Priests and their classification

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavathas,

 

I have heard about a certain hierarchy followed in our temples whereby

some are referred to as 'Manaians' ,some as 'Sthanikars' etc.Can someone

elaboarate on these classification/hierachy followed among those involved

in priestly duties

 

Thanks

 

venkat

[Guest guest]

At 09:21 PM 2/26/02 +0530, you wrote:

 

Dear Bhagavathas,

>I have heard about a certain hierarchy followed in our temples whereby

>some are referred to as 'Manaians' ,some as 'Sthanikars' etc.Can someone

>elaboarate on these classification/hierachy followed among those involved

>in priestly duties

>Thanks

>venkat

 

Dear Sri Venkat Iyengar:

 

The people with the titles of " MaNiyakkArar " and

"SthAnikar" do not have priestly duties like Bhattars .

They are administrators and have special roles

to play in uthsavams of the Lord of SrIrangam

and day to day running of things .

 

Their positions were created by AchArya RaamAnujA

for efficent and orderly administration .

This title is prevalent even today at SrIrangam .

Today HREB has introduced elsewhere the title

of Executive Officer and Manager etc.They

still do not have the power of Srirangam MaNiyam

or SthAnikar .

 

Sri Tirumanjanam Sundara Rajan Swamy and Sri Thirukkudanthai

Rengarajan Swamy would have more precise information on

the hierarchies and exact duties of SthAnikar , MaNiyam

and others today at SrIrangam .

 

SthAnikar has the higher hierarchy in Uthsavams .

He orchestrates the activities like calling Utthama

Nampi during Vaikunta EkAdasi with vinayam to

the Lord's side . utthama Nampi is honored

with small vasthram to take charge of the Uthsavam.

next MaNiyam and KanThAdai vamsam are honored as

assistants to Utthama Nampi and next the group of

eight known as ThiruvarangakkUttatthAr (Ashta Prabhanda

PaarAyaNakArAL)et al.

 

I learnt a lot form SrImathi RenganAyaki KaLLapirAn

at the time she asked me to write a foreword for Her

monograph on SrIrangam and AchArya prabhAvam. I may not

recall them right. Long time SrIranga Vaasis like Sriman

Sundararajan and Sriman Rengarajan are requested to

correct any inaccuracies.

 

SrIrangam temple has very unique paribhAshai

like "RaamAnusan " ( DhIpArahdanai Plate),

Uppu ChARu ( MiLagu Kuzhambu offered for

SrI RanganAyaki as NaivEdhyam ), Surasam

(Kumkuma Kuzhampu used by Sri RanganAthan)et al .

 

SrI RanganAthO Jayathi,

RaamAnuja Daasan , V.Sadagopan