ఇదం హి రంగం, త్యజతా మిహాంగం
పునర్నచాంగం యది చాంగమేతి
పాణౌ రథాంగం, యానే విహంగం
శయనే భుజంగం, చరణే అంబుగాంగం
Listen to Swamiji here!
Sri Rangam is an abode of supreme wealth! Supreme wealth is that which does not deteriorate but only enhances one’s joy when experienced. Such wealth lies only in God’s world; the wealth of a fit body that is always driven with joy to serve the purpose of God!
We may wonder – What does it mean to serve God’s purpose? Let it be any purpose or goal, one needs a body and mind that can think and act in accordance with that purpose. God’s purpose is to keep the words of His devotees and protect them from anything that blocks their will. These devotees are always either singing divine qualities of God and/or serving the world as a service to God.
To serve God’s purpose is therefore to utilise one’s entire body (physical, intellectual, emotional) in order to serve the work of God’s devotees. When devotees are allowed to do their activities, the world flourishes. But, our current bodies are limited in abilities and conditional based on our past karma. Supreme wealth therefore is that wealth which keeps us fit to serve God forever happily!
Adi Shankaracharya says, “If one visits Sri Rangam, and sheds the current body in such a divine place, the next body would certainly be fully capable of serving God with no limitations. That next and final body will be so beautifully adorned with sankha and chakra, highly powerful and flexible like adi sesha, and pious and pure like the ganges emerging from God’s feet. All that beauty, power, and purity builds from within due to the joy in serving God!”
Why is Sri Rangam so powerful?
Sri Rangam hosts the first Deity form of the Supreme God on this Earth: Lord Ranganatha! This ultimate act of compassion took place on Revathi nakshatram. Therefore, it is regarded as a nakshatram (star) of great significance by revered elders.
A brief history of this first Deity form, Lord Rangantha!
యో బ్రహ్మాణం విదధాతి పూర్వం యో వై వేదాంశ్చ ప్రహిణోతి తస్మై…
Yo: bramha:nam vidadha:thi pu:rvam yo: vai veda:scha prahino:thi thasmai
God gave birth to the four headed Brahma (through a lotus that emerged from His navel). He gave Brahma a manual named Vedas and asked him to create; Bramha refused to take this task because he could neither take his eyes off from God nor his heart away from God.
God then offered a Deity that resembled Him exactly in both form and qualities, but in a smaller frame to keep with him. Brahma then agreed and began the creation. Amongst many families, Ikshwaku is also a family that Brahma created. Upon the request of Ikshwaku, Brahma offered the Deity of Ranganatha to him.
Lord Himself took birth as Sri Rama Chandra in Ikswaku family. He worshipped the same Deity of Rangantha as His archa murthi. After Sri Rama Chandra’s royal crown ceremony (the pattabhishekam), everyone including Sugreeva began to leave for their home towns. But, Vibheeshana was not ready to leave Him. Rama then consoled him and offered him the archa murthi – the Deity of Ranganattha. Vibheeshana placed Ranganatha at Sri Rangam on the banks of river Kaveri facing Lanka. The day when the Deity was placed in Sri Rangam has revathi star on its radar. Thus, this star has been respected as the star when God became accessible in the first temple on the Earth – the temple of Sri Rangam!
– From the discourse of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami
– 31 st May 2019, Rayagad
Today, on the same star of Revathi – it is great to offer a golden crown to Lord Venkateswara Swami signifying how important He is to you all.
Swamiji congratulated all the proud participants who donated their time and money in such glorious act.
Beautiful one by adi Shankaracharya ji
🙏🙇♀️