Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangapatnam located at Kaveri Island

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple:-

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is located on an island in the river Kaveri. The temple is one of a set of three major temples that are built on three different islands on the Kaveri and are dedicated to lord Ranganatha (Lord Vishnu). The temples is one of the most important Vaishnavite shrines in South India. It is built in 9th century, later improved by the Hoysala and Vijayanagar kings .

The temple of Ranganatha enshrines reclining God Vishnu on the couch of a huge, serpent called Shesha. This temple was initiated by a Ganga dynasty chief called Tirumalaiah in 894 AD, but was expanded by different ruling kingdoms, such as Hoysala, Vijayanagara, and Mysore Wodeyar; till the 16th century.
Thus, the architecture of the temple reflects Ganga, Hoysala, and Vijayanagar architectural elements.
Inside the sanctum, the colossal Ranganatha deity reclines in the north-south orientation and the sanctum faces east. Lord Rangantha’s well-limbed proportions, and the peaceful countenance of the sleeping God; magnetize and mesmerize his on-lookers. The temple also has its own independent enclosure wall and an imposing yet ornate entrance gate of five stories called Gopura.
At the south-west corner, is the shrine of Ranganayaki; the consort of Ranganatha.
Tourists visiting the temple during the celebration of the harvest festival – Makarashankaranthi in January – are mesmerized and enchanted by the aesthetically arranged oil lamps that number over a thousand. Located towards the western end of Srirangapatna, this temple also provides a commanding view of the ruined palace of Tipu Sultan.
This island is sprinkled with numerous historic and religious monuments. The spiritual sanctity of its religious landscape saddles beautifully with the nostalgic air of its valor past. There are over four dozen such spots in Srirangapatna. However the general tourist crowd that visit Srirangapatna seems satisfied with a few ‘popular’ attractions. Thanks to the proximity of the glittering Mysore, Srirangapatna is often marked for a quick detour, that is if time permits!
This temple enshrines the statue of the smiling Lord, which is engraved out of black stone. The idol, located in the garbagriha, shows the deity sleeping on Anantha, the snake. Beautiful pillars showing 24 forms of Lord Vishnu are lined up around the temple, which adds to the appeal of the monument. The inner walls of this temple have been adorned with various images of Lord Srinivasa as well as Panchmukha Anjaneya.

The temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu who is better known as lord Ranganatha here and is one of five such Vishnu temples that are all built on the banks of the river Kaveri collectively known as the Pancharangas. The other temples and sites being the “Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple in Srirangam”, “the Sarangapani Temple in Kumbakonam”, “Sri Appakkudathan Temple in Trichy” and the “Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple in Indalur, Mayiladuthurai”. There is also a popular legend here that states that if one visits all 5 of these temples in a single day then he or she attains salvation.


The western side of the Kaveri that flows here is said to be very holy and many people visit the river to disperse ashes of their near and dear ones in this part of the river as they believe that it is a direct gateway to the heavens and the abode of Vishnu. On one particular festival here hundreds of lamps are lit on the banks of the river and people take a dip here in order to rid themselves of all their sins. It’s a very popular practice amongst the Hindus here. This temple is a must visit for one and all.

History of Sriranga patnam:-

The history of Srirangapatana commences from the 9th century A.D. as revealed in an inscription of a Ganga chieftain by name Tirumalaiah, the founder of the temple of Sriramganatha. Later on Hoysala king Vishnuvardana (1108-1152) conferred on Ramanuja, and his disciples. “Astagramas” or eight villages of including the tract of land on either side of the river Cauvery at Srirangapatana. Timmanna one once of the descendants of Hebbars, built o fort at sriranhgapatana with the permission of Devaraya, the Vijayanagar king in early fifteenth century. The town and the fort assumed such strategic importance that Sauva Narasa, father of krishnadevaraya, took possession of Srirangapatna and afterwards it was ruled by the Viceroys of Vijayanagar kings, With the downfall of Vijayanagar in 1565 A. D. the powers of the Viceroys dwindled and the Wodeyars of Mysore, though acknowledging the nominal suzerainty of Vijayanagar, obtained possession of Srirangapatna in 1610 A. D.

The political situation in the second half of the eighteenth century is marked by a period when the Mugahals were on the decline, the Marathas were rising into prominence and the Europeans were transforming themselves into a political power. It was during this service of Nawab of Sira, accompanied Nanjaraja, Minister of Mysore Wodeyars, on his Trichunapalli campaigns in 1751 and, in 1755 and, in 1766 he assumed the entire control of the state. From then onwards the history of Srirangapatna as that of South India revolves round Hider and his son Tipu, who ere to revive Srirangapatna from doldrums to a powerful unified state bounded by the river Krisha in the north, Travancore in the south, the Easteren ghats and the Arabian sea in the east and west respectively.

After establishing himself in power Haider extended the boundaries in all directions. He was a great soldier, conqueror and administrators. He along with his son Tipu fought four wars against the English, Known as Mysore wars. The first two battles were won by Haider and Tipu with the help of the French. Haider died on 7th December 171782 at Narasingarayanapet near Chitor and was buried in an impressive mausoleum on the outskirts of Srirangapatna.
After the death of Haider, Tipu (1750-1799) was enthroned as the ruler on 4th May 1783 in a simle ceremony at Bednur. Tipu was a man of sound moral character, active and patriotic. Well educated, able to speak Arabic, Kannada, Persian and Urdu, a valiant soldier and a tactful general. In 1792 A.D. at the end of the Third Mysore War Tipu was forced to sign a treaty conceding nearly half his territories and agreeing to pay three crores of rupees as a war indemnity, pending payment of which, two of his sons where taken away as hostages by the English.

In the Fourth Mysore War Tipu died fighting on 4th May 1799 after the fall of Srirangapatna, the English installed Krishnaraja Wodeyar III a body of five years as the ruler and the capital was shifted to Mysore, since then Srirangapatna has lost its importance its ruined fort. Temples, palaces and mosques stand as eloquent testimony to its glorious past.

About Temple:-

The temple has a navaranga mandapam which surrounds the sanctum sanctorum. The principal deity is Sri Ranganatha in the sleeping posture with the Adi Shesha, the serpent with seven heads. Goddess Lakshmi is at Lord Ranganatha’s foot. Goddess Ranganayaki is the principal goddess of this beautiful temple.

It is believed that this temple is a very important Vaishnavite shrine of South India. The temple’s beautiful and exquisite architecture surely takes us way back to the Hoysala rule. The brilliant and beautiful architecture of the Vijayanagar style and the exclusive carvings are indeed a delight to the eyes. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha.

The temple has four strong pillars with twenty four beautifully sculpted Vishnu forms. You can see exclusive Hoysala style of architecture. It is said that the Hoysalas appreciated art and art forms and encouraged the artisans. The intricate work of the artisans is clearly reflected in the architecture of the temple. The entire prakaram of the temple is beautifully painted with mythological stories.

 The Lamp post and the Flag post at the entrance to the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple.Both the Posts have the carvings of the Main symbols of Lord Vishnu, The Sacred Shankha(Conch) and the Disc(Chakra). Please refer the Pictures below for the carvings of The Conch and the Disc on the Posts.

Deity:-

The sacred Deity of Lord Ranganatha known as Madhya Ranga worshipped and decorated with Flowers, Thulasi, etc. One can notice the Lord sleeping on the bed formed by the Sacred snake Adishesha. The speciality of this temple is that the snake is seven headed whereas in the remaining two Temples, the snake is five headed. The idol is believed to be a Shaligrama Shila or in other words a Black Fossil Stone.

The Story of Ranganatha swamy temple:-

The devotees cleansed their sins by bathing in the sacred Cauvery. With even Ganga coming here once a year, Cauvery accumulated all the sins and was stuck with a dosham and took on the ‘Rakshashi Roopam’.

To rid herself of this, she undertook penance and sought the help of Lord Vishnu. Pleased with her prayers, he came down to this place. Delighted at the darshan of Lord Ranganatha, Cauvery undertook service at the feet of the Lord and was immediately relieved of the sins. Hence, to this day, one can see Goddess Cauvery at the feet of Ranganathaswamy at this temple.

Gouthama Kshetram:-

Another story goes that Gouthama Rishi, who wanted darshan of the Lord, undertook penance at this place. Lord Ranganatha is said to have displayed his special ‘Yoga Sayana Kolam’ to the Rishi. Hence this place is also referred to as Gouthama Kshetram.

Garuda:-

A special feature at this temple is the large granite pillared structure of Garuda, the credit for which also goes to the Vijayanagara rulers who were great devotees of Vishnu.

Although situated a mere 13 km from Mysore city, Srirangapattana lies in the neighbouring district of Mandyaa. The entire town is enclosed by the river Kaveri to form an island, northern half of which is shown in the image to the right. While the main river flows on the eastern side of the island, the Paschima Vaahini segment of the same river flows to its west.
The town takes its name from the celebrated Ranganathaswamy temple which dominates the town, making Srirangapattana one of the most important Vaishnavite centers of pilgrimage in south India.
The presence of the Kaveri River is in itself considered auspicious and sanctifying. The Paschima Vaahini section of the Kaveri at Srirangapattana is considered especially sacred; the pious come from far and wide to immerse the ashes of the departed and perform obsequies to their ancestors in these waters.

The town is easily accessible by train from Bangalore and Mysore and is also well-connected by road, lying as it does just off the Bangalore-Mysore highway. The highway passes through this town and special care was taken to minimize any impact on the monuments here.

Festivals:-
Opening of Swarga Vaasal on the Pongal day (at this temple, the opening is on the first day of Utharaayina period)

Ugadi Moolavar Thirumanjanam

Kodai Thirunaal Festival immediately follows Ugadi

Ranga Jayanathi- The evening sees a special decoration of the Lord in a ‘Ranga Mudi’

7day Oonjal Utsavam

Garuda Utsavam(Visakam full moon day)


Near by Places:-

Melkote:-

36 Kms North from Mandya is Melkote, a sacred pilgrim centre, known for its Vairamudi festival in March- April. More than one lakh devotees  congregate here for this festival. Melkote used to be known for its Handlooms. The great saint Ramanujacharya walked this land a thousand years ago. The Chaluvanarayan Swamy and Yaganarasimha swamy temples of Melkote boast of a history of more than 1000 years. Melkote is also home to the Academy of Sanskrit Research.

How to reach there: By road from Bangalore (135 K.M.s), Mysore (50 K.M.s) and  Mandya (50 K.M.s)

Hosa Holalu Temple:-

The Lakshminarayana temple is a magnificient example of Hoysala architecture of the thirteenth century. The intricate carvings in stone depict various images from the Mahabharata and other epics.

The temple is a trikutachala or three-celled temple.  Only the main cell has a sukhanasi and a tower.

Some of the images carved on the walls are about two and a half feet high.  They are of fine proportions and well executed.  The figures of Panduranga, Dakshinamurti and Mohini are particularly noteworthy.  Groups of dancing ladies with accompaniments in impressive poses adorn the capitals of the pillars in the navaranga.  There are also some interesting sculptures in the friezes, the scroll work and the railing panels. An annual jatra called Rangada-habba is held here in honour of Anjaneya about the month of April.  It resembles the Holi festival in some respects.  The villages put on various disguises, sing the praises of god and dance the whole night, squirting, at intervals, saffron water (vasanta) over one another.

Hosahallu is a village near Krishnaraj Pete town. One can reach Hosaholalu by road from Mandya (60 K.M.s), Mysore (50 K.M.s) and Bangalore (160 K.M.s).

Basaralu Temple:-

The Mallikarjuna Temple at Basaralu is a good and highly ornate specimen of Hoysala architecture, built in the thirteenth century by Harihara Dannayaka, during the rule of the Hoysala King Narasimha II. Two fine elephants with animated appearance flank the doorway of the porch. Impressively worked images of a height of about two and a half feet, representing Gods and heroes, adorn the main wall above the basement. Sixteen handed Shiva dancing on Andhakasura's head, Durga with 22 arms and Saraswati, both in dancing postures, Ravana lifting the Kailasa, Arjuna shooting the fish target, Draupadi rushing forth with garland and Gajasura Mardana are some of the remarkable images which are particularly interesting. There are six friezes of sculptures depicting war elephants, horsemen, lions, swans and makaras and illustrating Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and several puranic episodes.

 This temple is located 35 Kilometers from Mandya by road. 

Brahmeshwara Temple, Kikkeri:-

Situated about eight miles from K.R.Pet town and ten miles from Sravanabelagola, this temple is a fine specimen of Hoysala architecture. It was constructed in A.D.1171, during the rule of the Hoysala King Narasimha I, by a lady named Bammare Nayakiti. This ornate structure has some special features. The sides of the temple are convex viewed from outside and bulge out so that the interior dimensions are widened beyond the base. The deep indentation of the horizontal courses in the basement and the knife-edge to which  the cornices have been brought are also interesting points. It is a single celled temple and has an impressive and lofty stone tower. There is a well executed image of Vishnu, about four feet high, in one of the niches of the navaranga The madanike figures carved on the capitals of the pillars of the navaranga are of extra-ordinary workmanship and are life-like.

Nimishamba Temple:-

 
Nimishamba temple was built at the time of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar about 300 to 400 years ago on the bank of the river Cauvery. Sri Nimishamba is considered as the incarnation of Goddess Parvathi, the wife of Lord Shiva. The temple has the Shrichakra carved on a stone in front of Sri Nimishamba and pooja is performed.

There is a belief that Sri Nimishamba is going to remove all the problems and troubles of her devotees within a minute. That is why she is called Nimishamba. Nimisha means a minute.

Sangam:-

Sangam is the place where the River Loakpavani joins the River Cauvery. This is a popular picnic spot and is a beautiful place. From here the river follows into the Mettur Dam in Tamilnadu. Its about 3 Kms. from Mysore.

Paschimavahini:-

Paschimavahini on the River Cauvery, about 2 Kms. from Srirangapatna is a sacred place for the Hindus, the pious come from far and wide to immerse the ashes of the departed and perform obsequies to their ancestors in these waters. There are bathing ghats and choultries here.


Karighatta:-

Karighatta situated about 3 Km. from Srirangapatna is a hill range rising to 2,697 ft. has the temple of Venkataramanaswamy in Dravidian style built during the Vijayanagar period.

How to Reach:-

By Road:-
 Srirangapatna is on the Bangalore –Mysore State Highway. It is closer to Mysore.
By Rail:-
Nearest Rail head- Mysore.
By Air:-
Nearest Airport- Bangalore