Srirangapatna known as Adhirangam is situated in Mandya district of Karnataka. It is 15km from Mysore railway station. We happened to be there for a wedding and had the blessing of worshipping at the temple. On 25th January 2015 afternoon at about 12.00.p.m. we stood in the que to have darshan. We wanted to know if there was a ticket seva for quick darshan but were told that there was one common line. Since we had time to spare we stood  in the que which went on and on with so many bends. We stopped at the counter to buy archana tickets for Tulasi archana (Rs.10) and Kumkuma archana (Rs.10) and in the process lost about 20 places in our line. As we moved we noticed a priest holding a plate with a lit lamp and found Garuda Bhaghavan giving darshan. After an hour and a half we were rewarded with darshan of Ranganatha reclining on His serpent hooded bed, decked with coloured pearl dress. It was different from the Muthangi of Srirangam Ranganatha where the pearls are so finely threaded that it looks like a garment of fine lace. Since we had Tulasi archana ticket we could wait and drink His beauty from Feet to crown before proceeding to the next sannidhi. As we turned right Laksmi Nrisimha sannidhi was there, then we had darshan of Mahalakshmi (Ranganayaki) casting Her karunakataksham on all bhakthas. We could wait here till the kumkumarchana was done and we got kumkum prasadam. As we moved we noticed a pair of Padhukas and a priest giving Srisathari .There was a sannidhi for Venugopala. There were many sannidhis all around but most of them were closed at that time. We had darshan of Srinivasa and Hanuman.
On 26th January at about 6.00 a.m. we headed to the temple to have darshan again. The same zigzag lines and waiting before we were rewarded with the darshan of Ranganatha  clad in flowers of beautiful colours (poolangi seva).  One couldn’t stop gazing at Him from Feet to Head. Thayar was similarly clad in flowers and it was a satisfying darshan. There was a sannidhi for swami Desikan and the divya mangalamurthi was beautiful but the sannidhi was closed. The darshan time was one hour. Outside there was a chariot waiting to carry Perumal. It was a tiered (like a multi storeyed structure) ratham and engraved beautifully at the base. Blue and orange flags were placed beautifully. There were two small umbrellas at the top. We noticed vendors selling coconuts bananas and flower garlands and Tulasi garlands.
As we headed to the marriage hall we saw at a distance a procession coming and realized it was Perumal coming in Surya prabha vahanam it being Rathasapthami. Rathasapthami is said to be the birthday of the sungod and is an important day in the town as there is surya prabhai purappadu and rathotsavam that day.  Actually Narayana is the antaryami of every created being. As Surya Narayana He is worshipped on Rathasapthami day and that was His alankaram on this day. He was wearing several garlands but a red garland with huge silver ball like rounds stood out. Perumal accepted everybody’s plates filled with offerings of coconuts, bananas and sugar-candy and the ofcouse the camphor bits to be lit and waved infront of Him to remove drishti dosham. Vendors were selling baskets filled with bananas and devotees aimed bananas at the Feet of Perumal .The disc of surya prabha was turned round as Perumal proceeded on the roads blessing everyone . The highlight of the puraapadu was Thayar in golden Gajalakshmi Sevai facing Perumal and reminding each of us that She Sri is the bestower of every thing we own. The sight of our divine parents amidst so many children is something we will ever cherish.
These are some of the photos taken during the occasion…
Video Of Surya Prabhai Purappadu on Ratha Sapthami
Photography & Writeup By : Vyjayanthi and Sundararajan
