishnu’s blessings) by temple priests. The PM prayed at several ‘sannadhis’ (separate enclosures for deities) including those dedicated to Vaishnavite saint-guru Sri Ramanjuacharya and Sri Chakkarathazhwar.
The presiding deity is popularly known in Tamil as Ranganathar. Later, the PM took a dip in the 22 ‘theerths,’ inside the temple complex and devotees consider taking a dip in theerths an auspicious, spiritual activity. The 22 theerths are natural springs, and each one of them are known as ‘Nazhi Kinaru’ (well) in Tamil. Modi was accorded traditional honours by priests and he also took part in ‘Bhajans’ performed in the shrine.
