Srirangam SriRengnatha Swamy Temple is one of the oldest Vishnu temples in India which occupies an area of 155 acres, 81 shrines, 21 towers, 39 pavilions, (63 ha) and many water tanks integrated into the complex making it the world's largest functioning Hindu Temple.
Srirangam is the first and the main divyadesa temple of Lord Vishnu, It is located in Tiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu. Srirangam is an island that is surrounded by River Cauvery on all four sides. The name of Moolavar Perumal is Sri Renganathar and the name of the utsavar is Sri Namperumal. This Perumal temple is got poems from 11 Alwars and many Aacharayaas has lived here. It is the first Divya Desam in CholaNaadu Temples, it is also called Boolooga Vaikundham which means "A Heaven on the Earth".
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"Kaveri viraja Seyam vaikuntham rangamandiram Sa Vasudevo rangesah pratyaksham paramam padam
Vimanam pranavakaram veda srungam mahatbhutam
Srirangasayi bhagvan pranavartha prakasakah: "
Meaning: The river Kaveri is the very same Viraja River flowing in Vaikuntham and the temple in Srirangam is Vaikuntham itself, the abode of Vishnu. The lord of Srirangam is none other than Vasudeva Himself. The Vimanam is in the form of Pranava—the life-sustaining mantra. The towers are like the Vedas and the Lord Ranganatha is enunciating the import of the Pranavam.
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Srirangam temple is also known as Periya Kovil because the kovil is so big, the Perumal is Periya Perumal, the Thayar is Periyapiraatiyaar, the food offered to Perumal is Periya Avasaram, the bell rang in the temple is Periya mani and the main festival celebrated in the temple is known as Periya Thirunaal. Devotees from all over India comes to Srirangam Sri Renganatha Samy Temple.
The name of the Moolavar idol is Sri Renganatha Perumal and The Utsavar idol name is Sri Namperumal, Lakshmi idol name is Sri Renganaachiyar, In Srirangam, The Renganaatha Swamy faced towards the south direction which is rarest in the world! Moolavar Renganatha Swamy sleeping in an amazing style, Lord Renganatha kept his head on the west, lotus legs towards the east, showing his back towards the south direction which looks very beautiful Vishnu idol.
kuda thisai mudiyai vaiththuk * guna thisai padham nitti *
vada thisai pinbu kattith * then thisai ilangkai nokki **
kadal nirak kadavul endhai * aravanaith thuyiluma kandu *
udal enakku urugumalo! * en seygen? ulagaththire!
- Thirumalai, ThondaradippodiyAzhvar
The History Of Srirangam Temple:
Once upon a time Lord Bramha asked a Vishnu Idol to worship in his Bramha Loogam, Lord Vishnu accepted his request and created a water bubble from River Viraja which is located in Vaikuntha and The Renganatha Swamy appeared with PranavaaKaara Vimaanam (shape of Om!). Bramha took this Idol to his house and worshipped it for many years.
In the period of Krutha Yugam, King Ichvaagu (King of Ayodhaya) went to Bramha Loogam and met Lord Bramha and noticed Lord Renganatha Swamy and requested Bramha to give to him to take to the earth Brahma allowed him to take Lord with King Ichvaagu and he builds a Temple near River Sarayu and they worshipped for many long years till the period of Lord Rama he also worshipped Lord Renganatha Swamy after Rama killed Ravana in the war and returned to Ayodhaya he gifted Lord Renganatha to Vibhishana and said him to carry to Sri Lanka.
Vibhishana took Lord Renganatha on his head and moving towards Sri Lanka in the airway, as soon as evening comes Vibhishana decided to do Sandhyavadhanam and it was a time for the Panguni Bramhotsavam festival and searched a nice place, and found Srirangam which is surrounded by River Kaveri, green fields, gardens, beautiful birds and animals and kept the Lord Renganatha idol near the Riverbank and went to do rituals 10 days festival in Srirangam and got ready to fly towards Sri Lanka but Lord Renganatha said that He loves this place and people so he wished to stay here. King DharamaVarma requested Vibhishana to keep the Lord Renganaatha in that place itself so, they can worship this amazing lord.
Lord Renganaatha said to Vibhishana that he bless you from Srirangam to Sri Lanka by facing towards the South direction which is rare in the world!!!
Payu neer arangam thannulum* pamba naip palli konda *
mayanar thiru nan marvum* maradhaga uruvum tholum *
thuya thamaraik kangalum*thuvaridhazhp pavala vayum*
ayasIr mudiyum thesum* adiyarorkku agalalame**
- Thirumalai, ThondaradippodiyAzhvar
One of the famous festivals in Srirangam is Vaikuntha Ekadashi which comes as the 11th day of ThiruAdhyena Utsavam, Namperumal will open the Vaikuntha Vasal comes across the doors. People believe that one who died in Srirangam will enter into Heaven. Srirangam Namperumal got poems from 11 Alwars and many Aacharyaas including Sri Ramanujar lived in Srirangam and worshipped Lord Renganaatha and surrendered his life to him.
Sri Ramanujar took over the Administration responsibility and corrected many things and allocated many persons to different Kaninkaryams (Service) and regulated these kanikarayams throughout the year without any interception or problems till no in Srirangam Ramanuja's administration system is followed by temple
Srirangam temple is surrounded by River Kaveri which is more holy than the River Ganges because River Kaveri will flow by touching Lord Renganaatha's feet and in happiness, Kaveri will start to flow fastly, There is a belief that taking bath in River Kaveri in the month Ippasi (Oct - Nov) is equal to take bath in the all-holy rivers in the world!!! Srirangam Temple is surrounded by 13 Pushkarani (Ponds) one of the main Pushkarani is Chnadira Pushkarani which is located inside the Temple, The Temple has 21 Towers, 81 shrines,39 pavilions etc...
Sri Namperumal is famous for his style of Walks on the occasion of purappadu, he will walk like Simha (Lion), Kaja (Elephant), Vyaghra (Tiger), Vrishabhrashi (Bull), Sarpa (Snake).
Srirangam Temple has faced many wars one of the biggest wars is in the Mughal Empire period, Sri Namperumal had gone out of Srirangam for 48 Years in the period of 1323 B.C - 13371 B.C because of brutal kings who destroys the temple for treasure and Namperumal wandered around Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra and Perumal also stayed in Renga Mandapam of Tirumala Tirupathi.
Ullasa-Pallavita-Paalita-Saptalokeenirvaha-korakita-nema-katasha-leelam |
Sriranga-harmyatala-MangaLa-DIpa-Rekham
Srirangaraja-Mahishim SriyamAsrayAma: ||
Sri Renganaathaya Namha:
Sri Renganayakiye Namha:
Sri Mathe Ramanujaya Namaha:
Jai Sriman Narayana: