Story of SriRangam Svayamvakta Vimana - Part 5

As per Lord Brahma's instruction, Vivaswan, the surya (sun) worshiped the Swayamvakta Vimana. Vivaswan is the son of Sage Kashyapa. Sage Kashyapa is the son of Sage Marichi who is the son of Lord Brahma. Hence, Vivaswan is the great grand son of Lord Brahma. Vivaswan is also called as the Aditya since he is born of Sage Kashyapa and Aditi. Aditi is the daughter of Daksha, who is the son of Brahma. The lineage of Vivaswan came to be known as Surya dynasty, Raghu kula. Raghuvanshi is the lineage of kings tracing its ancestry to Vivaswan, Surya. Vivasta Manu is the son of Vivaswan and is  known as Arka Tanaya or son of Arka (Surya). Vivasta Manu, son of Vivaswan is the King of all mankind and considered to be the first human being. There are 14 manvantras and each manvanatra, a manu rules that manvanatra. Vivasta Manu was the manu of the 7th manvantra. Manu had nine sons and one of the sons was Ikshvahu. 

Ikshvahu started to rule the kingdom of Ayodhya. He wanted to bring the Vimana that his grand father is worshiping, to the Earth. He did severe penance for many hundred years in order to bring the Vimana to Earth. After many years, Brahma became pleased by his penance and allowed King Ikshvahu to take the Vimana to Earth. 

King Ikshvahu started to worship the deity of Lord Sriman Narayana of the Swayamvakta Vimana. The deity Sri Ranga was worshipped by the descendants of Ikshvahu. Lord Rama, a descendant of Ragu clan worshiped Sri Ranga. Hence, Lord Rama is considered to be a great devotee of Lord Ranga of SriRangam. On his triumphant return from SriLanka, in the coronation held in Ayodhya, Lord Rama gave the vimana to Vibheeshana, Ravana's brother for worship.

Vibheeshana on his return to Sri Lanka, got out on the banks of Kaveri River in southern part of India to perform his mid-day prayers. He placed the Ranga Vimana at a place known as "Sesha Peetam" near River Chandrapushkarani.

When he returned after his prayers and when he tried to life the Vimana, it would not move. It had stuck up. Overcome with grief, Vibhishana prayed to the Lord. The Lord appeared before him and consoled him saying that he need not grieve as He had already decided to make that place His abode.

The Lord added that Vibheeshana can worship the Lord from wherever he is and it is said that even now, Vibheeshana daily worships the Lord at midnight.

Jai Sriman Narayana