Need to know: Temple worship

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Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha:

 

Dear Smt/Sow Priya

 

The same question use to nag me for some time. following is what I

have come to understand about temple worship.

 

Temple worship was one of the main contributions of Sri Ramanuja. He

put in elaborate management structure and procedures for various

functions at 4 major temples: Srirangam, Thirumala, Kanchi and

Melkote. It is believed that he was responsible for building the town

that is now known as Keezh thiruppathi, surrounding Sri Govindaraja

Perumal kovil (previously known as Sri Parthasarathy perumal kovil).

His contributions to temple worship at Srirangam and Melkote seems to

be well documented, when compared to thirumala and Kanchi.

 

It turns out that Sri Ramanuja had a special revernce to thiruppavai

and Sri Andal, in particular, and entire 4000 in general. On going

through the verses of thiruppavai, Andal always insists on visting a

temple in large groups. Sri ramanuja, when he disclosed the sacred

mantra, did so to a large group of people assembled in a temple. For

him the goal was not just one or two realising HIM, but the entire

world. Given his love for thiruppavai and the fact that bhakti is one

of the two core tools for salvation, I suspect, he developed and put

in place a complex administrative system at these 4 temples that

inluded men and women of all caste. He wanted the community living

near a temple to understand the greatness of service to God, thereby,

developing their religious affliation. Thus the temple worship be

came a core foundation of Sri Vaishnavam.

 

Sure, these temples existed before the Sangam period. Silappadhikaram

has references to Vengadam, Arangam and thirumaliruncholai. However,

they did not seem to be well organized and administered. It was Sri

Ramanuja who successfully integrated the temple worship and religious

development within a phoilosophical system.

 

Adiyen

 

Venkatesh K Elayavilli

 

http://www.srivaishnava.org

 

bhakti-list , priya5050 wrote:

> Why do we all go to a temple....it is said ..the heart is the place

> of god...then why temple...