RAMESWARAM (Tamil Nadu): Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday afternoon and was welcomed by people with showering of petals.
He reached Rameswaram to perform darshan and pooja at Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple. Thousands of residents and BJP workers were present on both sides of the road to welcome the Prime Minister. Some of them were also carrying BJP flags. PM Modi waved back to people reciprocating their gesture.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister participated in a programme at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli. The PM also listened to various scholars reciting verses from the Kamba Ramayanam in this temple.
Prime Minister Modi is observing an 11-day Anushthan ahead of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22. PM Modi sought blessings from an elephant named ‘Andal’ in the temple premises.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts a roadshow in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/NhYf6iydPe
— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024
Located in Srirangam, Trichy, the temple is one of the most ancient temple complexes in the country and finds mention in various ancient texts including the Puranas and the Sangam era texts. It is famous for its architectural grandeur and its numerous iconic gopurams. The main deity worshipped here is Sri Ranganatha Swamy, a reclining form of Bhagwan Vishnu. Vaishnava scriptures mention the connection between the idol worshipped in this temple and Ayodhya.
It is believed that the image of Vishnu, which used to be worshipped by Sri Rama and his ancestors, was given by him to Vibhishana to take it to Lanka and on the way, this idol was fixed in Srirangam.
Sri Ramanujacharya, the great philosopher and saint, is also deeply associated with this temple’s history. There are various important places in this temple — the famous Kamba Ramayanam was first presented publicly by the Tamil poet Kamban in a particular place in this complex.
Prime Minister Modi has, over the last few days, visited several temples in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala ahead of the Pran Pratishtha at Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. (ANI)