Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Latest News

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently restrained registration authorities from registering documents relating to lands covered by an 1887 deed dedicating properties to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam.

About Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

• It is a prominent Hindu temple situated at Srirangam near Trichy in Tamil Nadu.
• This temple lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and Coleroon.
• It is the biggest functioning Hindu temple in India and is often found ranked amongst the largest religious complexes of the world.
• Built across an area of 156 acres, this temple is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Lord Vishnu. 
• It is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines of Lord Vishnu.
• Though the temple has existed since the 2nd century BC, the archaeological inscriptions are available only from the 10th century CE.
• This temple underwent many changes during the rule of the Cholas, Cheras, Pandiyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar kings, and Nayaks of Madurai.
• In addition, influential Vaishnava leaders like Yamunacarya, Ramanujacarya, and Sudarsanacarya played pivotal roles in shaping the temple’s worship and its enduring legacy. 

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Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Architecture

• The entire temple complex is a perfect example of Dravidian architecture. 
• The temple is enclosed by seven concentric walls known as “ Prakaram”, symbolizing the seven planetary systems in Vedic cosmology. 
• Within these walls, there are twenty-one towering entrances, known as gopurams, each adorned with intricate sculptures and designs. 
• The primary entrance tower, named the “Rajagopuram,” soars to a remarkable height of 236 feet, making it the largest in Asia. 
• The vimana over the sanctum of the temple is made up of gold.
• There is also a royal temple tower, which covers a base area of 32,500 sq. ft. and has a height of 196 ft. 
• It also comprises a hall containing 1000 pillars. Intricate sculptures are the most attractive part of the hall. The Hall was built during the Vijayanagara period (1336-1565).
• Inside the temple, one can find inscriptions from the Chola dynasty, accompanied by tales of the Pandya, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara empires that once flourished alongside the Tiruchirappalli rule. 
• A substantial part of Srirangam town resides within the periphery defined by the three outer walls of the temple complex. 

News: DT