Abode of SriRanganatha

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Renganathar Temple,Srirangam

 

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Description

This is the foremost of the 108 shrines glorified by

the Alwars; all of the Alwars with the exception of

Madhurakavi Alwar have sung of its glory. It is the

one of the greatest centers of the Sri Vaishnava

religion and among the most visited pilgrimage centers

in India.

 

Undoubtedly the largest temple in India, and one among

the grandest, it is a treasure house of art freezing

various architectural styles over a period of time. It

boasts of the tallest temple tower in India. Referred

to as heaven on earth it is an ancient center of

worship - vibrant with tradition and festivals. The

Pancharanga Kshetrams along the course of the Kaveri

are Srirangapatnam (Karnataka), Srirangam, Koyiladi

(Anbil) and Kumbhakonam and Indalur (Mayiladuturai).

 

 

 

Srirangam is very closely associated with

Ramanujacharya, the beacon of the Sri Vaishnava

tradition of Hinduism. Tiruvanaikka or Jambukeswaram,

one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams (associated with the

primary element water) of Shiva, is located in the

vicinity. Srirangam is located near Tiruchirappalli in

Tamilnadu.

 

 

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Deities

Ranganathar is enshrined in a reclining posture

(facing the South); while Namperumaal the festival

deity in a standing posture is also housed in the main

sanctum. There is a shrine in the fourth prakaram,

housing Ranganayaki Taayaar.

 

 

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Traditions Araiyar Sevai, one of the ancient

devotional art traditions of Tamilnadu, involving the

expressive recitation of the Divya Prabandams, using

movement, music originated here under the auspices of

Nadamuni (10th century CE). Araiyar sevai is performed

also at Srivilliputtur, Alwar Tirunagari and Melkote

(Karnataka). The famous tamil literary work Kamba

Ramayanam premiered here at Srirangam.

 

 

 

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The Temple This temple enshrines Ranganathar in the

central sanctum, crowned with a gold plated Pranava

Vimanam or Paravasudeva Vimanam. A total of 7

concentric prakarams surround this shrine, housing

several mandapams, tanks and shrines. The area

enclosed by the outermost wall is over a hundred ares.

Gopurams on the south and east of the 4th prakaram are

the most impressive. A total of 21 towers adorn the

temple.

 

 

 

The Srirangam temple tradition is an ancient one. The

Silappadikaaram of the Sangam period refers to

Srirangam. All of the Alwars (with the exception of

Madhurakavi) have sung in praise of Srirangam. The

first (surviving ) stone inscription dates back to the

period of Parantaka Chola (924 CE).

 

 

 

The pillars here go back to the Chola period (13th

century CE). The 1000 pillared hall is also the

product of the late chola period, and is also in the

4th prakaram; its entrance is in the south. It is here

where the adhyayanotsavam (involving the recitation of

the Tamil Prabandam hymns) is held. At the southern

edge of the huge open courtyard, the Vijayanagara

rulers added the hall with 8 pillars with huge horses.

The Krishna Venugopala shrine on the southern side is

also of great beauty. The Garuda mandapam s located

in the third prakaram.. Its pillars go back to the

Nayaks of 17th century Madurai. The Chandra and Surya

Pushkarini tanks are located in the 3rd prakaram.

 

 

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Legends Legend has it that the image of Ranganatha

worshipped here, was originally worshipped by the clan

of the Ishwakus, and it passed on to Rama. Rama upon

his victorious return from Lanka, handed over this

image to Vibhishana, who proceded to Lanka with the

image. Circumstances caused him to place this image on

the banks of the Kaveri, where Srirangam now is. (see

Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koyil ) A disappointed Vibhishana

returned to SriLanka with the consolation that the

image of Ranganatha at SriRangam would face South - in

the direction of Lanka. A Chola monarch by name

Dharmavaraman is said to have created a temple here.

 

 

 

 

Legend also has it that the original temple was

flooded by the Kaveri and was rediscovered by a later

Chola emperor.

 

 

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History Temple life at Srirangam evolved after

Nadamuni (923 - 1023 CE) compiled the hymns of the

Alwars and gave them a musical form. During Ramanuja’s

time (12th century CE), Srirangam was a well

established institution. The Pandya rulers, from the

13th century onwards gave the temple, immeasurable

support; the gold plating of the vimanam being first

of their endowments. The Hoysala kings, who set up a

military base outside Srirangam also made

contributions. The temple was desecrated by the Delhi

armies in 1313, and was closed for 60 years. From the

end of the 14th century, the temple came back to life,

and much of what is seen today is a result of the

rebuilding activity which heppened during the time of

the Vijayanagar rulers.

 

 

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Festivals An elaborate protocol of worship services is

offered here throughout the day. On about 120 days,

the Utsavamurthy is taken out in procession out of the

inner sanctum. Aadi bhrammotsavam is celebrated in

Panguni. The grand Adhyayanotsavam is celebrated in

the month of Margazhi, involving the recitation of the

Prabandham hymns or Alwar Pasurams in the thousand

pillared hall.

 

Also in Srirangam is the Dasavataram temple, the only

one of its kind, enshrining the ten incarnations of

Vishnu along with Lakshmi Narasimhar and Vishwaksenar.

This temple was built by Tirumangaialwar and is now

under the administration of the Ahobila Mutt.. The

Tirumangaimannan festival is celebrated here.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Sir,

 

The information on Srirangam was useful. I have following doubts..

 

1. At Srirangam, Garuda is not in his usual veeraasanam or in standing posture.

Garuda is in a complete sitting posture. Is there a reason behind this?

 

2. At Srirangam, sangam and chakram of dwara balakas are again different.

dwarabalaka to the right of perumal is holding sangam(usually it is chakram) and

dwarabalaka to the left of perumal is holding chakram. Is there any reason for

this too?

 

3. And i heard that there is no coconut used during archanai..Why?

 

Forgive me if my questions are idiotic.

 

Thanks,

 

Srinath.

 

RAM KRISHNAN <sr_krsna wrote:

Renganathar Temple,Srirangam