PM Modi takes blessings from elephant 'Andal', performs rituals at Sri Ranganathaswamy temple
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Sri Rangam, Tiruchirappalli, dressed in traditional Tamil attire. During his visit, he wore a clean ‘veshti’ (dhothi) and an angawastram (a shawl) and offered prayers with folded hands in the Lord Vishnu temple.
PM Modi sought blessings from the temple elephant and received a ‘Sadari’ (Crown) from the temple priests. He also visited several ‘sannadhis’ (enclosures for deities), including those dedicated to Vaishnavite saint-guru Sri Ramanjuacharya and Sri Chakkarathazhwar.
PM Modi was also blessed by an elephant named ‘Andal’ in the temple premises who also played a mouth organ.
Earlier, on his way to the temple, the Prime Minister greeted the people and BJP workers who had gathered to welcome him. He stood on the footstep of his car, balancing himself with one hand on the partially opened door, while folding his hands in a gesture of ‘Vanakkam’ as the crowd chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ Later, Modi will visit the Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram to offer his prayers.
PM Modi’s office had earlier announced that he will be visiting several significant temples in Tamil Nadu ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, which the Prime Minister and other dignitaries will be attending.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, this is done to uphold the cultural ethos and unity of India, which is the essence of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.’
The Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is widely believed that the main lingam in this temple was installed and worshipped by Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. The temple boasts one of the longest temple corridors and exquisite architecture.
On January 21, the Prime Minister will visit Kothandaramaswamy Temple in Dhanushkodi and perform darshan and pooja. He will also visit Arichal Munai, believed to be the place where the Ram Setu was built.
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