ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SRIRANGAM SRI RANGANATHA SWAMI TEMPLE: GLEENED FROM INSCRIPTIONS

Srirangam was called Vellithirumutha Gramam, in ancient times. At present, it is called Srirangam and Thiruvarangam in Tamil. Srirangam is located in Srirangam Taluk and Tiruchirapalli District, in Tamil Nadu. It is an island, bounded by Cauvery River on one side, and Kollidam (Coleroon) on the other side. This Island is called Thirunavelantheevu, also called Antharangam, meaning the last part of the heaven. The Government Epigraphist describes the temple as, “architecturally, the Srirangam Temple offers many interesting points to the students of Indian Art. It belongs to the uttamottama class of temples, as it has full complement of seven prakaras, running around the garbhagraha and in additions, has separate subsidiary shrines, for all the minor parivaradevatas, as prescribed in the agamas”.  Inscriptions, pertaining to the rule of different dynasties, available at various shrines of the Temple, proclaim the past civilization, trusts, culture and land donation and even flood relief measures in the form of land reclamation. These inscriptions relate to the period of Aditya-I; Parantakan-I; Parantakan -II also known as Sundara Chola; Rajathirajan - I; Athi Rajendran; Kulothungan - I; Vikrama Chola; Kulothungan - II; Rajarajan II; Rajathirajan - II; Kulothungan - III; Rajathirajan - III; and Rajendran - III. The oldest inscription pertains to the period of the Aditya-I, who was also popularly known as Rajakesarivarman. The Vijayanagara Section contains 254 inscriptions and all of them are arranged, in the order of their date, based on the Saka year. The continuous control of the Tamil country, by the Vijayanagara rulers, not only gave it political stability but also guaranteed a steady growth and expansion of the Temple, at Srirangam, in all aspects.