Former PM Deve Gowda offers prayers at Ranganathaswamy temple

Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 22 : Former PM and JD(S) national president HD Deve Gowda offered prayers at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu on Thursday.
Speaking to journalists after the prayers, he said that he has been able to finally visit the temple after a four-year wait. Explaining that he has had health complications. With his knee joints being affected five years ago, he had to delay the temple visit. "I am coming here after four years. My health was a little bad. My knee joints were affected five years back", said the former PM. However, he also confirmed that he is working to serve the people not just the state but the whole country. "Even then I am active and going to Rajya Sabha. I am working to serve the people not only the state of Karnataka but of the country as a whole as I am a member of Rajya Sabha", added HD Deve Gowda.
Visiting the temple while being wheelchair-bound, he offered prayers to Lord Ranganatha and was garlanded by the temple priests after the prayers.
The former PM also elaborated on the mythology of the temple, explaining why the temple is important for the history of South India and how it is connected to the Ramayana. "This is a very famous temple in South India where mythologically, Vibhishana has performed the puja for Lord Ranganathan", said the former PM. He further added that Ram had come to the temple with Sita and also performed the Puja.
Ranganathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Sri Ranganathar. It is regarded as one of the most important temples for worshipping Lord Vishnu. The temple is one of India's largest temple compound and is also regarded as one of the world's greatest religious complexes. The Ranganathaswamy Temple is believed to be constructed during the Vijayanagara period (1336-1565).