Ranganātha (Sanskrit : रंगनाथ), also known as Sri Ranganatha, Ranganathar, or Ranga, is a Hindu deity, more well known in South India. The deity is a resting form of Lord Vishnu, one of the foremost of Hindu Gods. His consort is Goddess Lakshmi, also known as Ranganayaki, Thayar (mother in Tamil). Most of the deities portray a 'smiling' lord in a reclining position over the celestial serpent Adisesha. This is the form in which he is open to listening to all of his devotee's woes, and blesses them. Apart from being worshipped by all Hindus, this form is of particular importance to the Sri Vaishnava community. His name is Sanskrit for "protector of the place of assembly".
One of the most sacred of Ranganatha temples is Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, Trichy. Of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred places of worship of Lord Vishnu), Ranganatha or the reclining posture of the God can be found in many temples. They include Thirumayyam, Thirukoshtiyur, Koviladi, Kapisthalam, Thiruneermalai, Tiruvallur, Anbil, Appokudathan, Mayiladuthurai, Srivilliputhur, and Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The five sacred Ranganatha temples on the banks of the Kaveri River are popularly known as Pancharanga Kshetrams. Also Kaveri forms small islands in the following 3 places:
The South Indian name Ranganathan is derived from the name Ranganatha.
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