RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE

The Sri Ranganathaswamy temple is dedicated to Ranganatha (a form of Vishnu in a reclining position). It is part of a group of 5 temples located along the Cauvery river, all dedicated to this god. The construction of the temple started in 817 and was consecrated in 849. It then underwent multiple additions that make it a unique heritage mixing architectural periods.

History. The shrine was first erected, funded by a dancer called Hambi. The mandapa (entrance hall) was added in the 10th century by a local chief under the Ganga dynasty. In the twelfth century, the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana ceded the village to the Vishnuist saint Ramanujacharya for use as an agraharam, a place of learning. An inscription left by the Hoysala king Veera Ballala II in 1210 mentions renovation and additions. In 1454, Thimmanna, one of the custodians of the temple, entered the court of King Vijayanagar. On his return, he built the fort, the wall around the temple and the gateway with a gopuram (large tower). When the village of Srirangapatnam fell into the hands of the Vijayanagar kingdom, one of the king's representatives enlarged the town, built an inner wall around the temple and added five steps to the main entrance, which he also had framed with two elephant statues.

The temple. The temple is surrounded by a double prakara (wall). Its entrance is surmounted by a high gopuram entirely decorated with statues and niches. The main temple sits in the middle of the courtyard and is flanked by smaller temples. A pushkarni (holy pool) is located on the right after the entrance. The pediment of the main temple is decorated with a garland of kudu and sala (small decorative towers) forming niches. Inside the niches, small statues representing Vishnu have been installed.

The sanctuary. Vishnu is lying on the rings of the Adisesh snake and sheltered by a canopy formed by the 7 heads of the snake. The many-headed serpent is one of the first creatures of the universe and is known to sing the glory of Vishnu without respite. Laxmi, the wife of Vishnu, stands at his feet. The god is surrounded by some of his consorts from the Hindu pantheon: Sridevi (manifestation of Laxmi), Bhudevi (earth goddess) and Brahma (the Creator). You will have to stand in line with devotees chanting the famous mantra made famous in the West by the ISKCON movement, "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare" to reach it.