Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam


As one of the most illustrious Vaishnava Temples of South India, Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam is rich in legend and history. Celebrated in the devotional hymns of the Alwars and famous for its role in the early history of Srivaishnavism, the Srirangam temple has been the object of both devotion and conflict. Its location, on an Island in the Kaveri river, has rendered it vulnerable to natural disasters, as well as to the rampages of invading armies - Hindu, Muslim and European - which repeatedly commandeered the site for military encampments. 


This temple went through a crisis when the Tamizh country's transition from the classical era of the Pallava, Pandya and Chola kingdoms to the era of Islamic confrontation, a transition which was marked initially by the Muslim incursions of the early fourteenth century  and followed thereafter by the consolidation of the great Hindu empire of Vijayanagar. 



For further details of this great temple click here : Ranganathaswamy Temple



I recently had a chance to visit this wonderful temple. As a photographer first thing that impressed me in this temple is that photography is allowed! Bye a ticket of Rs 30 for camera and then you are good to go! Most of the places photography is allowed except the final pragaram!



This temple is one of the cleanest temples I have seen in Tamizh Nadu. Very well maintained with signage everywhere giving details of directions for various sannadhis. 



Also very impressive to note is that this temple is very senior citizen friendly. Electric cars are there to take old people to the main sanctum sanctorum right from the entrance.  


If you are a temple art enthusiast this is a temple you should visit. There are hundreds of sculptures in this temple with intricate details.

Finally one should not miss going to the 'view point' in this temple. From the view point we can see all Gopurams or towers in one line. The same place where they sell tickets for camera they sell the ticket to go to the view point also.

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