Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple / திருவரங்கம் அரங்கநாத சுவாமி கோயில், Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu. – A HERITAGE VISIT.

05^th November 2017.

This heritage visit to Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai, and Sri Jambukeswarar Temple at Thiruvanaikaval was arranged by the Chozham Varalaru Thedal Kuzhu on 05^th November 2017. Since I planned to attend our Kula Deivam Sri Veeramathi Amman Temple’s Kumbabishekam near Erode on 03^rd November 2017, I decided to attend this heritage walk.  Visited this temple more than 50 years ago. This Heritage visit allowed me to visit this temple and have the darshan of Sri Ranganathaswamy once again. I extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Udhaya Shankar, Andavar Kani, Abirami, R K Lakshmi,  Mr Raman Sthapathy, who explaining the salient features of this temple and Mr. Selvaraj Nayakkavadiyar for arranging this heritage walk.

On the moolavar sanctum, there is a gold-plated 4-kalasa vimana with reliefs of Paravasuthevar, Achuthar, Ananthar, and Venugopalar. The present golden plate covering for the moolavar vimana was done in the 17^th century by Thanjavur Achuthappa Nayakar

Para Vasudeva ( Sukha nasi )- installed as per Pancharathra Parameswara Samhitha

शुकनासामुखे देवः पूजनीयः परः पुमान्।

भगवान् जगदाधारो जगदीशः सनातनः ।।

वासुदेवः परं ब्रह्न जगत्कारणमच्युतः।

PC: Sankara narayan G

This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam Vishnu temples, and 12 Alwars have sung hymns in Nalayira Divya Prabandham on Sri RanganathaSwamy. The place Srirangam was called Thiruvarangam and is on the banks of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu  (Tiruchirappalli).

Moolavar : Sri Aranganathar and Urchavar is Sri Namperumal.

Thayar    : Sri Ranganayaki.  

Some of the important features of this temple are...

Unlike other temples, this place, Srirangam, is inside the temple complex. Srirangam is on an island surrounded by the Kollidam and Kaveri rivers. The temple faces south with 7 praharas (corridors), 23 gopuras, and 54 Sannidhis spread over 156 acres.

The 7^th prakara is called Adayavalainthan, and the same was constructed by one of the Pandya Kings during the 12^th to 14^th century. The emblem of the Pandya is inscribed on the passage of the Rajagopuram. Sannadhis in this prakara are Vamana Vishnu, Andal Nachiyar, Thulukka Nachiyar, and Aranganathar.

The 6^th prakara is called Kaliyuga Raman thiruveedhi, which has 4 gopuras. It is believed that these gopuras were constructed by the Pandiyas and the Hoysalas. The Temple chariots are kept in this praharam.

The 5^th prahara, called Uttara veedhi, has the residences. Beyond this, devotees are advised not to wear chapels as they are considered holy places.

It is believed that the 4^th corridor was constructed by Thirumangai Alwar during the 7^th century. This prakara is called Akalangal Thiru Veedhi, otherwise known as Ranga Vasal or Nanmugan Gopuram.  Non-Hindus are permitted till Venugopala Krishna's sannidhi. The Venugopala Krishna Sannidhi sanctum walls have beautiful statues, females, and intrinsically carved reliefs. This was believed to have been constructed during the Hoysala period.  There is a provision to climb up the temple top to watch the beauty of the temple complex with gopuras and vimanas. (We have got permission to climb on the rooftop of this temple ). There is a museum that displays the gifted articles, ivory statues, coins, and brass & bronze statues. The Shesha Rayar Mandapam, with exquisitely carved 8 pillars, has statues and reliefs of epic & Puranas, and a Thousand Pillar (953 pillars) Mandapam is also in this praharam.

  

The Venugopala Krishna  Sannidhi sanctum walls have beautiful statues. This was believed to have been constructed during the Hoysala period.

 

Nayak Kings who reconstructed the mandapams

The 3^rd prahara gopuram is called Karthigai. This prakara has the Garuda thoon, mandapam, and Garudalwar sannadhi. The Garuda mandapam was built with 212 beautifully carved pillars. The mandapam was built during the Nayak period, whose statues are on the pillars.  On the west side, there are 5  grain storage bins. This prakara also has the sannadhis of Vasudeva Vishnu, Muthalawars, and Dhanvantari. Paramapatha Vasal is on the north prakara wall, which will be opened on Vaikunta Ekadasi day. On the east side, Chandra pushkarani was built like Chandran. Around this pushkarani sannadhis for Krishna, Thondaradipodi alwar, Anantha sayana. Urchava vahanas are also kept in this praharam on the east side near Surya pushkarani.

Storage bins to store grains are not used

Sengamala Valli Thayar sannidhi Rajagopuram

The 2^nd prahara was covered with gold plates by Jadavarma Sundara Pandiyan. This prakara is called Kulasekaran thiruveethi, and we have to pass through Ariyapadaal Gopuram. The gopuram was damaged during the Muslim invasion and reconstructed during the 15^th century. The golden-plated Dwajasthambam and balipeedam are in the second praharam. Nayaka king's statues are on the pillars, who had done thirupani to this prakara.  On the south side are sannadhi for Saraswathy, Hayagreevara, and Vishnu Dhasamurthy. Durai mandapam is also in the second prakara with two vimanas.

The 1^st prahara was constructed by the Chozha King Rajamahendra Chozha (1017 CE to 1137 CE), the son of Rajendra Chozha-II, and called Rajamahendran thiruveedhi. The main sanctum is constructed in this praharam. Dwarapalakas, sanga nidhi, and Padmanidhi are at the entrance of the sanctum.  On the south and west side, mirror to see Urchavars purapadu. On the west platform, there is a box containing statues of Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Nayak (1706 to 1732 CE), his wife, his son, and his daughter-in-law, all made of ivory.  On the southwest corner, Swamy’s jewelry is kept. On the northwest corner are the yaga sala, Thondaiman mandapam, and Kili (parrot) mandapam, with a parrot cage to remind us that this temple was identified by the parrot.  The sanctum was constructed in an oval shape. Moolavar is in a reclining posture on Adhiseshan. The moolavar is about 6.4 meters (21 feet) long and made of stucco.  Moolavar is applied with punuku and oil.  Ranganathar’s feet are kept on a lotus. Urchavar Azhagiya Manavalar is in front of moolavar. In addition to this, there is a gold utsava murti, which will be taken out for thiruveethi ula during important occasions. It was learned that Moolavar was taken to Tirupati during the Muslim invasion. On the moolavar sanctum, there is a gold-plated 4-kalasa vimana with reliefs of Paravasuthevar, Achuthar, Ananthar, and Venugopalar.

The entrance arch to the main sanctum

HISTORY, INSCRIPTIONS, AND LEGENDS

As per the legend, the temple was constructed by Chozha King Killivalavan, whose ancestor is Dharmavarma Chozhan. But there is no proof for this; instead, we get the Chozha inscriptions starting from the 10^th century only. But as per the Tamil literature, the temple existed even before the 10^th century. There are about 400 inscriptions available in this temple, and the oldest is from the 10^th century (907 CE) during Parantaka Chozha-I’s 17th-year rule. The inscriptions speak about the construction of a new sannadhi and the donations made for regular poojas and functions. Jadavarma Sundara Pandiyan I’s (1251–1268 CE) inscription speaks about the construction and covering with a gold plate of Thiruvaranganathar Sannadhi, Vishwaksena Sannadhi, Maha Vishnu sannadhi, Vishnu Narasimhar Sannidhi,  Three vimanas, and madapalli.

The temple has a mixture of Chozhas, Pandyas, Vijayanagara, and Hoysalas period architecture. The temple was subjected to extensive damage during the Muslim invasion, especially during the 13^th century Malik Kafur, and was rebuilt to the present state by the Vijayanagara Kings during the 15^th and 16^th centuries. The present golden plate covering for the moolavar vimana was done in the 17^th century by Thanjavur Achuthappa Nayakar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from  06.00 hrs and 21.00 hrs; during pooja time, darshan will not be allowed.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Temple website: www.srirangam.tnhrce.org  and e-mail address is srirangam@tnhrce.in

HOW TO REACH:

Town buses are available from Tiruchirappalli Railway Station, Central Bus Stand, and Chatram Bus Stand.

Bus, Train, and flight facilities are available from various parts of Chennai and the state capitals of India.

The nearest Railway Station is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

View of Garuda thoon with 2^nd prahara Rajagopuram

The Venugopala Krishnan  Sannidhi

The Venugopala Krishnan  Sannadhi

Vishwaksena sannadhi

Nayaka Kings who reconstructed these mandapams 

Reliefs on one of the 8 pillars of Shesha Rayar Mandapam (A war scene) 

Reliefs on one of the 8 pillars of Shesha Rayar Mandapam

Reliefs on one of the 8 pillars of Shesha Rayar Mandapam, see the sitting posture.

Pulikuthi relief on the left 

Reliefs on one of the 8 pillars of Shesha Rayar Mandapam - Asuras and Devas churning the milk ocean

Reliefs on one of the 8 pillars of Shesha Rayar Mandapam  
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---