ART-0525 Shri Rangam: The Temple on the Island

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Shri Rangam is closely connected with the Shri Vaishnava tradition and Ramanuja. See Teachers’ Books pages 134 (picture of Shri Rangam) and 138.

Shri Rangam is on an island on the Kaveri River. This was the capital of Tipu Sultan, the famous ruler of Mysore from 1782 to 1799 C.E. There is an important Shri Ranganatha Vishnu Temple here. The Sri Rangam Temple, dating back to the Tenth Century, is the largest in India, and there are seven walls surrounding it. There are also seven roads leading to Sri Rangam.

Shri Ranganatha is a large 21 foot long black stone deity of Lord Vishnu reclining on Ananta Sesa (the serpent couch). Gautama Rishi and the River Goddess Kaveri are at his feet.

Shri Ranganatha is the first deity to be worshipped in this universe by Lord Brahma. Later the worship of Shri Ranganatha was passed onto Surya (the sun god) and eventually to King Ikshvaku, who established the worship of the deity in Ayodhya. Later, after Lord Rama’s victorious return to Ayodhya from Lanka, the Lord gave many valuable gifts to everyone who had served him. To Vibhishan (Ravana’s brother) for his selfless and devoted service, Rama presented the deity of Shri Ranganatha.

While Vibhisan was returning to Lanka from Ayodhya, together with Shri Ranganatha, he stopped on the banks of the Kaveri River where King Dharma Varma resided. Previously this great King had received a promise from Shri Ranganatha that he would one day stay in the kingdom. After a few days when Vibhisan wanted to resume his journey, he tried to lift Shri Ranganatha, but to no avail. The deity informed Vibhisan of his promise to the King and of his wish to remain on this beautiful island.

Several generations later the whole of Shri Rangam was submerged by floodwater. Later another King excavated the temple and thus the temple was renovated and restored by the next generation of Kings.

Shri Rangam is situated 90 miles from Bangalore.