Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam

The History Behind

     Many decades later, the whole of Srirangam was merged in a violent stand-storm.  The Temple of Srirangam will all its suburbs were under the sand.  Once, when a Chola king went out for hunting, he took shelter under the shade of a tree.  The parrot which was perching on the tree began to chat, that the Sriranga Kshetra is buried under the sands.  Hearing this, the Chola king began to discover the submerged town of Srirangam and renewed all the parts and suburbs of the town.  The Chola king is called the Kilikanda Cholan (The king who was advised by the parrot).

Raja Rajendra Chola

     When this king began to rule the Choladesa, then also he underwent many difficulties in protecting the town of Srirangam from its ruins. So far as time permitted him the King undertook the repairs of the temple and it’s Gopurams on the East and on the South.

Nanda Chola

     After the death of Raja Rajendra Cholan, King Nanda Cholan of Dharma Varma Dynasty became very much devoted to Sri Ranganatha. He had no issues.  One day he found a child in the lotus-tank of his capital, which was very beautiful.  The king brought up the girl with all glory and happiness.  She was called “Kamala Valli”. The King had the greatest pleasure of bringing up the girl Kamala Valli.  Once Kamala went into the gardens with her mates to gather flowers.  Instantly she took sight of a handsome youth on a horseback.  He was the Lord of Srirangam “Sri Ranganatha” Himself. Kamala Valli was cast in a great spell of love with him.  Her mind was stolen away by the Lord and she began to perform a severe tapas. The truth of the incident was made known to king.  At once the king decided to give her in marriage to the princely youth and conducted the marriage.  It is heard that as soon as the young couple entered the temple premises they were immured into a lustrous glory of Lord Sri Ranganatha immediately.  The king built a mighty temple for them with all his wealth. This is the historical episode of Woraiyr. The king, Nanda Chola established a great Nanda Vana (garden for the Lord) and built of the Thirumamani Mantapam, the outer walls and the Gopuram.  After his death, the temple was protected by his successors.  As usual every year the Wedding Festival of Sri Kamala Valli was conducted. This festival takes place ;in the Panguni month every year when Lord Sri Ranganatha goes over to Woraiyur for the Thiru Kalyana Utsava of Kamalavalli Nachiyar at Woraiyur.

King Kulasekara

     He was one of the most famous South Indian Kings.  His daughter, Cherakula Valli was given in marriage to Lord Sri Ranganatha.  To commemorate this, many mantapams are built in the third Prakaram.  In this mantapam the Pavitra Utsavam of Lord Sri Ranganatha is conducted every year.  The third of the seven Prakaras is so named after King Kulasekara known as “Kulasekaran Tiruchuttru”.

Aryabatal Entrance

     Before 360 years a rich man form the land of Gods came here to worship Lord Sri Ranganatha with a great mass of wealth.  But he was not given dharsna by the Lord.  So, he stayed at the entrance itself with many watchmen to protect the temple of the Lord. Soon he was drawn to the favour of the Lord and was taken into the special devotion towards the Lord. Even now, this entrance is called the Arya Batal Entrance.

Parakalan (Thirumangai Alwar)

     Before 445 years ago, Saint Parakala built 4 mantapams in the prakara of Rajamahendra and famous Garuda Mantapam.  This Prakara is called the Ali Nandan Tiruchuttru (Thirumangai Alwar Prakara).

Vikarama Chola

    King Vikarama Chola known as Akalangan (Man devoid of vices) built the Fifth Prakaram, three Gopurams and the sacred abode of Sri Ranga Nachiar and many mantapams in the Prakalan Prakaram.  The abode of Lord Narasimha – Mettu Alagiasinga Perumal was built by this king.

Sri Sundara Pandian

    This king embodied the sacred Vigrahas of Cherakulavalli and the Garuda Alwar (Peria Thiruvadi Nayanar).  The king made the Ratna Angi Kavacha for the Utsava Moorthy, Sri Namperumal, and built the Golden Flag Staff of Dwaja Sthamba and made many gold and silver vessels for the use in temple.  He also made many Vahanas for the processions with the wealth of 18 lakhs of rupees.

Vikraman

     This king Vikrama built 4 Gopuram in the Parakalan Prakaram.  The prakaram built by king Vikrama is known as Thiru Vikrama thiruchuttru. This is called the Uttara Street now. Lot of ruins were made to the temple by the invasion of the mohammaden reign.  A musalman king took the Utsava Deity to his capital at Delhi.  Due to the unwearied enterprises of the Srivaishanava Acharya, the stolen Utsave Moorthy was restored. It is understood that the daughter of Musalman king was very much devoted to Sriranganatha and she got herself immuned in the glorious lusture of the Divinity of Lord Sri Ranganatha. Equally as to the Lord daily pujas are performed to the musalman queen in the temple.  Some of the Mohammaden principles are also being observed in the temple even now-a-days. Later on, the temple was brought upto a highest state by the kings of Vijayanagar.  They attended to many of the ruins in the temple and rebuilt the destroyed parts.  They made many valuable Abarnas to the God.  The king Vijayaranga Chokanada Nayak built many mantapams. Even now, some of the gold and Silver made by them are kept in use.