Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam – Tamil Nadu

Description :
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ranganatha (a form of Vishnu), located in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Hindu architectural style, the temple is glorified by Alvars in their Divya Prabhanda and has the unique distinction of being the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to the god Vishnu.

It is the most illustrious Vaishnava temples in South India rich in legend and history. The temple has played an important role in Vaishnavism history starting with the 11th-century career of Ramanuja and his predecessors Nathamuni and Yamunacharya in Srirangam. Its LOCATION, on an island between the Kollidam and Kaveri rivers, has rendered it vulnerable to flooding as well as the rampaging of invading armies which repeatedly commandeered the site for military encampment. The temple was looted and destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate armies in a broad plunder raid on various cities of the Pandyan kingdom in early 14th century. The temple was rebuilt in late 14th century, the site fortified and expanded with many more gopurams in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was one of the hubs of early Bhakti movement with a devotional singing and dance tradition, but this tradition stopped during the 14th century and was revived in a limited way much later.

About the Temple:

LOCATION: Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
COUNTRY: India
NEAREST AIRPORT:Tiruchirapalli (TRZ).
BUILT-IN:9th century A.D.
BUILT-BY:Early Cholas, Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Pandyas,Gangas. Vijayanagara Empire
ARCHITECTURE STYLE:Dravidian architecture.
DEITY: Ranganatha (Vishnu), Ranganayaki (Lakshmi)
FESTIVALS: Vaikuntha Ekadasi; Uriyadi; Jeeyarpuram.
TEMPLE TIMINGS: 6 am to 9 pm.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: December to March.