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Srirangam Temple, Vishnu Temple in Tiruchirappalli, Srirangam Vishnu Temple, Srirangam Temple History

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Vishnu Sites - Shri Rangam - Introduction

Introduction

Image: 
Introduction: 
   
The sacred Shri Rangam is situated in the state of Tamil Nadu, 7 km from Trichinapally. It is also called Bhu-Vaikunth (God’s land)
    
Sri Rangam is 1 of 8 self-risen regions and the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams (divine centres) mentioned in Divya Prabandham, composed by the Alwar saints.
    
Among all the temples in India, it is spread over the largest area and is the world’s biggest functioning temple.
    
It is the foremost seat of Ramanujacharya, the founder of the Shri sect who propounded the principle of Vishisht-Adwait (qualified monism) as against the Adwait (non dualist) philosophy of Shankaracharya.
    
This is the only Vaishnav site in whose praise all the Alwars (Vaishnav saints) have composed poems.
   
The Sathara Veethi flower market situated here exports different varieties of flowers to overseas countries.
 

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Mythological Beliefs

Mythological Beliefs: 
   
According to popular beliefs, the idol of Shri Rangnathji had self-risen from the ocean and was given to Lord Brahma by Lord Vishnu.
    
 Pleased with Ikshawaku, the son of Suryavanshi Manu, Lord Brahma gave Ikshawaku the idol of Shri Rangnathji along with a vimaan (God’s vehicle). He installed it in his capital, Ayodhya, as his Kul-devta (family deity).
    
In the Treta-yug, Lord Ram, at the time of his coronation in Ayodhya after the victory over Lanka, gave this divine idol to Vibhishan.
   
During the journey to Sri Lanka with the divine idol, Vibhishan halted at this island for the daily prayers and instructed a child (Vinayak) to hold it. Instead, the child placed the idol on the ground.
    
When Vibhishan attempted to lift the idol, Shri Rangnathji appeared, expressing the desire to stay there, and promised that he would always have sight of him (towards Sri Lanka).
 

Historical Facts

History: 
   
The earliest evidence of this region is available from the second and thirteenth inscription of Ashok as a Chola kingdom.
   
In the Sangam period, situated close by was the Chola capital Urayur, which has been referred to as Othera in Ptolemy’s Geography.
   
After the Cholas, this region was controlled by the Pallavas, the Pandyas, and the latter Cholas.
   
In the 10th century, Chola king Parantak-I (907-955 A.D) offered many precious gifts to Shri Rangnathswami and the temple.
   
King Rajendra-I (1014-1042 A.D.) expanded the temple by using the captives brought from Sri Lanka.
   
Out of 105 inscriptions, related to the offerings of Cholas for the temple, 65 are of Kulotunga period.
   
In the 11th century, Ramanujacharya (1017-1037 A.D.) earned repute for the temple.
   
Jatavarman Sundar Pandya (1251-1268 A.D.) got the entire temple covered with gold.
   
The region was invaded by Malik Kafur in 1311 A.D. and Mohammad bin Tughlaq in 1327 A.D.
   
In 1371 A.D., during the reign of King Bukka-I, the entire region came under the Vijaynagar Empire and many parts of the various temples were built during this period.
   
During the independence struggle, Rajgopalachari initiated the salt-satyagraha in Tamil Nadu from Trichinapally.
   
The magnificent Gopuram (tower) of the temple was built in 1987 A.D. and is the tallest in South-Asia.
 

Main Places To See

Main Places To See: 
   
Shri Rangnath Temple:
 
This temple is built amidst 7 elevated enclosures and has more than 24 Gopurams. The first 3 enclosures include residences and markets. The garbh-griha (innermost section) houses a 21 feet long idol of Vishnu reclined on a serpent called Sheshnag. The tallest gopuram is the Raja Gopuram and the largest mandap (hall) is the Sahastra mandap (953 pillars).
    
Rock Fort:
 
It is an 83-feet tall fort in Trichinapally. It is amongst the most ancient rocks in the world. The fort was built by the early Cholas.
    
Tiruvanaikkval Temple:
 
It is a Shiva temple 2 km to the east of Shri Rangam Temple. The temple is named after an elephant devoted to Shiv.
    
Mukkombu:
 
It is a beautiful picnic spot also known as Upper dam.
    
Kallanai:
 
It is a dam situated 16 km from Trichinapally built by the early Chola King Karikal (Gajvetkar) using captives from Sri Lanka as labourers. Swimming and bathing facilities are available here.
   
Erumbeeswarar Temple (Thiruverambur):
 
Situated on a 50-yard tall rock, this was the only temple that Malik Kafur could not conquer in 1311 A.D. It is also known as the Kailash of South.
 

Main Festivals

Main Festivals: 
   
Jyeshthabhishekam:
 
It is celebrated in the Aashadh (Aatri in Tamil) month (around June-July). On this occasion the Lord is worshipped and his gold ornaments cleaned. The Gods are bathed with water brought in large vessels of gold and silver.
    
Shri Jayanti:
 
Celebrated on the birthday of Lord Krishna when Shri Rangnathji is worshipped along with Nandgop, Yashoda, and Rohini.
    
Vaikunth Ekadashi:
 
It is the biggest festival celebrated in the month of December, lasting for 21 days. On this occasion a grand royal court of the Lord is held.
   
Aadi Brahmotsav:
 
It is organised in March-April.
   
Thai Rathyatra:
 
A procession of the idol is carried out in the month of January.
   
Chitra Poornima:
 
This is a festival based on the mythological incident of the Gaj-Graha (elephant-crocodile) struggle in which the Lord had saved the elephant.
   
Shri Ramnavmi:
 
Celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ram in the Chaitra (March-April) month.
   
Vasantotsavam:
 
Celebrated in the month of Vaishakh (May-June) which according to inscriptions is being celebrated since 1444 A.D.
 

Where To Stay

Where To Stay : 
   
Dharamshalas:
-
Khemraj Shrikrishnadas Dharmshala (Ganesh Temple) in Trichinapally.
-
There are many dharmshalas available on Shri Rangam island.
   
Hotels:
 
 Category  General
 Name  Shri Rangam Corporation Lodge
 Address  Main Road, Shri Rangam, Tiruchi - 6
   
 
 Category  Medium
 Name  Shri Veer Raghav
 Address  Amanuja Kudam Thiruvalluvar Street, Shri Rangam, Tiruchi - 6
 Telephone  +91 - 431 - 2437136
   
 
 Category  Medium
 Name  S. N. Tower
 Address  10, Thiruvalluvar Street, Shri Rangam, Thiruchi - 6
 Telephone  +91 - 431 - 2437600
   
 
 Category  High
 Name  Sangam Hotel
 Address  Collector Office Road, Trichinapally
 Telephone  +91 - 431 - 2414700
 Fax  +91 - 431 - 2415779
 E-mail  hotelsangam@vsnl.com
 Web Site  www.hotelsangam.com
   
 
 Category  High
 Name  Royal Southern Hotel
 Address  Race Course Road, Kajamalai, Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu - 620 023
 Telephone  +91 - 431 - 2421303, 2421304
 Fax  +91 - 431 - 2420573
 E-mail  royalsouthern@hotmail.com
 Web Site  www.royalsouthernhotel.com
 

Location/Climate

Location/Climate: 
 
Location
 
 Geographical  Location  Height  Above  Sea Level  Average Annual Rainfall
 Latitude  Longitude  70 metres  83.5 cm
 10.8° N  78.5° E
   
 
Temperature

Temperature is given in degrees Celsius.
 
 Month  Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct   Nov    Dec
 Maximum   31  33  36  38  38  37  36  35  33  31  31  29
 Minimum  20  21  23  26  26  28  27  25  25  24  22  21
    
 
Important Information
Shri Rangam is a river island in the midst of the Kaveri River and its tributary Kollidam.
Although pilgrims visit here throughout the year but the ideal time for touring is between October and April.
 

General Information

General Information: 
 
 STD Code
 0431
 Puja Timings
 6.15 a.m. - 12.00 p.m., 1.00-8.00 p.m.
 Police Assistance
  Tel: +91 - 431 - 2741636
 Ambulance  101
 Hospital
 
 Hospital Shri Rangam Government Hospital,
 Tel: +91 - 0431 - 2432227
 Currency  Exchange
  State Bank of India,
 Tel: +91 - 431 - 2401480, 2401490
 Dena Bank, Tel: +91 - 0431 - 2714204, 2704848
 ATM Centre  SBI, Post Box No. 21 Macdonalds Road, Trichinapally,  Tamil Nadu - 620 001
 State Bank of Travancore, Padmabhushan Shri N.  Ramaswami Aiyyar Educational Complex, Shankaran  Pillai  Road, Post Box No. 349, Trichinapally,
 Tamil Nadu.
 Post Office
 Trichinapally Taluka, Dist. Trichinapally,
 Tel: +91 - 431 - 2415617
 Tourist Office
  Shriranga Living Art, 36, Tiruwadi Street,
 Opp. Police Quarters,
 Shri Rangam-620006.
 Tel: +91 - 0431 - 2435969
   
 
Food
Banana Leaf-Madras Trunk Road
Vincent Garden Restaurant-Dindigul Road
Vasant Bhavan-Rockins Road
 

Travel Planner

Address (Click on "A" to locate): 
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PDF File: 
application/pdf iconsrirangam.pdf
Airports in the vicinity: 
- Chennai
-Tiruchirapalli
- Pondicherri
Railway: 
 Main Railway Stations  Station Code
 Kanchipuram  CJ
 Shrirangam  SRGM
 Kumbhakonam  KMU
 Tanjore  TJ
Road Distance from Destinations: 
 Kanchipuram  Chennai  70 km
 Tiruchirapalli  265 km
 Shrirangam  Chennai  310 km
 Tiruchirapalli  10 km
 Thingloor  Kumbhakonam 32 km
 Tanjore 13 km
 Alankudi  Kumbhakonam 103 km
 Tanjavore  50 km
 Tirunageshwar  Kumbhakonam 7 km
 Tanjavore 60 km
 Tiruvenkadu  Kumbhakonam 63 km
 Tanjore 72 km
 Thanjavur  Chennai  321 km
 Tiruchirapalli 55 km
 Keezhaperumpallam  Kumbhakonam 68 km
 Tanjavore 76 km
 Kanjanur  Kumbhakonam 18 km
 Tanjavore 64 km
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  • Srirangam, Thiruchirapalli, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
  • 10.863821°, 78.690004°

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