|
|
|
Description
The
temple of Srirangam is situated at 10 degrees 52’N and 78 degrees
42’ E towards the southern tip of India
on an Island formed by two arms of the River Cauvery.
The temple covers a vast area of about 6,31,000 Sqm. (156 Acres).
The temple consists of seven Concentric rectangular enclosures
round the sanctum sanctorum. The
temple of Srirangam is the only one in India with seven enclosures, a
sacred symbolic number which for present day Vaishnava believers
represents either the seven centers of Yoga, or a reference to the seven
elements making up the human body, in the center of which dwells the
soul.
Seventh enclosure The
gopuras of the seventh enclosure are unfinished. They are called Rayagopuram.
The impressive dimensions of their bases prove that when
finished, they would have risen to a height of at least 50.m. The
sixth enclosure has four gopuras; the eastern gopura is the most
impressive of all on account of its size the inscriptions in Thirteenth
Century characters. The
processional cars are kept in this enclosure. Fifth enclosure The
fifth enclosure contains the Shrine of Manavala Mamunigal in the Chola
Style. In
the fourth court, non-Hindus may admire in its southern wing the Temple
of Venugopala Krishnan, whose outside walls are decorated with very
beautiful sculptures in high relief like young women playing the Zither
(Veena) or with a parrot or putting the finishing touches (Tilaka) to
their appearance before a looking glass.
A climb to the terrace overhanging this temple affords a general
view of the Temple of Srirangam. This
court also has a museum with highly interesting objects.
Non-Hindus are also admitted to the eastern courtyard of this
enclosure, which is dominated by the Vellai gopura.
In the south there exists the famous Sesharayar Mandapa.
Opposite to this mandapa can be seen the Hall of Thousand
Pillars, wherein the Statues of God and Goddesses, Alwars and Acharyas
are set out for the great annual festival of Vaikunta Ekadesi in
December and January. The
third enclosure has the Karthikai gopura where leading to the Garuda
Mandapa, which consists of 14 rows and it, is the most beautiful Mandapa
in the Temple. In the
western wing kitchens and rice storehouses are found.
In the eastern part of this wing is the sacred tank
(Chandrapushkarani), which has been hollowed out in the form of a circle
with flights of steps in the east and west.
The eastern wing contains several isolated sanctuaries and
mandapas. To
reach the second enclosure one must go through the Southern Aryabhattal.
The whole of this second enclosure, which is comparatively
narrow, strikes the visitor by its pervading full light, since there is
an almost broken series of mandapas.
Towards the northeast corner are the kitchen premises of the god;
here in the past were kept the milk and gifts of food, which were
distributed, to pilgrims. The
visitor at last reaches the first enclosure to which, like the second,
there is only one entry, by a gate in its southern part; the Nazhikettan
Gopura and on either side has images called Sankhanidhi and Padmanidhi,
the conch and the lotus respectively, which are the attributes of
Vishnu. To the southwest storerooms have been fitted up.
Large mirrors have been placed in the corners to reflect the
statue of the god when it issues from the sanctum.
In the northwest corner are the Yagasala and the Tondaiman
Mandapa of which ceiling is decorated with paintings of figures.
The eastern part contains two Mandapas- Arjuna Mandapa and Kili
Mandapa.
|