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INTRODUCTION:
Srirangam is a Railway station on the Trichy Madras chord line, the distance from Madras Egmore being 207 miles, and from Tiruchirapalli Junction three. It is a small town on the outskirts of Tiruchira- palli Town. This small locality all the year round attracts thousands of devoted Hindu pilgrims, particularly Vaishnavites. The congregation of pilgrims becomes unprecedented during the main festival of Vaikunta Ekadashi, which falls in the Tamil month of Margazhi, corresponding to December-January. The festival continues for a period of 20 days. It is a traditional belief that Adi Sankara installed at Srirangam, a Yantra called Janakarshana Yantra to attract pilgrims to this sacred temple, just as at Tirupati he installed the Dhanakarshana Yantra. Sankara infused immense power to this Yantra, which has proved by its action perfectly true to its name. Tirupati is the richest temple in the South, may be in whole of India, and Srirangam is the most visited temple in the South.

HISTORY OF SRIRANGAM
Temple life at Srirangam evolved after Nadamuni (923 - 1023 CE) compiled the hymns of the Alwars and gave them a musical form. During Ramanujas time (12th century CE), Srirangam was a well established institution. The Pandya rulers, from the 13th century onwards gave the temple, immeasurable support; the gold plating of the vimanam being first of their endowments. The Hoysala kings, who set up a military base outside Srirangam also made contributions. The temple was desecrated by the Delhi armies in 1313, and was closed for 60 years. From the end of the 14th century, the temple came back to life, and much of what is seen today is a result of the rebuilding activity which heppened during the time of the Vijayanagar rulers The district's most important pilgrim centre is located in an island just 7 km from Trichy. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Kaveri on one side

and its tributary kollidam on the other, is a 600 acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Rangaswami Temple. There are 21 gopurams, among which the Rajagopuram is the largest in Asia. The 73m High 13- tiered Srirangam gopuram was built in 1987 by agobila mutt and dominates the landscape for miles around, while the remaining 20 gopurams were built between the 14th and 17th centuries. This superb temple complex at Srirangam, is surrounded by seven concentric walls with 21 gopurams and is probably the largest place in south india. Most of it dates from the 14th to 17th centuries, and many people have had a hand in.its construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas and rulers from Vijayanagar. The main Srirangam temple dedicated to deity Vishnu. Even Muslims are said to have prayed here after the fall of the Vijayangar Empire . Just past the shoe deposit is an information centre where you buy the ticket to climb the wall for a panoramic view of the entire complex. A Srirangam temple guide will unlock the gates and tell you what's what. There's also a small museum containing sculptures. An annual Car Festival is held here in January during which a decorated wooden chariot is pulled through the streets between various walls. ln mid-December, the vaikunda Ekadasi, or Paradise Festival will be celebrated in the Srirangam Temple.In india vaikunda Ekadasi or Paradise Festival will be celebrated in the all the Vishnu Temples. Srirangam is the foremost among the 108 divyadesams (sacred shrines). Ramanuja the great Philosopher saint and reformer streamlined the temple administration of Srirangam. Is situated between the two rivers Kollidam and Cauvery. Rama the Great worshipped Lord Ranganatha and gave it as a gift to Vibheeshanaa. All the Azhwaars except Madhurakavi have sung in Praise of Lord Ranganatha in their sacred hymns (247). Namperumal is the name of the Utsava Moorthy (Procession deity) and He adorns the Rathna- angi during Vaikunta Ekadasi. Garuda brought the Sri Rangavimana from Sathyaloka to Ayodhya. Alinaadan Thiruchutru (Built by Thirumangai Azhwaar) is the 4th Prakara (enclosure) among the Sapthaprakaras (7 enclosures) of Srirangam. Many Kings of different dYnas- rvr ties buitt the various mandapas and sannidhis ,established endowments for conducting festivals.

Sri Ranganathaswamy was worshiped by Brahma. He presented to Indra king of Devas and he presented to God Suryan and Surya Vamsa Ikshavaku kings (ancestors of Rama) worshiped Sri Ranganathaswamy. At the time of Rama's Pattabhishekam (take Responsibility as a king), Vibhishana obtained the Ranga Vimana (a special chariot-like conveyance carried by Veda Murtis with Vishnu inside) from Rama as a contribution. While carrying it to Srilanka Vibhishana halted at Srirangam. Contrary to the injunction he had received. Vibhishana placed it on the ground and it got fixed here. In 1616, the Madurai Nayaks shifted their capitalto Tiruchirappalli and the Srirangam temple thus came to receive their immediate attention. The Nayaks were Vaishnavites and adopted the Vaduladesikas of Srirangam astheir gurus. Their numerousinscriptions on thewalls of the Srirangam temple speak of their mani fold benefactions, mostly lands, villages and jewels.Cokkanatha Nayak (1659-1682) laid out many streetsand agraharas in Sriremgam, constructed mandapas in the prakaras, repaired many of the structures made a gift of 96 villages.Vijayaranga Cokkanatha (1706-1732) was, according to local tradition, the most magnificentbene factor of the templein recent times. Hebuilt the Vedaparayanamandapa in the thirdprakara and the Kannadiyarai(room of mirrors). Three life-size statues inivory of himself and hisfamily kept in the westernpromenade of the first enclosure,conunemorate hisgifts and devotion to the temple. Srirangam Temple Flowery Structure This is the most ornatestructure of the entiretemple complex. It hasa garbhagriha, pradaksina,mukhamandapa and mahamandapa.The last, whichis at a lower level than the mukhamandapa,is open and has sixrows of eight pillarseach and measures 34' by 60'. Each pillar(20' in height) has a rectangularblock as base, apolygonal shaft and Vijayanagarcorbels. Thebases contain interestingsculptures. Towards thewestern end of this mandaparises the facade ofthe shrine on either sideof the entrance, showingadhistana and kudya elaboratelycarved.The Venugopala shrinehas in its sanctum, a fourarmedimage of Krishna,about 4'in height, in dvibhangapose, the right legcrossing the left below theknee and resting on itstoes, and wearing jewelsof many sorts adorninghis neck, chest, hip and ankles.His upper hands holdSankha and Chakra, whilethe lower ones play theflute. Figures of

Venugopalacarved in stone appearin the niches in theadhistana portion andstucco images appear onthe vimana. Sthala Vruksha The Vilvam in the Thaayaar sannidhi is the place where the holy soil is taken for the Anguraarppanamritual during festivals. It is also the place where the Moola vigraha of Goddess Sri Ranganayaki was buried for safety reasons during the Mohantmedan invasion. Later on, during floods, this vigraha came out of the soil, and since then this vigraha is kept behind the Moola vigraha of Sri Ranganayaki Thaayaar. This is the reason for the presence of two moola vigrahas in Srirangam. The Sanctum Sanctorum of Lord Ranganatha The sanctum image (the mula or dhruvabera of Ranganatha) is of mortar and is about 15' in length. The much bigger Anantasayi or Anantasayamam (Trivandrum) is also of mortar. The couch of Ranganatha is abour 3' in height and the hoods, which are five in number, rise to about 6'. It is the privilege of Vishnu images alone to be represented in sayana forms in addition to the stanaka (standing) and asana (seated) forms. Each one of these three forms has four varieties, viz., yoga, bhoga, vira, and abhicarika. In the yoga variety, the God appears alone in a yogic aspect and is worshipped by yogis. The Srirangam image is yogasayanamurti. In srirangam Ranganatha lies facing south the head resting in the west direction and the legs extended towards the east. Though the garbhagriha is circular, the vimana is oval-shaped, or ellipsoidal, slightly elongated west to east.

Gorotha moolai Reason for the name Goratha moolai : Most inhabitants of Srirangam would know the Goratha Moolai at the Junction of East Chitra street and North Chitra street. Here is an interesting anecdote about the Goratha moolai. ln the olden days the Granary of Srirangam had a cattleshed which held the cows for supplying milk for the Thaligai prasaadham of Lord Ranganatha. Sri Ramanuja used to visit the cattleshed everyday and find out about the wellbeing of the cows. He had the knack of finding out whether a cow or buffalo was ill by his touch. He was not only a seer and philosopher but a[1o a therapist. lf he found out that a cow or buffalo was sick he would instruct the concerned person to substitute the sick animal with a healthy one from the alternate cattleshed at the Goshaala and treat the sick cow for its illness.This alternate arrangement ensured uninterrupted supply of Milk for the Lord. The Goshaala was located in the corner of the North chitra street and east chitra street. lt is here that the Present Panguni car (Goratham ) is stationed during the non festival days. Hence the name Goratham (The Ratham i.e. Car present in the place where the Goshaala once stood) This is the origin for the term Goratha moolai.

Srirangam Festivals Three Brahmotsavas are celebrated in the months of Chithirai (VirupPan tirunaal), Thai (Bhupati tirunaal), and Panguni (Adibrahmotsavam).

Festivals may be classified into Parvotsavas, Ekadinotsavas, Masotsavas, and Brahmot savas. Parvotsavas are simple festivals celebrated within the temple on the five following occasions or pancaparvas each month: 1. masa sankramanam or the commencement of every month, 2. amavasya, 3. paurnami, 4. and 5. the two ekadasis in each month. In addition, parvotsava is celebrated on the day of Revathi, the natal star of God Ranganatha. On all these occasions, the utsava image is brought out of the sanctum into the mahamandapa, taken down the western steps into the first or Rajamahendran enclosure, where He is taken in Procession pradakshina wise and brought back to the mandapa through the eastern steps. The ceremony of ascending the steps is called padiyetram and is done to appropriate music by the arayars. Then He is restored to His position in the sanctum. When bigger festivals are celebrated, the parvotsavas get merged with them. The ekadinotsavas or single day festivals such as Chitra Paurnami, Jyeshtabhisekam, Pathinettam perukku (Adi l8th), Sri Jayanthi, Vijayadasami, Deepavali, Karthikai dipam, Sankaranti and Yugadi last for a day. The monthly mahotsavas and the annual brahmotsavas Iast for more than a day, usually about ten days. The important mahotsavas are the puchuthu tirunal or the flower festival (Dhavanotsava) in Chithirai, also called Kodai tirunal when the deities are specially decorated with flowers of the month, roughly corresponding to April, marking the beginning of the flowering season. Vasantotsava is celebrated in Vaikasi, Jyeshtabhisekamin Ani, Pavitrotsavam in Avani, Navarathri in Purattasi, rvhich is celebrated solely for the Goddess, Sriranba Nachiyar, Dolotsavam or swing festival in Aippasi, Vedaparayana Tirunaal or Adyayanotsavam, which lasts for 22 days in the month of Margazhi, and the Float festival in Maasi. It is the practice that all functions and processions of the masotsavas are conclusion festival. conducted in the evenings.

Three Brahmotsavas are celebrated in the months of Chithirai (ViruPpan tirunaal), Thai (BhuPati tirunaal), and Panguni (Adibrahmotsavam). The distinguishing marks of a Brahmotsava are its commencement with Dwajarohanam or the hoisting of the flag on the flagstaff and its with Rathotsavam or car festival.

Temple Festival calendar

Chithirai months Festivals (Apr - May) car festival is celebrated and it is called chithirai ther , huge amount of people from all overindia , particularly huge number of village people pull the big rope of the car. It is enormous car for lord sriranganathar. Vaikasi Months Festivals (May - Jun) The spring month festival is called vasanthotsavam, celebrated for nine days prior to the vaikasi month full Moon day(pournami). This Festival is celebrated in the backyard which is situated to the north side of the chakarathalvar sanathi. The place which is around the pool full of water and lotus flower, the center of the pool sriranganathar is placed like a king of heaven. Aani months Festivals (Jun-July) On the Aani month Jestabisegam for sriranganathar , the holy water taken in gold pots from the rivers cauvery is used for thiru manjanam(same as abishagam) at big sannathi, next day the maha naivaden(offering to the god) is contributed by large amount of cooked rice(called thiruppavadai), after the rice is distributed to the devotees as a prasadam Aadi months Festivals (July-Aug) This month Aadi 18 is celebrated on banks of river Cauvery, Aadi 18 is one of the famous tamil festival of tamilnadu. In this day lord sri renganatha submitted flower ring and other ornaments to Cauvery at Amma Mandapam. People will float a lamp with money to the Cauvery water.

Avani months Festivals (Aug-Sep) Pavithrotsavam is famous for nine days festival celebration subsequent of Sri krishna jayanthi is celebrated. Uri-Adi(a pot filled with turmeric water is balanced over a rope. and the milk grocer community people(konar) ,after closed their eyes by the yellow cotton cloth .use to hit it. This is a ceremony which remembers that lord Krishna also belonged to that community) takes place at the south gate near Pathala(underneath) Krishna Temple. Puratasi Months Festivals (Sep-Oct) This month Navarathri is celebrated Nava(9) Rathiri(night time) this festival is famous among the teen age girls ladies and children. Temple Utsava takes place at Sri Renga Nachiyar Sannathi. The Elephant called andal will play events like dancing with one leg lifted and plays mouthorgan. Sri renganatha goes to Kattu Alagia Singaperumal koil in honor of Killing Vaniyasura and comes out in the Horse Vahana. Aipasi Months Festivals (Oct-Nov) Unjal Utsavam also celebrated by 9 days in this month. In this whole month the holy water from river cauvery will be taken for renganathars abishegam (holy bath) using golden pot , silver pot and copper pot for the security reason copper pot is used here. Karthikai Months Festivals (Nov-Dec) Karthikai is celebrated all over tamil nadu as a light festival (array of small lamps inside and out side the house in a beautiful fleet) is celebrated also srirangam temple in big manner by next day of thiruvanamalai Karthikai festival. Pearumal takes a special thirumanjanam and comes out through the streets of srirangam in a wagon decorated with attractive flowers. Blaze-fire or chockpanai is the important festival at the end of the day after perumal hears the annual account read by kanakku pillai(treasurer). Margali Months Festivals (Dec-Jan) The important festival of this month is the presentation of thiru pavai poem (composed by Andal a girl devotee and she loved by lord sriranganatha ).

after that the vaikunda ekadasi festival in which sriranganatha use to be seen in dasavathara alangaram (representing the ten incarnations avatars of the lord Vishnu). Thai Months Festivals (Jan-Feb) The thai pongal known as Tamilar thirunal celebrated in first day of the month bogi pandigai is celebrated on perivious day of the pongal concept of the festival is to destroy the old thoughts and things . Thai car festival is the important festival of this month for sirangam temple. Masi Months Festivals (Feb-March) Theppotsava which is a Festival where lord perumal is floated on a theppam (boat) in the pool situated to the west side of the temple. Panguni Month's Festivals (March-Apr) Adhi brahmotsava is celebrated in this month and also kept the panguni uthra day. Subsequently lord gladden the chariot festival (called as Rathasaptami). Vaikunta Ekadasi - Paramapatha Vaasal It begins from suklapaksha Ekadasi and celebrated for 23 days wherein Namperumal listens to the vedas and Nammazhvar's Thiruvaimozhi as rend.ered by the Araiyars. The festival is divided into two parts, ten days before and after the ekadasi day of the bright waxing period of the month, which is Vaikunta Ekadasi. The first period of ten days is called Thirumozhi Thirunal or pagal patthu and the second period of ten days is called Thiruvaimozhi Thirunal or rapatthu.

Gateway to Heaven(ParamaBatha Vaasal.) During the Vaikunta Ekadasi day and the subsequent nine days, Lord Namperumal enters the Thirumamani mandapam (Paramapatham) through this door known as Paramapatha Vaasal.(sorga vaasal) It is one of the most auspicious days in all the Vishnu Temples. The Vaikunta Dwaram or the Gate to the heaven is opened on this day. In srirangam this is the passage leading to the thirumamani mandapam a replica of sri vaikuntham, the permanent abode of Lord Maha Vishnu. Scores of devotees queue up to pass through the Gate of Vaikunta in the temples in the belief that they would escape from the cycle of re-birth, if they step on the Parmapada vaasal on the sacred day of Vaikunta Ekadasi. This helps us reach our ultimate destination, Vaikuntha, which is the place of no return and thus the human soul is free from the ills of this world. The Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is an occasion when the Paramapada vaasal is opened for devotees. Srirangam Temple Timings Sri Ranganathar moolavar Sannathi Timings Viswaroobam seva 06.15 to 07.30 Pooja time - No seva 07.30 to 08.45

Seva 08.45 to Pooja time No seva 13.00 to Seva 14.00 to Pooja time No seva 18.00 to Seva 18.45 to Free seva 20.00 to No seva after 21.00 General Entrance Free in all Seva time Special Entrance Rs.50/per head Sri Ranganachi thayar Sannathi Timings Viswaroobam Paid seva 06.30 to Viswaroobam Free seva 07.15 to Pooja time - No seva 08.00 to Paid seva 08.45 to Free seva 12.00 to Pooja time No seva 13.00 to Free seva 15.00 to Paid seva 16.00 to Pooja time No seva 18.00 to Paid seva 18.45 to Free seva 20.00 to No seva after 21.00 Timings are subject to change in Festival days

13.00 14.00 18.00 18.45 21.00 21.00

07.15 08.00 08.45 12.00 13.00 15.00 16.00 18.00 18.45 20.00 21.00

Temple Guesthouses available near the main entrance of the temple. Cloakroom available near the Garuda mandabam.

Around Srirangam UTHAMAR KOVIL Uthamar Koil inKarumbanur is one of the most famous shrines in 108 Vaishnavik Padalshtalam. This temple is situated eight kilometers north of Trichy Fort Station, 4 km north of Srirangam railway station. Here is the temple where the Lord Creator- Brahma, the lord for the well being of the universe - Vishnu and the destroyer of universe - Siva take their abode. This place is also known as "Kadambavanam" or "Trimurthishektram" SRI JAMBUKESWARA TEMPLE Shrouded in the haze of coconut palms and greenery located at Thiruvanaikaval, is the celebrated shrine dedicated to lord Shiva. Far superior in architectural design, the jambukeswaram pagoda houses one of the five great elemental lingams, viz. Shiva in his manifestation as water. The lady deity is Sri Akilandeswari the Goddess of the Universe and the whole temple complex is believed to have been glorfied by Sri Adi Sankara. The Shiva L ngam is placed under jambu tree reputed to be several hundred years old. The lingam is always surrounded by vti ater on all sides.

GUNASEELAM Distance18-km form Tichy. located between trichy-salem by pass road .The idol of this temple is called Prasana Venkateshwara, which is a sculptural form of Lord Vishnu. Famous for mental health and physiological patients sick remed. TRICHY ROCK FORT Trichy Rock fort is famous for Lord Ganesh named as Uchipillaiyar temple. Temple is built on the big Relict type of mountain, 10 million years old rock. On the top of the hill we can see the entire beauty of the trichy city.

VIRALIMALAI Located 30 km from Trichy on the Madurai Road: The temple of Lord Subramanya is situated on a hillock. There is also peacock sanctuary here. SAMAYAPURAM: (20 km from Trichy): This is a very important place of pilgrimage, famous for its temple dedicated to the Goddess Mariamman. ln month of Chithirai there will be a car festival and Poochoridhal will be celebrated in the month of Panguni. MUKKOMBU Upper Anaicut (18km) : At the head of the Srirangam lsland, there is another dam called UpperAnaicut or Mukkombu which is about 685 m long.

Constructed in the 19th Century across Kollidam, this dam has been forced into three section instead of one long stretch because of the shape of the island. This is also good spot for picnics.

Ramanujar The district's most important pilgrim centre is located in an island just 7 km from Trichy. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Kaveri on one side and its tributary kollidam on the other, is a 600 acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Rangaswami Temple. There are 21 gopurams, among which the Rajagopuram is the largest in Asia. The 73m High 13- tiered Srirangam gopuram was built in 1987 by agobila mutt and dominates the landscape for miles around, while the remaining 20 gopurams were built between the 14th and 17th centuries. This superb temple complex at Srirangam, is surrounded by seven concentric walls with 21 gopurams and is probably the largest place in south india. Most of it dates from the 14th to 17th centuries, and many people have had a hand in.its

construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas and rulers from Vijayanagar. The main Srirangam temple dedicated to deity Vishnu. Even Muslims are said to have prayed here after the fall of the Vijayangar Empire . Just past the shoe deposit is an information centre where you buy the ticket to climb the wall for a panoramic view of the entire complex. A Srirangam temple guide will unlock the gates and tell you what's what. There's also a small museum containing sculptures. An annual Car Festival is held here in January during which a decorated wooden chariot is pulled through the streets between various walls. ln mid-December, the vaikunda Ekadasi, or Paradise Festival will be celebrated in the Srirangam Temple.In india vaikunda Ekadasi or Paradise Festival will be celebrated in the all the Vishnu Temples. Srirangam is the foremost among the 108 divyadesams (sacred shrines). Ramanuja the great Philosopher saint and reformer streamlined the temple administration of Srirangam. Is situated between the two rivers Kollidam and Cauvery. Rama the Great worshipped Lord Ranganatha and gave it as a gift to Vibheeshanaa. All the Azhwaars except Madhurakavi have sung in Praise of Lord Ranganatha in their sacred hymns (247). Namperumal is the name of the Utsava Moorthy (Procession deity) and He adorns the Rathna- angi during Vaikunta Ekadasi. Garuda brought the Sri Rangavimana from Sathyaloka to Ayodhya. Alinaadan Thiruchutru (Built by Thirumangai Azhwaar) is the 4th Prakara (enclosure) among the Sapthaprakaras (7 enclosures) of Srirangam.

Many Kings of different dYnas- rvr ties buitt the various mandapas and sannidhis ,established endowments for conducting festivals

Periyaazhwar Aandal Kulasekara Aazhwar Thirumazhisai Aazhwar Thondaradipodi Aazhwar Thirupaan Aazhwar Thirumangai Aazhwar Poigai Aazhwar Boothathaazhwar Peyazhlwar -

35 Paasurams 10 Paasurams 31 Paa surams 14 Paasurams 55 Paasurams 10 Paa-surams 73 Paasurams 1 Paasuram 4 Paasurarms 2 Paasurams

Nammazhwar - 12 Paasurams Total -247 Paasurams in Naalaayira Dhivyaprabhandham Chakarartazhwaar srands for Vishnu in His Ferocious aspect

Srirangam Architeture and sculpture The Shrine, which faces east, lies at the western extremity of the south Akalankan prakara. It has a Garbhagriha, containing the image of Chakarattazhwaar or Sudarsana Perumal, Antarala, Pradakshina, Mukhamandapa and Mahamandapa. The garbhagriha has a backdoor through which one can see the figure of Lord Narasimha sculptured behind the Sudarsana Chakra. The divine weapons are sometimes personified and called as the Ayudha urusas. Sudarsana Chakra or Chak arattazhwaar, in the form in which he is worshipped in important Vishnu temples in South India, is something more than an Ayudha purusha. In that form, he is. regarded as Vishnu Himself and the hakra is given a mystic significance. It is supposed to represent the original thought of Parabrahman, which expanded into space and became the universe. More popularly, Chakarattazhwaar stands for Vishnu in His ferocious aspect. The image of Chakarathazhwaar is in outline a Chakra of the ordinary, nonpersonified form with a fearful figure of Vishnu with eight hands, standing in the centre of a Shatkona chakra consisting of two interlacing equilateral triangles. On the reverse there is the figure of a Yoga Narasimha seated on a trikona chakra.

Golden-vimana at Srirangam
Description: This is the foremost of the 108 shrines glorified by the Alwars; all of the Alwars with the exception of Madhurakavi Alwar have sung of its glory. It is the one of the greatest centers of the Sri Vaishnava religion and mong the most visited pilgrimage centers in India.Undoubtedly the largest temple in India, and one among the grandest, it is a treasure house of art

freezing various architectural styles over a period of time. It boasts of the tallest temple tower in India. Referred to as heaven on earth it is an ancient center of worship - vibrant with tradition and festivals. The Pancharanga Kshetrams along the course of the Kaveri are Srirangapatnam (Karnataka), Srirangam, Srirangam is very closely associated with Ramanujacharya, the beacon of the Sri Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. Tiruvanaikka or Jambukeswaram, one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams (associated with the primary element water) of Shiva, is located in the vicinity. Srirangam is located near Tiruchirappalli in Tamilnadu. Deities: Ranganathar is enshrined in a reclining posture (facing the South); while Namperumaal the festival deity in a standing posture is also housed in the main sanctum. There is a shrine in the fourth prakaram, housing Ranganayaki Taayaar. Traditions: Araiyar Sevai, one of the ancient devotional art traditions of Tamilnadu, involving the expressive recitation of the Divya Prabandams, using movement, music originated here under the auspices of Nadamuni (10th century CE). Araiyar sevai is performed also at Srivilliputtur, Alwar Tirunagari and Melkote (Karnataka). The famous tamil literary work Kamba Ramayanam premiered here at Srirangam. The Temple: This temple enshrines Ranganathar in the central sanctum, crowned with a gold plated Pranava Vimanam or Paravasudeva Vimanam. A total of 7 concentric prakarams surround this shrine, housing several mandapams, tanks and shrines. The area enclosed by the outermost wall is over a hundred ares. Gopurams on the south and east of the 4th prakaram are the most impressive. A total of 21 towers adorn the temple.

The Srirangam temple tradition is an ancient one. The Silappadikaaram of the Sangam period refers to Srirangam. All of the Alwars (with the exception of Madhurakavi) have sung in praise of Srirangam. The first (surviving ) stone inscription dates back to the period of Parantaka Chola (924 CE). The pillars here go back to the Chola period (13th century CE). The 1000 pillared hall is also the product of the late chola period, and is also in the 4th prakaram; its entrance is in the south. It is here where the adhyayanotsavam (involving the recitation of the Tamil Prabandam hymns) is held. At the southern edge of the huge open courtyard, the Vijayanagara rulers added the hall with 8 pillars with huge horses. The Krishna Venugopala shrine on the southern side is also of great beauty. The Garuda mandapam s located in the third prakaram.. Its pillars go back to the Nayaks of 17th century Madurai. The Chandra and Surya Pushkarini tanks are located in the 3rd prakaram. Legends: Legend has it that the image of Ranganatha worshipped here, was originally worshipped by the clan of the Ishwakus, and it passed on to Rama. Rama upon his victorious return from Lanka, handed over this image to Vibhishana, who proceded to Lanka with the image. Circumstances caused him to place this image on the banks of the Kaveri, where Srirangam now is.

(see Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koyil ) A disappointed Vibhishana returned to SriLanka with the consolation that the image of Ranganatha at SriRangam would face South - in the direction of Lanka. A Chola monarch by name Dharmavaraman is said to have created a temple here. Legend also has it that the original temple was flooded by the Kaveri and was rediscovered by a later Chola emperor. Festivals: An elaborate protocol of worship services is offered here throughout the day. On about 120 days, the Utsavamurthy is taken out in procession out of the inner sanctum. Aadi bhrammotsavam is celebrated in Panguni. The grand Adhyayanotsavam is celebrated in the month of Margazhi, involving the recitation of the Prabandham hymns or Alwar Pasurams in the thousand pillared hall. Also in Srirangam is the Dasavataram temple, the only one of its kind, enshrining the ten incarnations of Vishnu along with Lakshmi Narasimhar and Vishwaksenar. This temple was built by Tirumangaialwar and is now under the administration of the Ahobila Mutt.. The Tirumangaimannan festival is celebrated here.