What is a Sripadam/ Sripadam thangigal ?

"Sri Padam " The Lotus Feet of Sriman Narayana is the most sought after ,admired,a source for absolute peace ,happiness,mental stability,tranquility, you define it as you desire.The Golden ultimate action by all of us "surrender unto His Feet" is the journey all of us try to attempt and undertake.

While a number of us may have heard about SriPadam Thangigal a term to denote a group of persons who have dedicated themselves in the service of the Lord. They are the persons who carry the Archa Vigrahams of the deities,The Lord with His consorts,Thayar,other Lords in the temple ,Alwars and Acharyas .

Where all you find sripadam thangigals ?

In the Srirangam PeriaKoil you can identify these persons by their head gear which they wear in red colour. In Chennai you have SriPadam Thangigal at Triplicane Parthasarathy Temple,Nanganallur temples,Sri Sathayanarayana Temple at West Mambalam.In Mumbai we have Sri Balaji Sripadam thangigal sabha at SSAP Sri Balaji Mandir ,Dombivili & Sri Prahalada Varadhan Sripadam thangigal sabha at Chembur Sri Ahobila Mutt.All of them are well educated ,employed, having good position as well.It is a great sight to see ( kana kan kodi vendum) over 100 of them gather early in the morning 6 A M during the SriRamanuja jayanthi when lord Sri Parahalada Varadha along with his consorts and Bhagwad Sri Ramanuja are carried on the shoulders of sripadams right from Ahobila Mutt , Chembur to Sri Krishna Sabha, Matunga situated about 8-9 Kms from Chembur.

SRIPADAMTHANGIGALS OF DOMBIVILI

Sri Balaji Sripadamthangigal Sabha was formed with the blessings of H H Srimad Srimushnam Andavan Swami in the year 2002 during the Mahasamprokshanam of the temple RajaGopuram.Since then the sabha has come a long way.
Many youngsters have joined the team of Sripadams over the years and have actively participated during the various festivities of the temple. The volunteers dedicate themselves in carrying the Arch Vigrahams from one sannadhi to main mandapam,Purappadu within the temple,main purappadu on the main streets around the temple. On the Garuda Vahan Purappadu Day it is a sight to see all youngsters about 100 of them in their teens some in the age group of 20 - 30,sporting ThiruNamam and in the attaire a Srivaishnavan visit the temple.On Bramha Utsavam Days they dedicate themselves for the purapadu of the Lord and after the night purappadu and upto the time the Swami returns to His Asthanam ,they are around to maintain the schedule.
The Sripadams have been assisting the temple in their various activities and also during the functions .