Documentary on Srirangam’s processinal deity screened

The 48-year journey of Sri Azhagiya Manavaalan, processional deity of Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, was showcased in the documentary Arangayanam, screened at the Rasika Ranjana Sabha on Sunday.

The 48-year journey of Sri Azhagiya Manavaalan, processional deity of Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, was showcased in the documentary Arangayanam, screened at the Rasika Ranjana Sabha on Sunday.

The screening was inaugurated at the sabha theatre with felicitations offered by J. Ramanan and Vrinda Ramanan, authors of the books Srirangam, Bhooloka Vaikuntam and Tirumala, Kaliyuga Vaikuntam, and P.K. Thiagarajan. The documentary, curated and narrated by Bombay Kannan, begins in the 14th century during the Delhi Sultanate invasions. It gives a detailed account of the people who safeguarded the deity, giving up their lives in the process. Mr. Kannan has used references from the scriptures, inscriptions on the temple walls, the Koil Ozhugu (a series of books that document the history of the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple) and other historical documents to substantiate all the events and incidents. The documentary retraces 12 locations, where the deity was carried.

Vaishnavasri Krishnamachari’s detailed account of certain lesser-known truths, are a noteworthy supplement. Videography had been done by J. Ganesan.