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RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE - SRIRANGAM

SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE - THIRUVARANGAM


 Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple or Thiruvarangam is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in a reclining form, built in the island of Srirangam in between Kollidam & Ponni(Kaveri) rivers.

It is one of the most illustrious Vaishnava temple in South India.
The temple has been a place,from where Vaishnavism has flourished and many vaishnava saints have associated themselves with this temple including 11th-century saint Ramanjacharya and his predecessors Nathamuni and Yamunacharya.
The temple was looted and destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate armies in early 14th century.In 1311m the golden image of the Lord was taken to delhi, inconsistent theories suggest the idol was brought back by the sultans daughter, who is enshrined as Thuluka Nachiar & in 1323 the second sultanate invasion could not lay their hand on the Idol as it was taken away from srirangam.The temple was rebuilt in late 14th century(1371), the site fortified and expanded with many more gopurams in the 16th and 17th centuries
The temple is constructed over an area of 155 acres with 50 shrines, 21 towers, 39 pavilions and 9 water tanks & a 1000 pillared hall(953) integrated into the complex making it the world's largest functioning Hindu temple & the largest temple compound in india. It is the 2nd largest temple, next only to Angkor wat. The latest addition is the outer tower that is 220 ft tall, completed in 1987.The temple has seven Praharams out of which five praharams enshrine the monument. The sanctum sanctorum of Lord Ranganath is round on a raised square platform.
A temple at Srirangam is mentioned in Tamil literature of the Sangam era (1st to the 4th century AD), The current temple as per archaeological evidence such as inscriptions refer to this temple, belonging to the Chola, Pandya,Hoysala,& Vijayanagara dynasties who ruled over the region. between the 9th and 16th centuries.
Legend has it that the Sriranga Vimana was a gift of Lord Ram to Vibhishana,as a token of appreciation for helping him in killing the evil Ravana. On the way to srilanka the Sriranga Vimana, would not budge from srirangam and hence the same was established there.
Some of the primary shrines are Chakrathuazhwar( Sudarshana with lord narasimha on the rear side),Rama, Hayagreeva, Dhanavantri, Venugopal & shri Ramanujacharya.
The Sanctum for Lord Ranganatha in the innermost courtyard has a golden Vimana or tower. It is shaped like the Tamil om symbol, has an etching of Ramanuja. Inside,the sanctum is the (20 ft) idol of Sri Rangantha reclining on Adishesha the serpent, which has five hoods and is coiled as a bed, three and a half times. Vishnu's head rests on a small cylindrical pillow and his right palm which faces upwards rests next to his head. Lakshmi (in the form of sridevi and bhudevi) & Bramha coming out of the Lords Navel are conspicuously missing.
Ranganayaki (Lakshmi) shrine is in the second precinct of the temple. The shrine has three idols of Ranganayaki, Sridevi & Bhudevi. During the festival it is Ranganather who visits ranganayaki in a processions, and not the other way round.
Inscriptions at the Temple are in six languages: Tamil, Sanskrit,Kannada, Telugu, Marathi and Odiya.
The temple also has Shaivaite and Shakthi sculptures, even in the sanctum precinct, lord Ganesh and Durga adorn the walls. Near the Dhwaja Sthamba is a Peetham with the image of Nataraja.Peethams are generally associated with shiva or parvathi.
Things to see :
1.Sri Ranganathar in a round sanctum & gold Vimana.
2.Goddes Ranganayaki shrine. Three idols ( sridevi, bhudevi & ranganayaki)
3.Swarga Vasal ( Doors to Heaven).
4. Two golden Palli’s( Lizard)
5.Dhanavantri shine.
6.Paintings on the ceiling on the Ranganayaki shrine.
7.Chakrathuazhwar sannidhi with Narasimha on the rear side.
8.Venu gopal Shrine.
9.1000(953)pillared & Shreyas mandapam.
10. Hayagriva Shrine.
11.Sri Ramanujar samdhi(The idol is his preserved body in sitting posture).
12.Vellayi the devadasi gopuram or white Gopuram.
13. The Shakthi Peetham before the dhwajasthamba, with the inscription of Lord Nataraja on it.
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