Srirangam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the town in Tamil Nadu, India. For information about the famous Hindu temple situated in the town, see Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam) page
| Srirangam | |
  Srirangam
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Tamil Nadu - Tiruchirappalli |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
- 70 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (1991) - Density |
70,109 - |
| Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle |
- 620006 - +91-431 - TN-48 |
Srirangam (Tamil: ஸ்ரீரங்கம்), also known as Thiruvarangam, is a small island town adjoining Tiruchirapalli ( also known shortly as Trichy or Tiruchi) in South India. Srirangam is bounded by the Kaveri River (also known as Cauvery river) on one side, and the Kaveri tributary Kollidam (Coleroon) on the other. Srirangam is home to a significant population of Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu, one of the triumverate of Hindu Gods the other two being Lord Siva, the Destroyer and Lord Brahma, the Creator).
Srirangam is famous for its Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus (especially Vaishnavites) and one of the largest temple complexes in India. According to the temple's website, Srirangam can be considered the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world as it covers an area of about 6,31,000 Sqm. (156 Acres) with a perimeter of 4 Km (10,710 feet).[1] Srirangam claims to be the biggest functioning temple, because Angkor Wat is the biggest but non-functioning Hindu temple in the world. The gopuram of the temple is called the Rajagopuram and is 236 feet (72 m) tall, the tallest in Asia. Myth has it that the coast of Sri Lanka can be seen from the top of the gopuram. The temple is constituted by seven prakaras (elevated enclosures) with gopurams articulating the axial path, the highest at the outermost prakara and the lowest at the innermost.
The three sacred Ranganatha temples on the banks of the Kaveri are:
- Adi Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna
- Madhya Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Shivanasamudra
- Antya Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam
Srirangam is the foremost of the 108 Divya Desams (divine centers) mentioned in Nalaira Divya Prabhandham, composed by the Tamil saints known as Alwarss (also pronounced as Azhwars). It is also the foremost seat of the teachings of Ramanuja, who spread the doctrine of Visishtadvaita (qualified monism), considered to be one of the cornerstones of Hindu philosophy. Srirangam temple is the only place to be sung by all Azhwars and visited by all Acharyas (the major devotees who followed the Alwars). There are 247 pasurams (divine songs) about tiruvarangan in Nalaira Divya Prabandam. Some of the famous pasurams include the Pachai Mamalai Pol Meni by Tondaradipodi Azhwar, Kangulum Pagalum by Nammazhwar, Amalanaathipiraan by Thirupanaazhwar and so many others. It is widely believed that Lord Ranganatha appeared as a child and sung the famous Sree Sailesa Dayapathram thaniyan about Sri Manavala Mamunigal. This temple is also noted in Ayyavazhi mythology
Contents |
[edit] Economy
Due to the famous temple, Srirangam has a thriving economy based on tourism. Tourists come from all around India and abroad. The number of tourists to the town increases greatly during the festivals like Vaikunda Ekadesi which falls on the Tamil month of Marghazi. There are many more famous temples near by Srirangam. They include Rockfort temple, Samayapuram temple, Tiruvaanaikovil Temple, Kumara Vaiyalur temple etc.
The town is located in an island with one side river Cauvery and other side by coleroon
Srirangam town is also home to several hundred people who work in offices, industries located in the nearby big town of Trichy. The public transport linking Srirangam to Trichy is very frequent.
[edit] Schools
There are numerous schools, both private and public in the town. The higher secondary school for Boys was founded in 1896 and is the oldest one in the town. However there are many school children who travel to nearby Trichy also.
[edit] Transport
[edit] Air
The nearest airport is Trichy international airport, that has frequent connections to Chennai, though the airport is much smaller by international standards. Indian Airlines (recently renamed as Indian) connects Trichy with Chennai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Colombo. Air Lanka Service connects Tirchy with Colombo.
[edit] Rail
Srirangam has a big railway station that can be reached from Chennai through any of the major trains travelling in the Chennai-Kanyakumari railway track and the approximate journey time is about 5 hours (208 miles). However, Trichy junction, five miles away, is the major connection point and is connected most parts of South India, including Chennai, Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tirupathi, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon, Rameswaram, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore.
[edit] Bus
Trichy Central bus stand has direct services to most parts of Tamilnadu. From the bus stand, a typical cost of an autorickshaw to Srirangam is about Rs.50($1).
City Bus service to all places of tourist interest from Central Bus Stand and from Chinthamani -Main Guard Gate Bus Stand (Both in Trichy). Tourist Taxis, Auto Rickshaws are also available at reasonable rates. Route No. 1 of the City bus service plies between Srirangam and Junction. This route starts from Trichy Central Bus Stand and goes via Trichy Junction Railway Station, Palakkarai, Main Guard Gate, Chatram Bus Stand, Cauvery River Bridge, Mambazha salai, Thiruvanaikkovil and ends at Srirangam Bus Stand near the Srirangam Therkku vaasal (South entrance to the temple. Frequency is one bus every 5 minutes and there are late night trips also one every hour or so.
[edit] Climate
The climate of Trichy (and Srirangam) is Tropical. Temperature Range (°C): Summer- Max. 37.1 °C Min. 26.4 °C; Winter- Max. 31.3 °C Min. 20.6 °C; Rainfall: 835 mm
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Rangam
- Temple Official Site.
- 108 Divya Desams
- Online Hindu Service in Srirangam Temple
- Srirangam Temple in Architectural Perspective
| The River Kaveri |
|
| Dams |
Banasura Sagar Dam | Bangara Doddi Nala | Grand Anicut | Krishna Raja Sagara Dam | Madadkatte | Mettur Dam | Stanley Reservoir |
| Tributaries |
Amaravati River | Arkavathy River | Bhavani River | Hemavati River | Honnuhole River | Kabini River | Lakshmana Tirtha River | Lokapavani River | Noyyal River | Shimsa River |
| Cities and Towns |
Karikal | Kodagu | Kollidam | Kushalanagara | Nagapattinam | Poompuhar | Sivasamudram | Srirangam | Srirangapatna | Talakad | Talakaveri | Thanjavur | Tiruchirapalli |
| Physical Features |
Bay of Bengal | Deccan plateau | Hogenakal Falls | Sivasamudram Falls | Western Ghats |
| Riparian States and Union Territories |
Karnataka | Kerala | Pondicherry | Tamil Nadu |
| Hindu Holy Cities in India |  |
|---|---|
| Allahabad • Ayodhya • Badrinath • Dharmasthala • Dwarka • Gaya • Guruvayur • Haridwar • Rishikesh • Kalahasti • Kanchipuram • Kedarnath • Kollur • Mathura • Mayapur • Nashik • Nathdwara • Puri • Rameswaram • Sabarimala • Somnath • Sringeri • Srirangam • Tirumala - Tirupati • Ujjain • Varanasi • Vrindavan |
