The Clever Cowherd of Srirangam

Continuing the story of Vibhishana's journey with the sacred idol of Ranganatha, tradition tells of the young cowherd boy who stepped forward at the riverbank at the exact moment he was needed — and who was, in truth, Shree Ganesh himself in disguise.

An Offer of Help

As Vibhishana entered the Kaveri to perform his evening rites, the boy agreed to hold the idol, with one condition set between them: he would call out to Vibhishana three times, and if there was no answer, he would be free to set the idol down.

The Idol Finds Its Place

The calls went out, and by design or by the flow of the river's currents, Vibhishana could not return in time. The boy gently placed the idol upon the sacred ground of Srirangam and vanished, leaving Vibhishana to discover, on emerging, that the idol had already taken root exactly where it was meant to remain.

What Devotees Seek

Devotees visiting both Srirangam and the nearby hilltop shrine where the boy is said to have revealed his true form honor this story as the reason two of Tamil Nadu's most beloved temples stand connected to this day.