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Hence it is due this reason the deity (in a reclining posture) faces South. When Vibhishan requested him to come along with him, the lord refused but promised to bless Vibhishana by always facing South (the direction of Lanka, home to Vibhishana). When the utsavam got over, the Lord refused to move as he loved the place (Srirangam). He placed the idol on banks of river Kaveri, while an utsavam was in progress. Vibishan took this idol and while travelling towards Lanka, came upon the banks of the river Kaveri. There was a condition that he could not set the idol on earth and if he did it would seat itself permanently. As a symbol of love he gave the idol to Vibhishana (brother of Ravana of the Hindu epic Ramayana) to take back with him to Lanka. Lord Rama performed aradhanam (pooja) to Vishnu's idol ( deity in a reclining posture). Additionally, there is a museum, a library and a bookshop. Inside the temple complex, there is a separate temple dedicated to the goddess Andal. Although, Ramanujar hailed from Sriperumbudur and a pivotal point in his lifetime, receiving the Ashtakshara mantram, happened in Thirukoshtiyur, he made Thiruvarangam his home after the demise of his Acharya in spirit, Alavanthar or Yamunacharya.
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Ramanuja's body is said to come out of the Earth after he was buried and was preserved at this temple. Here he wrote his famous commentaries on the Brahma Sutra, which expressed a qualified non-dualism of the Vedanta, his Vishishtadvaita. Ramanuja (11th century), one of the most celebrated theologians of Hinduism, made his monastic home by the temple at Thiruvarangam. Clothes such as silk sarees, dhoti and towels, which are used for religious purposes are auctioned here. There is a gopuram fully made of gold, which is protected by an electrical fence.
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The southern gopuram of the temple, called the Raja gopuram, is 239.5 feet tall and, as of 2016, is the tallest in Asia. The Sriranganathaswamy Temple complex is composed of 7 concentric walled sections and 21 towers gopuram. The temple town lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Kaveri and Kollidam. There are 21 magnificent towers in all prakaras providing a unique sight to any visitor. These enclosures are formed by thick and huge rampart walls which run round the sanctum. The temple complex is enormous and spans 156 acres (0.63 km 2). Srirangam among a few " self-manifested" shrines (Swayam Vyakta Kshetras) of Lord Vishnu. Angkor Wat is bigger but non-functioning. Srirangam is famous for its Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus (especially Srivaishnavites) and the largest temple complex in India.Īccording to the temple's website, Srirangam is considered the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world, as it covers an area of about 631,000 square metres (6,790,000 sq ft) with a perimeter of 4 km (10,710 ft). View of 3 out of the 17 Gopuram at the Sriranganathaswamy Temple