SRI RANGANATHASWAMY
Overview
Thiruvarangam, as The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is commonly known down south, is a haven for devotees where the Lord Vishnu graces his worshippers as Ranganatha, his reclining form on the ethereal island of Srirangam in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. Srirangam is touted as ‘Bhoologa Vaikundam’ (Heaven on Earth). The temple-town is a place of rich culture, heritage and history. As the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams, dedicated to Vishnu, it is also considered the Lord Vishnu’s primary abode on Earth. The island rests between the rivers of Cauvery and Coleedam (Kaveri & Kollidam). It was widely glorified in the Naal Aayira Dhivya Prabandam, written by the Alwars between the 6th and 9th centuries AD.
Main Deity
The Lord Vishnu, graces his worshippers as the Lord Ranganatha laying on Adhi Sesha (coiled serpent). What is unique about this particular statue is that Brahma is missing from the usual lotus arising from the Lord’s navel. It is believed that Lord Brahma worships the Lord just before sunrise each day. The Lord Vishnu is said to be Protector of the created Universe and a loving God who descends from the Heavens, as avatars, when his worshippers are in peril and dharma is losing.
The Town of Srirangam
Srirangam is a quaint town built around the temple in a concentric, rectangular fashion consisting of 7 corridors or prakarams. As a temple town, no distinction can be made between the two in any account. Of these types of temple-town settlements, Srirangam is unique in its size, culture and history. Srirangam is also considered to be one of the Nava Graha Sthalas in Tamil Nadu.Srirangam is a 600 acre island lying between the Twin Rivers of Kaveri and Kollidam. It is said that at first, the temple was just a small shrine built over the earthbound Ranganatha.
About The Temple
Historically, the temple dates back to the 1st Century CE during what is known as the Sangam period (3rd Century BCE – 45th Century CE). However, the completed structure, as it stands today, has the influences of many dynasties such as the Cholas of Uraiyoor, Cholas of Pazhaiyaarai and Thanjavur, Kongu rulers of the West, Pandyas of the South, the Hoysalas and even those of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is believed that there was active participation of the local populace in the construction of the temple complex throughout the ages.
Gopurams (Temple Towers)
There are 21 gopurams in all. The main gopuram is the highest, standing at a cool 72m, and is composed of 13 successively smaller tiers, with the base occupying an area of 5720ft2, and weighing over 24,000 tonnes. This gopuram is also known as the rajagopuram and dates back to the 17th century, though it was only completed in 1987. The rajagopuram was constructed in a span of eight years. Befitting the gargantuan dimensions of the structure, every one of the 13 glistening copper kalasams atop the tower weigh 135 kg and measure 3.12m (height) by 1.56m (diameter).
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