TRICHY TEMPLES

TRICHY TEMPLES:

The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple or Tiruvarangam Tamil : ஸ்ரீ ரங்கநாதசுவாமி கோயில்is a Hindu temple dedicated toRanganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Vishnu located in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India . Constructed in theDravidian style of architecture,^[1] this temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Alvarsaints from the 6th–9th centuries AD and is counted as the first and foremost among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu.

It is one of the most illustrious Vaishnava temples in South India rich in legend and history. Its location, on an island in Cauvery river, has rendered it vulnerable to natural disasters as well as the rampaging of invading armies – Muslim and European – which repeatedly commandeered the site for military encampment.^[2] The main entrance, known as the Rajagopuram (the royal temple tower), rises from the base area of around 13 cents (around 5720 sq ft) and goes up to 237 feet (72 m), moving up in eleven progressively smaller tiers. The annual 21 day festival conducted during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) attracts 1 million visitors. Srirangam temple is often listed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, the still larger Angkor Wat being the largest existing temple.^[3][4] The temple occupies an area of 156 acres (631,000 m²) with a perimeter of 4,116m (10,710 feet) making it the largest temple in India^[5] and one of t

he largest religious complexes in the world.

Thiruvanaikaval (Tamil: திருவானைக்காவல்) (also Thiruvanaikal, Jambekeswaram) is a famous Shiva temple inTiruchirapalli (Trichy), in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple was built by Kocengannan (Kochenga Chola), one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago. It is located in the Srirangam island, which has the famous Ranganathaswamy temple.

Thiruvanaikal is one of the five major Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu (Panchabhoota Sthalams) representing the Mahābhūta or five great elements; this temple represents the element of water, or neer in Tamil.^[1] The sanctum of Jambukeswara has an underground water stream and in spite of pumping water out, it is always filled with water.^[2]

It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where all of the four most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints) have sung glories of the deity in this temple. The temple has inscriptions from the Chola period.

Srirangam is famous for its Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus(especially Srivaishnavites) and the largest temple complex 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 631,000 square metres (6,790,000 sq ft) with a perimeter of 4 km (10,710 ft).^[1] Angkor Wat is bigger but non-functioning.

Srirangam is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines (Swayam Vyakta Kshetras) of Lord Vishnu. It is also considered the first, foremost and the most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples (Divyadesams). This temple is also known as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam, Bhogamandabam. In the Vaishnava parlance the term "KOIL" signifies this temple only. The temple is enormous in size. The temple complex is 156 acres (0.63 km²) in extent. It has seven prakaras or enclosures. These enclosures are formed by thick and huge rampart walls which run round the sanctum. There are 21 magnificent towers in all prakaras providing a unique sight to any visitor. The temple town lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and Coleroon.

When Lord Sri Rama returned to Ayodhya after rescuing Mother Sita from the captivity of Ravana, Sri Sugriva, Sri Hanuman and Sri Vibishana accompanied the Lord to participate in the coronation function of the Lord.  While returning back with the gift of Sri Ranganatha idol from Sri Rama, Vibishana came south.  Seeing the beauty of River Cauvery and the scenic environment, he wanted to relax for a while.  Lord Vinayaka was there in the guise of a little boy.  Vibishana asked the boy to take care of the gift idol of Lord Ranganatha.  After waiting for Vibishana, the boy placed the idol on the ground and hid Himself in the hill.

 

Vibhishana was shocked to see the boy missing.  He applied all his energy to move the idol but failed.  Thus Lord Ranganatha, bound to Sri Lanka, cut short His journey and chose Sri Rangam as His abode.  Seeing the boy at the top of hill, Vibishana hit Him on the head, the scar of which is still visible on the Vinayaka idol.  Thus, Lord Vinayaka along with Lord Ranganatha nearby is ruling us gracefully.