Sri Ranganath Swami Temple, Srirangam

Introduction

Srirangam is a small island formed in the flowing waters of Kaveri river in the state of Tamilnadu. Sibling city sprawled on the southern bank is Tiruchirapalli or Trichanapalli. 

Srirangam is blessed to have the largest functioning Hindu temple in whole world, dedicated to Shri Vishnu Bhagvan. The temple is  masterpiece in terms of grandeur, beauty and devotion.
The temple complex is spread over 156 acres with 81 temples , 21 Gopur Dwar, 39 Mandap halls , many water tanks and outstandingly carved pillars and sculptures. The Rajgopur stands tall at 240 Feet, the highest in Asia. 
The temple is a city in itself with Seven concentric enclosures. The outer 2 enclosures have houses and shops where as inner 5 enclosures cover the temple premise. 
The temple is abode of Shri Rangnathswami , a name for Shri Vishnu. The idol is that of Sheshshayani that is Vishnu reclining on Anant, the serpent with his consorts standing beside, and the serpent’s hood protecting the head of deity. 

History

The sacred location finds mention in Sangam literature and later Puran literature (Garud Puranam). 
The temple was constructed , reconstructed , enhanced by series of rulers and Kings over period of 12-15 centuries before present. The temple inscriptions provide the information about contributions from Early Chola (1st Century CE) ruling from Uraiyoor , later Cholas (13th Century CE), the Kongu rulers from Tamil west, the Pandyas from south (6th – 10th Centuries CE and 13th – 14th Centuries CE), the Hoysalas (10th – 14th Centuries CE), and Kings of Vijayanagara Empire of Karnataka (16th Century CE) and later by Madurai Nayak rulers in construction and maintenance of this grand temple.
This temple was attacked by Khilji’s forces under Malik Kafur (1311 VE) and later by Ulugh Khan (1323 CE). Attack resulted in massive massacre of devotees gathered in the premise to the tune of 13000. 

Architecture

Typical Dravidian style temple enclosed by seven concentric walls symbolizing the seven layers of matter that envelope the soul. This complex and large temple encompassing the entire Srirangam town make it a unique example of a temple town. It's a human creative genius!
Aligned to main cardinal directions and surrounded by Kaveri river, Srirangam temple town has 21 Gopurams ie entrances. Two outer Prakaras are full of residential and market places. Five inner courtyards have temples of various incarnations of Vishnu and other gods and goddesses. The architecture is designed according to the Agama texts in Tamil tradition. Architectural features like gopuras, mandapas and pillars are arranged along the axis dictated by the cardinal directions.
Garbhgriha is circular in shape surmounted by gold plated Shrirang Vimana. The main deity Shrirangatha Perumal reclines on Adishesha facing towards South. Icons of Vibhishan, Brahma, Hanuman are seen inside the garbhgriha. Idols of Vishnu’s mount Garuda, Sudarshan - his discuss and his conch - Panchajanya are also placed in the sanctum. This is the Sandhara temple as the Pradakshinapath passes around the sanctum is covered. The image of Chakrathalwar is sculpted with Narasimha on the rear side and can be viewed from the Pradakshinapath. Garbhgriha is followed by Antarala and Mahamandapa.
The outer portion of the vimana and attached Mahamandapa have finely worked pilasters with fluted shafts, double capitals and pendant lotus brackets. Sculptures are placed in the niches of three sides of the sanctuary walls and maidens embellish the walls in between. The elevation is punctuated with secondary set of pilasters that support shallow eaves, at different levels, to cap larger and smaller recesses. The garbhagraha is crowned in the traditional fashion, with a hemispherical roof. The double-curved eaves of the entrance porch on the east side, are concealed in a later columned hall. The Temple in the present form and structure, belongs to the reign of king  Kulottunga Chola.
There is a separate shrine dedicated to Ranganayaki Amman in the second precinct of the Temple. The common reference to the goddess is lady who did not cross the boundaries of ethics. Literally, the festival deity of Ranganayaki also never comes out of the Shrine and it is Rangantha who visits Ranganayaki. There are three images of Ranganayaki, within the garbhagraha.

Shrines of Srirangam Temple

Chakrathalhwar Shrine	East, facing on the south side of Akalanka precinct
Venugopala Shrine	South-west corner of the Fourth Prakara of the Temple Built during the rule of Chokkanatha Nayak.
Narashima, Rama, Haygriva and Golapa Krishna	In the temple premise
Dhanvantari the god of medicine	In the temple premise

 

Mandapas

Thousand Pillared Mandapa	There are many mandapas in Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. One of the finest is Thousand Pillared Mandapa  which is planned like a theatre i.e. Ranga mandapa. This 1000 Pillared Hall is made of granite and constructed in the Vijayanagar period (1336–1565). The pillars are of different shapes like cylindrical shape pillars decorated with lotus motif  belong to the Vijayanagara Period. The pillars consist of sculptures of wildly rearing horses bearing riders on their backs and trampling with their hoofs. The heads of rampant tigers seem  natural and congruous among such weird surroundings. The great hall is traversed by one wide aisle in the centre for the whole of its great length and intersected by transepts of like dimension running across at right angles. There are seven side aisles on each side. All the pillars are equally spaced out. It is a  kind of ‘Darbar Hall’ of the Deity during the annual Vaikunda Ekadasi Festival, which takes place in December or January. Some pillars of the Thousand Pillared Mandapa contain Tamil inscriptions.
Sesharayar or Seshagiri Mandapam (Horse Court)	A smaller hall in front of the thousand pillar mandapa is called “Seshagiri Mandapa”. It  is decorated with beautiful sculptures. The “horse–court”  belongs to the Late Vijayanagara period representing the culmination of this extravagant style in the Sixteenth Century. It is a case of prefect specimen of the rearing horse motif. The steeds nearly nine feet high, are ferocious beasts, rearing aggressively and beneath their raised hoofs is a composite statutory of soldiers holding swords and extended shields. The technique of chiseling has resulted in the remarkable metalic finish on the pillars of the horse-court. The Hall is celebrated for the 40 leaping animals, carved on to the piers at its northern end. The Sesharaya  mandapa consists of monolithic pillars, with sculptures of wild horses, bearing riders on their backs trampling with their hoofs, heads of rampant tigers.
Garuda Mandapa	The Hall of the legendary bird and vehicle of Vishnu, Garuda is located on the south side of the third Prakara, is another addition of the  Vijayanagara kings. Courtly portrait sculptures are  reused from an earlier structure. They are fixed to the piers lining the central aisle. A free-standing shrine inside the hall contains a large seated figure of garuda facing the garbhagriha.
Kili Mandapa (Hall of Parrot)	The Kili mandapa is located, next to the Ranganatha Shrine, in the First Prakara of the Temple. Elephant balustrades skirt the access steps that ascend to a spacious open area. This is bounded by decorated piers with rearing animals and attached colonists, in the finest 17th century manner. Four columns in the middle define a raised dais and their shafts are embellished with undulating stalks.
The Ranga Vilasa Mandapam	The Ranga Vilasa mandapam is  huge in size and decorated with the sculptures of Ramayana and exquisite murals.
Namperumal Thirumani Mandapam	This is the special miniature mandapa, located in the majestic hall (thousand pillared mandapa) carved with chariots drawn by riding horse on either side. The Hall is supported by many pillars of different styles.

Temple Tanks

This Temple Complex has two large temple tanks named Chandra Pushkarini and Surya Pushkarini. The Complex has been built in such a way that all the rain water collected, flows into the tanks. The capacity of each Pushkarini is around two million litres and the water is cleaned by the action of fishes floating in it. Apart from these main tanks there are 10 more temple tanks around Srirangaml that come under the control and management of the Temple. Open sand beds and Nandavanams i.e. flower Gardens help in absorbing the rain water.

Art

The walls of the Temple Complex are painted with exquisite mural paintings, using herbal and vegetable dyes. They speak volumes about the culture and tradition followed in those times. The figures of gods and goddesses tell us stories and teach us morals. The high end technologies used in these paintings  ensured a long life for these paintings and they pose a tough challenge to reproduce them in these modern days.

Literature

The concept of Divyadesham is particularly relevant in the Vaishnava sect. The number of these Divyadeshams is considered to be 108. The temple of Sri Ranganatha is also considered to be a Divyadesham. 

Various rules have been prescribed for the worship of the idol of Vishnu in Divyadesham temples. These include the rituals of Vishnu worship, methods for it, and the mantras. The compositions praising the deity and singing its glory have been created by 12 Alwar saints. These compositions, overflowing with devotion, are known as Divya Prabandham. These compositions are also sung in Divyadesham temples.
The original purpose of these compositions is to sing Krishnacharitra- Devine life of Lord Krisha. These compositions are composed in Tamil originally and their Translations are available.This journey of poetic compositions, which began with the birth of Krishna, never tires of praising him. Be it the first bath of Balkrishna, or his ear piercing ritual. Alwar saints requested Balkrishna, whose body  got dirty by rolling in the mud, to come for a bath. Since he does not come easily, they also show him the lure of curd and sugar! We meet Krishna playing with the Gopi here too. But the greatness of Alwar saints is such that if you want to become one with this supreme being, what should a devotee do? They do not forget to guide you on this as well.

Along with these compositions, various poems in praise of Vishnu are also composed by local saints and scholars. Parasharbhatta of Srirangam has composed the Bhavadgunadarpan based on the Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, which is particularly famous in this region.

Rituals and Festivals 

The Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival, which lasts for 21 days, is a special festival of Sri Namperumal and Sri Ranganatha in Srirangam. On the last day of the festival, a grand procession is organized in the temple premises. In the atmosphere filled with the chants of Ranga Ranga Govinda Govinda and the recitation of Vedic mantras, this procession gradually becomes colorful in devotion to Ranganatha.
Along with this, Adi Brahmotsav (July-August) Chrachaitriya Rathotsav (March-April) .are important  festivals attracting thousands of devotees and tourists, are also celebrated:
Jyeshtabhishekam is a form of worship to illuminate the golden ornaments of the deity. During this time, water from the Kaveri river is brought in golden urns and is anointed with it. The deities are anointed with perfumes and incense. The deity is adorned with jewels of pearls, diamonds and gemstones. Experiencing Lord Ranganatha, adorned with the devotion of the devotees, is an unprecedented ceremony.

Legends  and Anecdotes

·         Saint Ramanuja lived in the temple

·         Rajgopur now standing tall at 240 ft is 13 storied marvellous example of Gopur architecture. It was left unfinished for a long time, finally was completed in 1987

·         Vellai Gopuram is tall and impressive at 146 Feet. It is always painted in white in remembrance of Vellai, a dancer who sacrificed her life while diverting the invading Islamic troops of Malik Kafoor and provided some time for Vaishnav to move the Deity outside the campus.

·         The diamond in the Rangnathswami’s eye was snatched by a French conman in 18’the century and taken with him. It is now known as Orlov diamond and has found its place in Russian Char’s crown jewels

Epilogue

Ending this Mandir Gatha for Sri Rangnath swami by  Ranganatha Ashtakam  written by Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada, in the sacred temple of Srirangam.