Srirangam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Srirangam
திருவரங்கம்
Tiruvarangam
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Neighbourhood
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| Tiruvarangam | |
Aerial view of the Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam in Srirangam
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 Srirangam
Location in Tamil Nadu
Srirangam
Location in India
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| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| City | Tiruchirappalli |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Tiruchirappalli City Municipal Corporation- Srirangam Zone |
| Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Population
(2001)
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| • Total | 181,556 |
| Language | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN |
620006
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| Telephone code | 91–431 |
| Vehicle registration | TN-48 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Tiruchirapalli |
| Legislative Assembly constituency | Srirangam |
| Website | http://srirangam.org/ http://trichycorporation.gov.in |
Srirangam is a special neighborhood in the city of Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, India. It's like an island because it's surrounded by two rivers: the Kaveri River on one side and its branch, the Kollidam River, on the other.
Srirangam is famous for the Ranganathaswamy Temple. This temple is the largest temple complex in India. It is also known as the biggest working Hindu temple in the world. Many followers of Vishnu, called Sri Vaishnavites, live here.
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What's in a Name?
The old Tamil name for this place was Tiruvarangam. The name comes from a story about a holy idol of Vishnu. This idol, called Sriranga Vimana, is believed to have gotten stuck here.
In Tamil, an "arangam" is an island found between the winding branches of a river. So, this place became known as Srirangam in Sanskrit and Tiruvarangam in Tamil.
The Amazing Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangam is best known for its huge Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. This temple is a very important place for Hindu pilgrims, especially for those who follow Sri Vaishnavism. It is the largest temple complex in all of India.
According to UNESCO, the Srirangam temple is the biggest working Hindu temple in the world. It covers an area of about 631,000 square meters (about 156 acres). Its outer walls stretch for 4 kilometers. Another famous temple, Angkor Wat, is bigger but is no longer used for religious services.
The Srirangam temple is one of the few Vishnu shrines that are believed to have appeared on their own. The temple has seven prakaras, which are like large walled enclosures. These walls get shorter as you move closer to the main shrine. There are 21 tall towers, called gopurams, around the temple.
The tallest tower is the southern gopuram, known as the Rajagopuram. It stands 239.5 feet tall and was the tallest in Asia in 2016. Building the Rajagopuram started a long time ago, but it was not finished for over 400 years. It was finally completed and blessed in 1987.
In the past, the entire city of Srirangam was inside the temple walls. People often called it a Hindu "religious utopia," meaning a perfect place to live.
The Srirangam temple is one of three important temples dedicated to the deity Ranganatha. These three temples are all located on natural islands in the Kaveri River:
- Adi Ranga: The temple at Srirangapatna in Karnataka.
- Madhya Ranga: The temple at Shivanasamudra in Karnataka.
- Antya Ranga: The temple at Srirangam in Tamil Nadu.
Inside the Srirangam temple, there is a special tower made completely of gold. It is protected by an electric fence. The temple also has a separate area for the goddess Andal. You can also find a museum, a library, and a bookshop within the complex.
The Story of the Temple
According to local stories, the Hindu god Rama once worshipped an idol of Vishnu here. He gave this idol to Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana from the epic story Ramayana. Rama told Vibhishana not to put the idol down on the ground. If he did, the idol would stay there forever.
While Vibhishana was traveling, he stopped near the Kaveri River. He placed the idol down during a festival. When the festival ended, the idol would not move. Some say this happened because Vishnu loved Srirangam so much.
Vibhishana asked Vishnu to come with him. Vishnu refused but promised to always face south. This is why the idol of the deity, who is shown lying down, faces the south.
Later, kings like Dharmavarcholan and Killivalavan helped build the temple to its current large size. They built the main foundations and buildings.
Much later, during the Vijayanagara Empire, Emperor Krishnadevaraya also supported the city. He gave many treasures and lands to the Srirangam temple. During his time, the temple was rebuilt, and many plans were made to help the city grow.
Ramanuja, a famous Hindu thinker from the 11th century, made Srirangam his home. He wrote important books about Hindu philosophy here. It is believed that Ramanuja's body is preserved at this temple.
Where is Srirangam?
The Kaveri River splits into two branches at a dam called the Upper Anaicut. The Kollidam River flows north of Srirangam Island. The main Kaveri River flows to the south.
Another dam, the Grand Anaicut, is at the eastern end of the island. It divides the Kaveri River into four streams. One stream joins the Kollidam, cutting off Srirangam Island on its eastern side.
The island is about 19 kilometers long and 1.5 kilometers wide. The town of Srirangam is in the middle of this island. Most of the island is part of the Srirangam zone of the Tiruchirappalli Municipal Corporation. It includes areas like Thiruvanaikaval and Srinivasa Nagar.
What People Do Here
Srirangam has a strong economy because of its famous temple. Many tourists and pilgrims visit the town. The number of visitors increases a lot during festivals, like Vaikunta Ekadashi.
There are many other famous temples near Srirangam. These include the Pillaiyar Rockfort temple and the Tiruvaanaikovil temple.
Many people in Srirangam also work in offices and factories in nearby Tiruchirappalli. Public buses connect Srirangam to Tiruchirappalli very often.
Learning in Srirangam
Srirangam has many schools, both private and public. The Higher Secondary School for Boys was started in 1896. It is the oldest school in the town. There is also a Higher Secondary School for girls that is almost as old.
Other schools include Sri Vageesha Vidhyashram and Chinmaya Vidyalaya. Most schools teach in English. Some also teach in Tamil, and some offer both. Many students also travel to schools in Tiruchirappalli.
Getting Around Srirangam
By Air
The closest airport is Tiruchirappalli International Airport. From here, you can fly to cities like Chennai, Singapore, and Dubai.
By Rail
Srirangam has its own railway station. You can reach it from Chennai by train in about 5 hours and 10 minutes. Only some trains stop at Srirangam. Most stop at Tiruchirappalli Junction. From there, you can take a bus to Srirangam Temple.
The Tiruchirappalli Junction is a major connection point. It links to many cities in southern India, like Thanjavur and Madurai. It also connects to cities in western and northern India, like Pune and New Delhi.
By Bus
The Tiruchirappalli Central bus stand has direct buses to most parts of Tamil Nadu. From there, you can take local buses, taxis, or auto-rickshaws to Srirangam.
City bus route number 1 runs between Srirangam and the Central Bus Stand. Buses run every 5 minutes, all day and night.
