Pancharanga Kshetrams

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Artistic representation of the deity Ranganatha.

The Pancharanga Kshetrams (

Hindu temples, dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of the deity Vishnu, on the banks of the Kaveri River
. The five Pancharanga Kshetrams in the order of their successive locations, on the banks of the Kaveri River are:

The

Srirangapatna
called the Adi Rangam, the first temple on the banks of the Kaveri River from the upstream side;

The Shivanasamudra called The Madhya Ranga, Karnataka,

The

Srirangam (island in Tiruchirappalli) in Tamil Nadu
known as Kasthuri Rangam or Anthya Rangam (the last temple),

Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple at Tiruindalur in Mayiladuthurai or Mayuram and Vatarangam near Sirkazhi, also listed as Sri Renganatha Perumal Temple, Vadarengam, Tamil Nadu, 609108.[1]

The

Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam is mentioned in place of Vatarangam in some references.[2][3][4]

Locations of the Pancharanga Kshetrams
Srirangapatna
Srirangapatna
Shivanasamudra
Shivanasamudra
Srirangam
Srirangam
Appalarangam
Appalarangam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Tiruindalur
Tiruindalur
Vadarengam
Vadarengam
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Temple locations

Sri Ranganatha Temple, Srirangapatna

Main article:
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna
The temple of Ranganatha in Srirangapatna

Also known as Adiranga, the temple is located on the banks of the Kaveri in

Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan.[8][9]

A Nayaka ruler who ruled over Srirangapatna built the fort there and also expanded the Sri Ranganatha Temple complex with the treasures he found there. His descendants ruled until 1495, when Srirangapatna was taken over by

Muslim Ruler Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan's father.[6]

This temple is known as the eastern (Purva) Ranganatha Kshetram, while the similar temple in the western part of the Cauvery River, also in an island is called the Paschima Ranganatha Kshetra.[5]

The temple is 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the Mysore city in the town of Srirangaptna, which is named after the deity, Sri Ranganatha in the temple.[11] The annual Ranganatha Swamy temple fair is held at the temple premises in the month of Pausha (December/January).[citation needed]

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam)

Main article:
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam)
Pre 1987
Post 1987
Rajagopuram (Main tower)

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is located on the eastern shores of the

Satyaloka in the heavens where he offered daily puja. This was then brought to Ayodhya by King Ikshvaku after several hundred years of penance, and was passed down over generations to Ikshvaku's descendant Rama, an avatar of Vishnu himself and hero of the epic Ramayana. Rama then presented it to Vibhishana, who assisted him in killing the demon-king of Lanka and Vibhishana's elder brother, Ravana. However, when Vibhishana was taking the image to Lanka, he stopped en route on the banks of the Kaveri to bathe at Srirangam, and thereafter the deity wished to dwell there itself, and since then it is under continuous worship at this location.[13][3][12] Since Vibhishana was very forlorn by the decision of the Lord, Ranganatha faces south towards Lanka to placate Vibhishana.[13] One more legend mentioned is that river goddess Kaveri requested Ranganatha to reside at Srirangam.[citation needed
]

The temple is also known for the legend of

Sri Vaishnava sect. She got married symbolically to the Ranganatha icon (Vishnu) as per her deep desire. The marriage took place in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple when Andal (said to be an incarnation of goddess Lakshmi) merged with the image, and became a part of Ranganatha.[14]

Another incident related to the deity of this temple is of a Vaishnava Saint (Vipra Narayanar) who lived in the 7th century and composed hymns in praise of the Lord. He was born in a village called Thirumandangudi on the banks of the Kaveri River and was a staunch devotee of Ranganatha of Srirnagam. He came to live in Srirangam and used to make garlands for the deity. However, he fell in love with a

Naalayira Divya Prabhandam (4000 divine hymns).[15]

The temple location is in an island formed by the Kaveri River and the stream

griffins, idols of gods and men and animals (tigers). The space between the walls of the temple complex has the well planned complete city of Srirangam with roads and houses.[12][16] It is stated to be the largest temple in South India.[citation needed
]

asuras or demons. [17]

Parasara Batttar, well known poet of the times who has written a commentary on

tulsi) garland on the chest (favorite of Vishnu), Kaustubha, Vaijayanthi hara (a necklace) and a few other ornaments, which once formed the divine jewelry of Krishna, the avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu, are also decorating the image of Ranganatha.[18]

Sri Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple

Main article: Sri Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple
Koviladi Appala Ranganathar temple

The

108 Divya Desams[19] and also one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams.[4]

The main deity in the sanctum is Lord Ranganatha, in a reclining pose and considered adi, meaning fore runner, to the Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple at Srirangam. The temple tower is in the shape of Indira's

Ganesh. According to the legend of the place, King Upamanyu and Parasara Rishi saw the Lord Appakudathan here, and King Upamanyu is stated to have offered appam (pancake) as a food offering to the god, and hence the lord got his name as Appakudathan. Indra's pride was destroyed by this god and also removed the fear of death from the mind of Markandeya Rishi and also King Upari Siravasu was blessed free of sins and curses. Saint Periyalvar sang the Mangalashasanam, a hymn in praise of the Lord, in front of the god before he attained moksha or salvation.[20]

Sarangapani Temple

Main article: Sarangapani Temple
Gopuras of the temple in Kumbakonam

The Sarangapani Temple on the banks of the Kaveri River at

Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu, India, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Kumbakonam railway station.[4][21]

The deity in the temple is Sarangapani, an incarnation of Vishnu. According to a legend, when saint Hema Rishi did penance, Vishnu appeared to him from Heavens driving a chariot drawn by four horses and elephants. The temple depicts this scene in the sanctum sanctorum (central chamber of the temple) and the chariot opens out on either side. According to this legend the hermitage of the rishi became the Pottramarai tank of the temple.[22]

Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

Main article:
Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple

The Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desams. It is located on the banks of the Kaveri River, in

bandit-turned-Alvar saint Parakal, known for his devotion to Ranganatha. Lord Vishnu transformed him by teaching the Narayana mantra or Ashtaksara (the eight syllabled) – "namo narayanaya", turning the robber into a saint who then starts singing the first verse of Peria Thirumozhi/ Peria Thirumoli (Vaadinen Vaadi).[23][24][25] Then Lord Ranganatha agrees to permanently reside in his town Tirunakari as Parimala Perumal and Parakal built a temple for him and remained there permanently offering prayers to the god.[23] god.[26] The Temple town is now known as Thiruindaloor in Mayiladuthurai taluk of Mayiladuthurai district
in Tamil Nadu.

The practice of playing

sahityam or music based literature or lyrics to go with it. Then a beginning was made by renowned musicians who composed a rakti, a musical composition with 2 to 8 notes according to their skills and then played it in Parimala Ranganatha Temple. Thereafter, it became a popular rendition in the nadasvaram. The rakti (lyrics) played in the Parimala Ranganatha temple at Tiruvizhandur was made famous by Tiruvizhandur Subrahmanya Pillai and Kurainadu Natesa Pillai, who were among the reputed rakti players of an earlier generation. Sri Radhakrishna Pillai was also a well known player of this instrument in recent times.[27]

Sri Renganatha Perumal Temple, Vadarengam

The last place in this list is known as VadaRangam as it is situated north of all these places (Vada in Tamil means north) or as Vata Rangam as the temple was once located in a forest of banyan (vata in Sanskrit) trees.[1] Though there are not many banyan trees in the area today, the single tree found near the temple lends credence to this view. There is also an ancient Shiva temple, Jambukeswara here. This place is considered to be as holy as Srirangam as the temples of Lords Ranganatha and Sri Jambukeswara are situated close to each other. However, both the temples are in a highly dilapidated condition now due to the ravages of nature and the fury of the floods in the Kollidam. The river was once flowing near the temples after taking a turn towards the north (Utharavauhini). A river that flows from the south to the north is considered to be particularly sacred. A major part of the village of Vatarangam was washed away by floods in the early years of the 20th century. Likely since then, the temple at Kumbakonam has become a more popular pancharanga sthalam.

This place was known as Punnagavana Kshetram in the Satya Yuga, as Thulasivanam in the Treta Yuga, Vagularanyam in the Dvapara Yuga and Vataranyam in the Kali Yuga. There are many legends associated with this temple. Ranganatha's Moolavar idol is very small when compared with those in other places, and hence it is known as Balarangam. Lord Jambukeswara, referred to as Jambunathar here, is worshiped in a separate shrine though not much is known about the sthalapuranam. The Goddess here is known as Akhilandeswari.

To reach this place one has to travel on the Chennai-Chidambaram road, pass through Coleroon and Sirkazhi and then branch off the main road and travel a distance of 12 km before reaching Vatarangam. It is situated between Sirkazhi and Vaitheeswarankoil.

See also

  • Divya Desams
  • Nava Tirupati

References

  1. ^ a b "Vatarangam, seat of Hari and Haran". The Hindu. 18 April 2003. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  2. ISBN 978-81-7755-280-5
    .
  3. ^ a b Dalal 2011, p. 339.
  4. ^ a b c d "Pancharanga Kshetrams". Indiantemples. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  5. ^ a b Ayyar 1982, p. 596.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-81-7478-062-1
    .
  7. ^ A., Raman. Bangalore – Mysore: A Disha Guide. p. 105.
  8. ^ Tiger of Mysore Gallery BBC
  9. ^ Alqarzavi, Allama Yusuf. Islam: Muslims & Non Muslims. p. 54.
  10. ISBN 978-1-85756-607-9
    .
  11. ISBN 978-1-4116-5669-7
    .
  12. ^ a b c d Deshpande 2005, pp. 274–275.
  13. ^ a b Deshpande 2005, pp. 363–64.
  14. ^ Dalal 2011, p. 28.
  15. ^ Dalal 2011, p. 118.
  16. ^ Howard Malcolm (1839). Travels in south-eastern Asia, embracing Hindustan, Malaya, Siam, and China: with notices of numerous missionary stations, and a full account of the Burman Empire; with dissertations, tables, etc. Gould, Kendall, and Lincoln. pp. 69–. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  17. ^ Ayyar 1982, p. 447.
  18. ISBN 978-81-7017-398-4
    .
  19. ^ Ayyar 1982, p. 533.
  20. ^ "Sri Appakudathan temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  21. ^ 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Malai Nadu and Vada Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
  22. ^ Ayyar 1982, p. 324.
  23. ^ VK 2006, p.49
  24. ^ Chari 1997, pp. 29–32
  25. ISBN 9781475911817
    .
  26. ISBN 978-0-521-02344-3
    .
  27. ^ The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras. Music Academy. 1986.

Bibliography

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