Madya is a Hindu deity is also known as Thenarangathan, Sri Ranganatha, Ranga and Aranganathar. Ranga means ‘stage’ in Ranganatha, which refers to ‘the senses, the body, the cosmos and world’ in the broader sense.
This Deva is an aspect of Vishnu and lives in Ksheera Sagara or Vaikunta. He mounts the Garuda and his weapons are Kaumodaki and Sudarshana Chakra. Ranganatha is a well known god in South India and is a chief god of the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple located at Srirangam. He is the resting form of Lord Vishnu. He is a recumbent on the great form of Adishesha, the serpent god. Goddess Lakshmi, also called as Ranganayaki, is his consort, besides Nila Devi and Bhudevi.
In Tamil the name of Ranganatha means ‘leader of the place of assembly’. The word Ranganatha is conceived from two Tamil words ranga (place) and Nathan (leader or Lord). Religion in Southern India has been shaped by this presiding deity. Five very holy Ranganatha temples called the Pancharanga Kshetrams are located on the Kaveri River banks. The Vaishnava community in Tamil Nadu are ardent devotees of Ranganatha.
A commentary has been written by a well known poet, Parasara Battar on ‘Vishnu Sahasranama” (thousand names of Lord Vishnu). Ranganatha’s beautiful image decorated with basil garland on the chest is seen at the Srirangam temple. His image is also decorated with other divine jewelry of Lord Krishna. The deity is worshiped in traditional method as per Sanskrit and Tamil scriptures.
