Sri Ranganatha Temple, Srirangam

Location of the temple

State: Tamil NaduDistrict: TiruchirapalliPrimary Deity: Lord Vishnu (Ranganthar)Consort: MahaLakshmi (Ranganayaki)Important festivals: Vaikunda Ekadesi, Janmashtami (Butter-Pot Breaking ceremony)

• Biggest temple in India and Second Biggest Temple in the world• Temple has an area of 156 acres.•It is enclosed by 7 concentric walls called Prakarams (outer courtyard)•Total length of temple is over 6 miles.

Temple History•Built by Cholas around 9th century•Later Patronized by Hoysalas of Karnataka•Then by Pandya kings of Madurai and the Nayaks.•Temple was also attacked by various Moghul, French , Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan. The emperors ransacked the temple and looted the riches of the temple.

Malik Kafur and his forces stole the deity in 1310/1311 and took it to Delhi. To bring back the deity , devotees of Srirangam ventured to Delhi and enthralled the emperor with their histrionics. Moved by their talent, the emperor was pleased to gift them the presiding deity of Srirangam, which was requested by the performers. Surathani, his daughter, fell in love with Sri Ranganatha and followed him to Srirangam. She prostrated to God in front of the sanctum sanctorum and is believed to have attained the heavenly abode immediately. Even today, a painting of "Surathani” can be seen in the Arjuna Mandap adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum for whom, chappathis are made daily.

• Total of 21 Gopurams, largest in the first wall is 13- tiered and about 73 m tall.• 39 Pavillions• 50 sanctums to various Gods.• 1000 Pillard Hall (actually has 953 pillars) all carved with horses.• Several Water Bodies inside •The physical body of Sri Ramanujacharya is preserved inside the temple, in a shrine dedicated to him

Pictures of 1000 pillared Hall

Inside the hall contains a large seated figure of Garuda; the eagle headed Vehicle , facing the sanctum.

The Orlov Diamond

The Orlov Diamond

• The Orlov diamond is 189.62 carats (~ 38 g)• This diamond served as the deities eyes, that

looks like half an egg.• Legends say that a French soldier disguised as a

Hindu convert and stole it in 1747 . • It is now part of the Diamond collection of

Moscow Kremlin.

Festivals Celebrated

• Has festivals 250 days a year .• The annual gold ornament cleaning festival

called Jyestabisheka• Gajendra Moksha festival in the month of

Chaitra• Temple Car Festival, when the deity is taken

around in the Chariot

Composers

Several poems and works have been written about the Lord of this temple.

Some of the famous composers are :• Vaishnava Acharya Sri Ramanajucharya • Eleven of the Alwars• The temple is a center for the Vishishtadvaita

school

Ramayana by Kambar

• Kambar , 12th century Tamil poet composed Kamba Ramayanam, a work inspired from the epic, Valmiki Ramayana. To get the approval of his work from scholars he came over to this temple and recited his verse in the open Hall close to the Ranganayaki shrine . A Jain scholar named Tirunarungundam honored the work and it resulted in Tamil and Sanskrit scholars approving the work.