Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Origin of the Name - Perumal usually appears with his discus and conch. The presiding deity and the procession deity of the temple are holding a bow too known as Sarngam, hence the name of the Lord Sarangapani.

The temple faces West direction and built in Chola style of architecture. The Raja gopurams of the temples of Tamilnadu are noted for their height. Srirangam tower is 236 feet tall and that of Srivilliputhur is 165 feet. A 147 feet tall 11-tiered Raja gopuram and is a grand sight from all around. There are about 5 other smaller gopurams in the temple. The 11-tiered Raja gopuram was built by the efforts of a devotee called Lakshmi Narayana Perumal. There are sculptures depicting the Bharata Natya Karanas, as enunciated in the Natya Shastram - on the first tier of the gopuram, in contrast to other temples (such as Chidambaram) where they are seen on walls. The Sarangapani Temple existed during the Pallava period. However, the current structure is attributed to the period of Vikrama Chola (1121 C.E. onwards). Later, the Cholas built the superstructure of the 11-tiered gopuram but the tower was actually completed by the Vijayanagara rulers. Before the Sri Rangam Temple gopuram (tower) was built, this temple used to hold the place for the tallest temple tower in South Asia. The immensely lofty tower 173 feet in height and 90 feet and 51 feet in length and breadth shall speak a lot about the grandeur of the gopuram and the splendour of Sri Sarangapani who abides therein. Vaideeka Vimana – tower above the sanctum sanctorum is in the form of a Ther (temple Car) with massive wheels and drawn by Horses and Elephants.

The temple is enshrined within a huge granite wall in an area of 3 acres and has 3 Prakarams. In Bharatnatyam, a South Indian dance form, 108 karanas form the basic movements. Some of these karanas are sculpted around the walls of the temple. This is one base of the mandapa there is an inscription (293) attributed to. Guru Parampara prabavam by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jiyar, Periya Tiru Mudi Adaivu by Anbillai Kandadiappan, Yatindra Pranava Prabavam by Pillai Lokacharya, commentaries on Divya Prabandam, Guru Parampara (lineage of Gurus) texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the Azhwars and their works. Hemarishi Mandapam in the middle of the temple. In the sanctum there is a beautifully carved out 12 pillared mandapa going by the Tirumamani mandapam reminiscent of the similar mandapa at Sri Vaikuntha and hence it is axiomatic to call this kshetra a Bhuloka Vaikuntha like Sri Rangam. There is a koneru named as Hema pushkarini (Portamarai kulam).