Vishal5555 at 04:29, 6 February 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Ranganatha Perumal Kovil
| image =Thiruvarangam12.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|12|00|10|N|79|03|42|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kallakurichi district|Kallakurichi]]
| location = Adhi Thiruvarangam
| elevation_m =
| deity = Ranganatha Perumal ([[Vishnu]]), Ranganayagi ([[Lakshmi]])
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator = Medieval Cholas Vijayanagara kings
| website =
}}

'''Adhirangam Ranganathaswamy temple''' or '''Old Srirangam Ranganatha Perumal Temple''' is a [[Hindu]] temple dedicated to [[Vishnu]] located in Adhi Thiruvarangam in the Taluk of [[Sankarapuram]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], it is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas and Vijayanagar kings. It covers an area of {{convert|5|acre|sqm|abbr=on}} and has a historical grain storage container. It is classified one among the 108 [[Abhimana Kshethram]] of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavate]] tradition.

[[Ranganatha]] Perumal is believed to have appeared to king [[Mahabali]] and the Alvars at the temple's site. Six daily rituals and a dozen yearly festivals are held there, of which the chariot festival, celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Chittirai'' (March–April), is the most prominent. The temple is open from 6 am to 7:30 pm. It is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
{{multiple images
|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=left
| total_width = 400
|image1=Thiruvarangam1.JPG
|height1=2448
|width1=3264
|image2=Thiruvarangam6.JPG
|height2=2448
|width2=3264
|footer=Shrines of the temple
}}

As per Hindu legend, a demon king named Somukan stole all the [[Vedas]] from the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s and all the sages were worried. They appealed to Vishnu, who appeared as Ranganatha at this place to emerge from water to rescue the scriptures. He is also believed to have advised [[Brahma]] at this place. As per another legend, a king named Surakeerthi who was childless worshipped Vishnu at this place to get children. [[Chandra]], the moon god, lost all his glow on account of a curse he incurred. The celestial deities advised him to worship Vishnu at this place. He established a tank and worshipped Ranganatha with the holy waters and believed to have been relieved off his curse. The temple tank, Chandra Pushkarani, is believed to be the tank he established.<ref name=dinamalar/> The celestial deities wanted Vishnu to show them his true form during a night time. Pleased by their devotion, Vishnu is believed to have appeared in Rangantha form and give darshan permanently.<ref name=Malai>{{cite web|title=Adhi Ranganathaswamy temple|url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/devotionaltopnews/2018/12/22091351/1219345/adi-thiruvarangam-Ranganathaswamy-Temple.vpf|language=Tamil|date=22 December 2018|accessdate=4 October 2020|publisher=Malaimalar}}</ref>

==Architecture ==
[[File:Thiruvarangam8.JPG|200x200px|thumb|left|The historical granary]]
The temple has a flat raja[[gopuram]], the gateway tower and is surrounded by tall granite walls. The temple covers an area of {{convert|2|acre|sqm|abbr=on}} and has two precincts. The presiding deity, Ranganatha Perumal, has an imposing image measuring {{convert|29|ft|m|abbr=on}} made of mooligai silai(idol made with herbs) and is seen in reclining posture in the sanctum. The five headed snake [[Adisesha]] is sported as an umbrella for the presiding deity made of stucco. The sanctum also houses the image of Sridevi near his head and Bhudevi near his foot. The festival deity, Rangarajan along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi are also housed in the sanctum. There is a mace made of silver located near the arm and the image of [[Garuda]] seen in praying posture is located near the foot of the presiding deity.<ref name=C>{{cite book|title=Vishnu temples of South India volume 4|last=Madhavan|first=Chithra|year=2007 |isbn=978-81-908445-3-6|pages=143–47|publisher=Alpha Land Books Pvt. Ltd.|location=Chennai}}</ref> The images of Alvars are housed in the hall preceding the sanctum. The central shrine is approached from the gopuram axially through a four pillared mani mandapam and pillared halls of mukha mandapam and artha mandapam. The shrine of Ranganayaki, the consort of Ranganathar is located in a shrine parallel to the sanctum. The temple has a historical grain storage container made of brick located in the south east corner of the temple.<ref name="dinamalar"/> The granary is one of its kind as in other temples like [[Srirangam]], [[Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval|Jambukeswarar Temple]] at [[Tiruvanaikaval]] and [[Palaivananathar Temple]] at [[Papanasam]]. It is believed that farmers in the region store their grains in the temple, which also accommodates contributions of the donors to the temple.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ancient granaries at Srirangam Temple lying in neglect|date=17 July 2011|work=The Hindu|last=S.|first=Ganesan|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/ancient-granaries-at-srirangam-temple-lying-in-neglect/article2234608.ece|accessdate=9 April 2017}}</ref> There are shrines of Kodandarama, Hanuman and Krishna around the sanctum. The shrine of Ranganayagi has sculpted pillars made in Vijayanagara style. There is a huge foot of Vishnu is seen around the western side in the first precinct.<ref name=C/> In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=HRCE>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|page=216|access-date=4 October 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009010850/https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Festivals and religious practices==
{{multiple images
|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
| total_width = 400
|image1=Thiruvarangam9.JPG
|height1=2448
|width1=3264
|image2=Thiruvarangam11.JPG
|height2=2448
|width2=3264
|footer=Pillared Vijayanagar shrines of the temple
}}
The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 7 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandamkalam'' at 7:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Ranganatha Perumal and Ranganayagi. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the ''[[Vedas]]'' (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the [[Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu#Dvajasthamba and Pali Peedam|temple mast]]. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Adi Ranganathaswamy temple|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=103|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502043615/http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=103|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 May 2012|publisher=Dinamalar|accessdate=9 April 2017}}</ref> The image of the presiding deity is made of stucco and hence sacred ablutions are not performed for it. The temple follows Vaikasana Agama. The festivals associated with Vishnu like [[Vaikunta Ekadasi]], Krishna Janmashtami, Ramanavami and Adi Pooram are celebrated in the temple. The prime temple festival, the Brahmotsavam, has been suspended for many years on account of poor patronage.<ref name=C/>

==Religious significance==
It is considered one among the 108 [[Abhimana Kshethram]] of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavate]] tradition. The temple is considered a Periya Perumal temple, meaning the image of presiding Ranganathar is larger than the one found at [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Ranganathar Temple]] at [[Srirangam]].<ref name=dinamalar/> The temple finds mention in the [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] work ''[[Skanda Purana]]''.<ref name=C/> As per the temple records, the temple is believed to be older than the [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Ranganathaswamy temple]] at [[Srirangam]] and hence came to be known as Adhi Rangam, meaning the original Rangam.<ref name=Malai/> Following the legend of Moon gaining his sheen, the temple tank where Chandra obtained his sheen back is called Chandrapushkarani, otherwise the [[Thenpennai River]]. The Ranga Vimanam given to [[Vibhishana]] and was installed in Srirangam temple, is believed to have been formed naturally in this temple. The Ranga vimanam in the temple is in the form of [[Om]], is believed to be an amalgamated form of [[Vaishnavism]]. The festive deity is taken to a hill named Maiyanoor, located {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from the temple. It is believed that [[Kedilam River]] was formed in the hill when [[Garuda]] scratched the hill with his beak.<ref name=Malai1>{{cite web|title=Adhi Ranganathaswamy temple|url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/devotionaltopnews/2017/01/19102624/1062977/thiruvarangam-ranganathar-temple.vpf|language=Tamil|date=19 January 2017|accessdate=4 October 2020|publisher=Malaimalar}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Famous Vishnu temples|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Tiruvannamalai district]]
[[Category:Abhimana temples of Vishnu]]

Adhirangam Ranganathaswamy temple - Revision history

Vishal5555 at 04:29, 6 February 2026