Also, when you go the temple please follow this… first Udaiyavar sannidhi, then Thayar Sannidhi, and then Perumal sannidhi. This requires some planning; because, usually due to crowd situations we tend to first go to Perumal sannidhi and then go to the rest.
One way I find it easier is, day 1 evening we can cover Acharya, Azhwar and Thayar sannidhis; and day 2 morning go for Vishwaroopa Darshanam to see Perumal. It is better to do this on weekdays that too non-festive days. On weekends the crowd is heavy.
If you really have the time to spilt your darshans to one evening and next day morning, the following route is for your consideration.
(members in this forum who know the names of the madapams and paths can please add so that it is easier for new people to go. Please feel free to correct me; I am writing based on my experience; if there is a traditionally recommended way please write that)
First of all, even as we are approaching Srirangam, we see the magnificient Raja Gopuram as we are crossing the Cauvery. our heart beat increases. Then the bus finally reaches Raja Gopuram. Only when we get down and take a look at the Raja Gopuram, we realise the real grandeur of the tower is much greater than what we had imagined based on pictures.
Now, we are walking through the Raja Gopuram, and the series of different gopurams with lots of shops on both sides. Gives us a feel for how ancient our temple is. Finally we reach the “Ranga Ranga” gopuram.This is the south-uththira-veedhi. On the left side of the gopuram there is the govt. approved place for keeping our footwear. But before entering the temple, take right on south-uththira-veedhi… till the end where it meets the east-uththira-veedhi. At that junction we have ManavaaLa maamunigal sannidhi. Let us take his darshan; he is acharyan for NamPerumal Himself!!!
Then let us come back and enter the Ranga-Ranga gopuram. We’ll walk through the Ranga-vilas mandapam, till we reach the next gopuram, the Karthigai Gopuram. Here we first take a right (i.e. towards east) and go till then end to Udaiyavar sannidhi. It is so nice to be present there that we really do not want to leave that place. But anyways we have to. Let us move on.
(we have covered two prominent acharyas; now have to take darshan of Azhwars and Thayar. I am just describing one possible route; you may take alternative routes.)
Let us come out of Udaiyavar sannidhi and come back to karthigai gopuram. Take a left and enter Ranga-vilas mandapam (don’t worrry; we are not exiting the temple). In the Ranga-Vilas mandapam, on the east side we have Thirupaanzhwar sannidhi, and if I remember right, Thondar-adi-podiazhwar sannidhi is also there. On the west side is Andal sannidhi.
After covering these, let us get back to Karthigai-gopuram. Now take a left and go to the west end. Here is we take darshan of Chakrathaazhwar. Take darshan of Amrta kalasa Garudaazhwar either just before or just after Chakrathaazhwar.
Now back to Karthigai gopuram. Let us enter through the Karthigai Gopuram. On the left there is Nammazhwar sannidhi; middle BIG HUGE MAGNIFICIENT Garudaazhwar sannidhi, on the right Thirumangai azhwar (?! please verify) sannidhi.
After covering these three sannidhis, go to the next gopuram (on the way we can see the food stall). Before enter the next gopuram, take left and walk westward towards Dhanya-Lakshmi sannidhi. Take Her dashan. On her right see the huge graneries built by Thirumangai-azhwar. (near here is the Gosala; we may spend some time here … if they permit).
After DhanyaLakshmi dharsan, come out and walk towards the north direction (as we walk, the huge graneries will be on our left).
We’ll reach the ‘Mudal-azhwar sannidhi’ (Poigai-, Bootham-, & Pei-azhwaar). Take darshan; as we step down from their sannidhi, take left (towards east) and go to Dhanvanthri sannidhi (or, we can go to Thayar sannidhi and come here a little later). Exit the gopuram on the north to reach the next outer praharam. Here we have three important sannidhis. 1. Swamy Desikar; 2. Thayar sannidhi, 3. Mettu-azhagiya-singar (Narasimmar). Let us cover these sannidhis peacefully, and receive Their blessings. Now we can come back to Dhanvanthri sannidhi; take darshan; come out; walk eastward past the pushkarani (temple tank). Reach Kodanda Ramar sannidhi; Then Vaikunthanathar sannidhi (also called kannaadi-Andal sannidhi). Here Vaikunthanathar sannidhi is so very special, because all the great personalities we have taken darshan so far (or we may have even missed some) ALL OF THEM are present here. Here, let us spend as much time as possible and soak ourselves in the experience of being in such a great assembly. Oh! what a fortune it is to visit this sannidhi in maargazhi!
Then let us force ourselves to get out of this sannidhi, and as we walk along cover some of the small-small sannidhis on the left. Each sannidhi has been taken care of and served with devotion by generations of devotees! Let us feel grateful to them for giving us this experience.
Now, if it is late already, then let us go to our resting place; because we need to be back here by 4.00am to stand in the queue for Viswaroopa darshanam. That too we must be fortunate to get the chance. Only thing that can grant us permission is the prayers we have offered to the acharyas, azhwars and Thayar today.
Before we leave, we can take darshan of Udaiyavar once again.
If we still have some time, then we can exit through the East tower (vellai gopuram), take a autorikshaw and go to Kaattu-azhagiya-singar kovil, about 1-1.5km (near Srirangam Railway station). Another option is to take a rickshaw and go to வெளி ஆண்டாள் சன்னிதி. I don’t think we will have time to cover both places. But please try to visit these two places atleast once before leaving Srirangam.
Next day morning, be present by 4.00; don’t be surprised by the crowd even on a weekday. Remember Thondar-adi-podi-aazhwaars Thirupalli Ezhuchchi song as we stand in the queue. It is an amazing experience to be there and experience all these.
The experience of Lord’s darshan is indescribable. I hope the next time I will be able to imbibe that vision deeper in my heart.
As we come out, and get down the steps, remember to take darshan of Vishwa-senar! He is in a small shrine (not well lit) on the Eastern side (Feet side of Perumal). After that we can also take darshan of the gold-kalasam. Then exit through the north; now we can try to visit the same sannidhis covered yesterday (as much as possible) and thank Them.
I am most grateful to you for giving me this opportunity to go through the entire temple as I know it.
I am sure there are people in this forum who can add more details and give a far better description. Please forgive my short comings.
adiyen dasan.
