Vishnu Temple

Nestled in the city of Tiruchirappalli, on a small islet amidst branches of the rivers Kaveri and Coleroon, stands the colossal temple of Srirangam. Srirangam is acknowledged as one of the eight self-manifested shrines, Swayam Vyakta Kshetras of Lord Vishnu. Also deemed to be the first, the foremost, the temple is the most imperative of the 108 main Vishnu temples in the country is known as Divyadesams. The very temple of Lord Vishnu is also known as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam, Bhogamandabam.

The temple is all bordered with seven concentric walls and 21 towers called gopurams. The temple enshrines a statue of Vishnu sprawling on a huge serpent. As per the legends the very statue, which is known as Sri Ranganatha, was transported from India to Sri Lanka by the sage Vibhishan.

While on his way, he rested here for some time and set the statue on the ground, when he turned up to continue his journey, he found that the statue has been affixed to the ground with some superficial powers.

All efforts made to separate it were in vain, thereafter a small temple was built here. The exact date is till mystified and some archeologists say that the temple complex standing today, including a grand hall of 1000 beautifully sculptured pillars, was constructed between the 14th and 17th centuries.

In the parlance of Vaishnava, the term “KOIL” connotes this temple only. This gigantic temple is sprawled over an area of 156 acres. It comprises seven prakaras or enclosures. These enclosures are created out of thick and huge rampart walls which run round the sanctum. There are 21 magnificent towers in all prakaras rendering it an incredible view to the sightseers.