The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, also known as
the Srirangam Temple, is one of the most prominent and revered Hindu temples in
South India. It is located in the town of Srirangam, just 12 km from
Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) in Tamil Nadu. The temple is situated on an island
formed by the Twin Rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. The temple is dedicated to Lord
Ranganatha, a form of God Maha Vishnu. Lord Ranganatha is also known as Ranganathaswamy,
Ranganathar, Sri Ranga, Rangan, Aranganathar, and Thenarangathan.
The temple is renowned for its Dravidian
style of architecture and is one of the largest functioning temples in the
world. It covers an area of about 156 acres, making it the largest temple in
India. The temple complex is adorned with a series of impressive Gopurams
(towers), which are monumental entrance towers. The Rajagopuram, the main
entrance tower, is one of the tallest in Asia and is a major landmark. The
temple has 7 Prakarams, a total of 21 Gopurams, each with intricate sculptures
and carvings depicting various stories from Hindu mythology, 39 Mandapams and
over 50 Shrines, including the main temple of Sri Ranganathaswamy and an
equally grand temple with a golden Vimana (tower), of Goddess Ranganayaki, a
form of Goddess Lakshmi Devi, consort of Lord Ranganatha.
The main shrine for Ranganatha is in the
innermost courtyard. The sanctum has a golden Vimanam (crown tower over the
sanctum sanctorum) which is plated with gold. Inside the sanctum sanctorum is a
20-foot edifice of Ranganathaswamy reclining on Adishesha - the coiled serpent,
as Maha Vishnu. Lord Vishnu's head rests on a small cylindrical pillow and his
right palm which faces upwards rests next to his head. A pendant containing
Lakshmi Devi’s image is placed on Ranganatha's chest. Ranganatha's crown, hands
and feet are plated with gold.
I and my wife recently visited Sri
Ranganathaswamy Temple on 30th September 2023. This is our first visit to the
temple together, and we are happy that we had a very comfortable and satisfactory
Darshan at all temples in the complex, though there was a heavy rush of
pilgrims, this was possible because we engaged the services of a temple guide.
Earlier, over the years I visited the temple a few times when I went to
Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) on official work, for commissioning and servicing of CNC
Machining Centres which my Company supplied to Ordnance Factory Trichy. And my
wife visited the temple before our marriage a few times as her mother is from Trichy
and her father was there for a few years and continued to have business
relations with the town for several decades even after returning to Hyderabad.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is the most
illustrious Vaishnava temple in South India, rich in legend and history. Beyond
the ancient textual history, the archaeological evidence such as stone inscriptions
found refers to this temple, from late 100
According to legend, after Lord Rama and Sita
Devi returned to Ayodhya, Lord Rama was coronated King and he gave valuable
gifts to Sugriva, Jambava, Hanuman, and the Vanaras who helped him in the war
against Ravana and to the people of his kingdom. He also gave many gifts to
King Vibhishana, brother of Ravana, who helped him in the war; and he also gave
him his Kula Devatha Ranganatha idol as a gift. Vibhishana accepted it happily
and left for Lanka. On the way to Lanka, Vibhishana passed through
Thrishiragiri where river Cauvery was flowing and halted there to perform
Sandhyavandanam (a daily worship/ritual).
He put down the idol to perform Sandhyavandanam and when he returned he
was unable to pick it up. Then Lord Maha Vishnu appeared before him and said
that he wished the idol to remain at this place as he loved this beautiful
island place where the pious river Cauvery flows, like a garland around him. As
Ranganatha idol was supposed to go to Lanka he said he would remain here facing
towards the South, in the direction of Lanka. Vibhishana was pleased with the
proposal and asked the local king Dharmavarma, to consecrate the idol facing in
the South direction, eternally blessing him and Lanka. Hence, the deity (in a
reclining posture) faces South, his body aligned to the east-west axis, head at
the west and legs towards the east.
The temple is also mentioned in the Alvar
literature. The Alvars are considered to have lived between 4200 BCE and 2700
BCE (traditionally), and by modern academics, the lifetime of the Alvars is between
the 5th century and 9th century CE.
The temple also has a rich detailed recorded
history that dates back to the 10th century. It was expanded and renovated by
various dynasties, including the Cholas, Pandiyas, Hoysalas, and Vijayanagara
rulers. The Srirangam temple has played an important role in Vaishnavism
history starting with the 11th-century career of Ramanuja and his predecessors
Nathamuni and Yamunacharya. The temple complex as it stands today is a result
of centuries of construction and renovation.
The temple celebrates various festivals
throughout the year, with the Vaikunta Ekadashi being one of the most
significant. During this festival, it is believed that the gates of heaven are
open, and devotees believe that passing through the Vaikunta Dwaram, a special North-facing
entrance (Utthara Dwaram) will grant them salvation.
The temple has historical significance in the
context of the philosopher-saint Sri Ramanuja (1077–1157 CE), who played a
crucial role in the Bhakti movement and spent a considerable period at
Srirangam temple. Ramanujar’s shrine is located inside the Sri Ranganathaswamy
Temple where his mummified body has been brilliantly preserved for centuries.
Rather than chemicals, sandalwood paste and saffron are used to protect the
mummy. A coat of Pacha Karpuram (camphor) mixed with Kumkum (vermilion) is
applied twice a year which gives it an orange tint. This tradition has been
followed for centuries, and it helped to keep Ramanjucharya’s mummy intact.
The temple is managed by the Hindu Religious
and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The
administration follows strict rituals and practices, ensuring the smooth
conduct of daily worship and various festivals.
In essence, the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam stands as a
testament to the rich cultural and religious heritage of India, attracting
millions of devotees and tourists from around the world, not only as a place of
worship but also as a masterpiece of architectural and sculptural brilliance.
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