Srirangam

This article is about religious place in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. For Hindu temple situated here, see Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam).

Srirangam Srirangam
Trichy City Limit
Population  (2001)
• Total	181,556

Srirangam (Template:Lang-ta), actual Tamil name is Thiruvarangam (Template:Lang-ta), is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli (also known as Trichy or Tiruchi), in South India.

Srirangam is bounded by the Kaveri River (also known as Cauvery river) on one side, and the Kaveri distributary Kollidam (Coleroon) on the other side. Srirangam is home to a significant population of Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu, one of the triumvirate of Hindu Gods the other two being Lord Siva, the Destroyer and Lord Brahma, the Creator).

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

The main gopura of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam

White Gopuram at Srirangam Temple

Pillars of Srirangam Temple

File:Plan of Srirangam temple town.jpg

The seven walled enclosures of Srirangam

Srirangam is famous for its Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus (especially Vaishnavites) and one of the largest temple complexes in India.

According to the temple's website, Srirangam can be considered the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world as it covers an area of about 6,31,000 m². (156 Acres) with a perimeter of 4 km (10,710 ft). Srirangam claims to be the biggest functioning temple, because Angkor Wat is the biggest but non-functioning Hindu temple in the world.

The Srirangam temple complex is composed of 7 concentric walled sections and 21 gopurams. The gopuram of the temple is called the Rajagopuram and is 236 feet (72 m) tall, the tallest in Asia.

One can easily see the coast of Sri Lanka from the top of the gopuram. The temple is constituted by seven prakaras (elevated enclosures) with gopurams articulating the axial path, the highest at the outermost prakara and the lowest at the innermost. In historic times, just after the construction of this temple, the city of Srirangam lived completely within the walls of this temple and hence is quoted as an example of Hindu religious utopia - during its peak of existence.

The three sacred Ranganatha temples on the banks of the Kaveri are:

• Adi Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapattana
• Madhya Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Shivanasamudra
• Antya Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam

History

The vimana of srirangam temple originally came out of “paarkadal” with the powers of brahma dava (One of the three main Gods of Hinduism). The incarnation of lord Vishnu called Ramavathara has performed poojas to this vimana. As a symbol of love he gifted this vimana to Vibishana (brother of Ravana) to take back with him to Sri Lanka. There was a condition that he could not set the vimana on earth and if he did it would set itself permanently. Vibishna took this vimana and was traveling towards Sri Lanka, and came upon the banks of the river Cauvery. Tired from his long travel, he wanted to bathe in the river. Lord Vinayaka posing as a young kid, plays a trick on him and sets the vimana on the ground where it sets permanently creating the central shrine for the temple at srirangam, on the banks of river cauvery. Then Chola kings namely Dharmavarcholan and Killivalavan developed the shrine into big temple seen now. They have laid the Basic foundations and primary Buildings.

Economy

Due to the famous temple, Srirangam has a thriving economy based on tourism. Devotees come from all parts of India and abroad. The number of devotees to the town increases greatly during the festivals like Vaikunta Ekadashi which falls on the Tamil month of Marghazi (Margashirsha).

Thiruvarangam is one of the few temples which is always being crowded by devotees.

There are many other famous temples near Srirangam. They include Rockfort temple, Samayapuram Mariamman temple, Tiruvaanaikovil temple, Kumara Vaiyalur temple, Uraiyur Vekkali Amman temple, Kaatazhagiya singer temple etc. In addition along the banks of Kaveri in areas near Srirangam and Tiruchirappalli there are other famous temples of Lord Vishnu most of which house the reclining form of him, namely the Thiru Anibil Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple and housing the deity Appala Ranganathar, also called the Appukudaththan Temple at Koviladi. Another temple of Vishnu is at Tiruchirappalli itself, the Azhagiya Nambi Temple at Woraiyur which is part of the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam.

Srirangam town is also home to several hundred people who work in offices and industries located in Trichy. The public transport linking Srirangam to Trichy (route #1) is very frequent.

Schools

There are numerous schools, both private and public, in the town. The Higher Secondary School for Boys was founded in 1896 and is the oldest one in the town. There is also a Higher Secondary School for girls which is almost as old as that of the boys. Srimad Andavan College, Chinmaya Vidyalaya Matric. School, Sri Akilandeswari Vidyalaya, Sri Ranga Matriculation School, Sri Vaijayanthi Vidhyalaya etc., are other institutions in Srirangam. Most of the schools have English as a medium of instruction. Some have Tamil as a medium of instruction, and some have both. There are many school children who travel to nearby Trichy also.

Transport

Air

The nearest airport is Trichy / Tiruchirappalli International Airport.

Trichy Airport has connections to Chennai, Coimbatore,Bangalore, Thiruvanathapuram, Singapore, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, Colombo, Malaysia.

Rail

Srirangam has a railway station that can be reached from Chennai through any of the major trains travelling in the Chennai-Kanyakumari railway track and the approximate journey time from chennai is about 5 hours and 10 minutes (320 km).

The Tiruchirappalli fort and Trichy junction which are the distance of 2 km and 8 km serves as connection point to most places in South India such as Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tirupathi, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon, Rameswaram, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore. It also connects to some places to north India like Howrah,Delhi,Kashmir.

Bus

Bridge Connecting Trichy and Srirangam across Kaveri River

Trichy Central bus stand has direct services to most parts of Tamil Nadu. From the bus stand, tourists can avail local buses, taxi, auto rickshaw to reach Srirangam.

City Bus service to all places of tourist interest from Central Bus Stand and from Chinthamani -Main Guard Gate Bus Stand (Both in Trichy). Tourist Taxis andAuto Rickshaws are also available at reasonable rates.

Route No. 1 of the City bus service plies between Srirangam and Central Bustand. This route starts from Trichy Central Bus Stand and goes via Trichy Junction Railway Station, Palakkarai Rettai pillaiyar Kovil street, Main Guard Gate, Chatram Bus Stand, Cauvery River Bridge, Mambazha salai, Thiruvanaikkovil and ends at Srirangam Bus Stand near the Srirangam Therkku vaasal (South entrance to the temple).

Frequency of Bus Service is Excellent. There is a bus for every 5 minutes and there are late night trips also, once in every one hour or so.

Climate

The climate of Trichy (and Srirangam) is Tropical. Temperature Range (°C): Summer- Max. 37.1 °C Min. 26.4 °C; Winter- Max. 31.3 °C Min. 20.6 °C; Rainfall: 835 mm

Politics

Srirangam assembly constituency is part of Tiruchirappalli (Lok Sabha constituency).

External links

• All about the Srirangam temple and its rituals
• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Rangam
• Temple Official Site
• Online Hindu Service in Srirangam Temple
• Srirangam Temple in Architectural Perspective
• Srirangam Temple information at Veda Gnana
• - famous traditional vedic astrologer Srirangam RAMESH GURU , living in sriranagam