Srirangam

Srirangam, also known as Thiruvarangam, is an island town in the district of 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 side. 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 m². (156 Acres) with a perimeter of 4 km (10,710 ft).[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:

1. Adi Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna
2. Madhya Ranga: the Ranganathaswamy temple at Shivanasamudra
3. 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 Alwars (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

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 (route #1) is very frequent.