Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna

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Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Ranganatha Swamy Temple stands wonderfully in the culturally rich city Srirangapatna (Mandya District) near the city of Mysore. The name of this city is also derived from this temple.

The main deity here is Lord Ranganatha, the manifest form of Lord Vishnu. The idol of the Lord is in a relaxed posture on the bed of serpent Aadi Sesha. Adi Shesha is said to have seven heads and is often shown with Lord Vishnu. It is said to be one of the largest statues of Lord Vishnu. The idol of the Goddess Lakshmi can also be seen next to the feet of the Lord. The goddess Ranganayaki is considered the main goddess here. Other temples within the temple complex are Srinivasa, Ranganayaki, Rama, Narasimha, Sudarshan, Panchmukhi Anjaneya, and Gopalakrishna.

The beauty of the idol of God and the architectural excellence of the temple captivates all devotees. It has enormous carvings and the structure is attractive. Although first built in 894 AD; The temple underwent many renovations and expansions under various regimes such as the Hoysala, Hyder Ali, Vijayanagar and Wodeyar dynasties.

Architecture

One of the main Hindu pilgrimage sites, the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple also offers a splendid example of architectural greatness. Vijayanagar as well as Hoysala style can be traced from its architecture.

The entrance to the temple with four majestic pillars beautifully carved with 24 forms of Lord Vishnu is an example of the Hoysala architectural style that places importance on the artistic side of any composition. Hoysala is said to have appreciated art and crafts as well as the artisans in their creations.. The exquisite works in the temple reflect this style of architecture. Another example is the prostration of the temple that is represented with a wide range of mythology. At the same time, you can see the influence of the Vijayanagar architectural style. The gopurams of the temple represent the Vijayanagara style with intricate carvings. The Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple also has magnificent walls, which are around the forts. There is a Navranga Mandapam around the Sanctorum shrine of the temple.

History

Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple was built in 894 AD. However, many structural changes occurred during the various rulers belonging to the Vijayanagara, Hoysala, Mysore Wodeyars Kings and Hyder Ali dynasty. These kingdoms contributed to the expansion of the temple to a great extent. The current structure along with its entry architecture is also the result of changes during these reigns. The temple was built by the Vijayanagara Empire, while the rulers Hyder Ali and Hoysala made some changes to it. Even the Mysore Maharajas contributed a lot to its expansion.

According to mythology, the Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple is one of the main temples where devotees can achieve spiritual salvation. The Kaveri River is believed to have formed three islands on its way, namely Sivanasamudra, Srirangapatna and Srirangam. Devotees who visit three temples in these places on the same day obtain moksha.