Srirangapatna Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple – History and Story

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple – History and Story

Srirangapatna (at Mandya In Karnataka), originally called Srirangapuri, is an island town surrounded by the river Cauvery. The town is renowned for the ancient Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, along with several other shrines. Among all, the temple of Sri Ranganatha, the reclining form of Bhagavan Srihari Vishnu, is the most significant.

Early History of Srirangapatna Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

• The inner sanctum of the temple was built in 817 A.D. by a woman named Hambi, belonging to a community of dancers.

• In 894 A.D., during the Ganga dynasty, Thirumalaraya constructed the Navrang Mantapa and the shrine of Bhagavan Tirumala (Srinivasa).

• In 1117 A.D., Sri Ramanuja, after escaping from the Chola country, arrived here. The Hoysala ruler Bittideva converted to Vaishnavism under Ramanuja and became Vishnuvardhana.

• Ramanuja received land grants from the king and appointed administrators known as Prabhus or Hebbars to oversee temple services.

Vijayanagara Period

• In 1454 A.D., Hebbar Thimmanna returned from Vijayanagara and built the fort around the town, the large temple compound wall, and the main gateway.

• A Vijayanagara representative, Srirangaraya, expanded the town and constructed the inner prakara, steps near the main gate, and placed two stone elephants at the entrance.

• His wife Alumelamma, a devout woman, donated many ornaments to the Goddess. These ornaments were traditionally placed on the Goddess every Tuesday and Friday.

Alumelamma’s Curse

• When Srirangaraya became ill and childless, he handed over administrative authority to the Mysore king, Sri Raja Wodeyar.

• Raja Wodeyar insisted that Alumelamma’s ornaments remain permanently on the Goddess. Alumelamma, fearing conflict, fled to Talakad.

• Pursued by soldiers, she leapt into the Cauvery at Malangi, uttering the famous curse:

  1. Talakad should become a desert of sand.,

  2. Malangi should become unfathomably deep.,

  3. The Mysore kings should have no children.

• After her death, Raja Wodeyar built her idol in the temple, worshipped especially during Dasara, a tradition that continues today.

Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan

• Between 1610 and 1799, Srirangapatna was the capital of Mysore.

• In 1761, Hyder Ali became commander-in-chief. Deeply devoted to Lord Ranganatha, he is believed to have experienced divine guidance.

• A famous episode describes how, during a battle, Hyder prayed to the Lord and the Godavari river temporarily dried up, allowing his army to escape.

• Annual Dhanurmasa Kotarothsava festivals were grand events attended by Hyder, the royal family, and common people.

• In 1774, after a fire during festivities, Hyder immediately ordered the construction of a stone Mantapa, known as the Pathala Mantapa, which is still used for the festival.

• After Hyder’s death, Tippu Sultan took control. Some temples in the region were damaged during this time, but Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple remained protected, owing to Hyder’s devotion.

• To pay war tributes, Tippu gave away some temple ornaments, some of which eventually reached the Kremlin.

Wodeyar Restoration

• In 1799, after Tippu’s death, the Wodeyars regained power.

• Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar moved the capital back to Mysore, continued temple traditions, and built a Mantapa for processions.

• His successor, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, constructed the Chamrajendra Memorial Choultry and the Rajghat steps to the Cauvery.

• Festivals such as Sakkare Pongal Utsava and Kotarothsava continued under royal patronage up to the mid-20th century.

Srirangapatna Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Stories

Origin of the Deity

According to legend:

• Lord Ranganatha originally lay facing east, resting on Adisesha, with Goddess Lakshmi on his chest and Goddess Cauvery at his feet.

• Goddess Cauvery and Lakshmi worshipped him here.

• Gods such as Brahma and Rudra also worshipped the Lord at this spot.

• Brahma instructed sage Narada in the Pancharatra mode of worship here.

Gowthama Maharishi’s Story

• During an ancient famine, Sage Gowthama faced jealousy from other sages, who tricked him by making it appear he had killed a cow.

• Gowthama left on pilgrimage and eventually reached Srirangam, where the Lord instructed him to find the place where Adi Ranga had originally established himself.

• Gowthama travelled through sacred sites—Thamaraparni, Mahendra mountain, Sahyadri, and the source of Cauvery—before reaching Srirangapatna.

• There, with other sages, he performed a sacrifice.

• Lord Ranganatha appeared and revealed that His murti rested within a tulasi grove inside an anthill.

• With the help of Kamadhenu, the anthill was washed away and the sages had darshan of the Lord.

• The place was named Gowthama Kshetra, and the temple tower Brahmananda Vimana.

• The day of Gowthama’s first worship is celebrated as Sri Ranga Jayanti, with early-morning Abhisheka, Vairagi Seva, and a grand night procession.

Sri Ranga Saptaha & Thula Month

• After the Jayanti, Gowthama and the sages conducted a seven-day festival ending with the Lord’s appearance on Garuda—celebrated even today as Garudotsava.

• During the Thula month, sages prayed for the sanctity of the region. The Lord granted that bathing in the Ashtatirtha during this time would grant fulfillment of desires and liberation.

• Even seeing or feeling the breeze of the Cauvery at this sacred place is believed to purify devotees.

Srirangapatna, enriched by centuries of royal patronage, legends, and devotion, stands as one of the most sacred centres for worship of Lord Ranganatha. Its history blends spirituality, royal legacy, and mythology, making it a revered pilgrimage site.