Temple Description

The Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangapatna, Mandya district, Karnataka, is dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu. It is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshetrams revered in the Vaishnavite tradition and is a key pilgrimage site for both Smartha Vaishnavas and Sri Vaishnavism. Located on an island in the Kaveri River, Srirangapatna is named after this temple. As the first of the Pancharanga Kshetrams along the river, the deity here is known as Adi Ranga.

Historically, the temple dates back to around 984 CE, according to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It was originally constructed by Tirumalaiah, a local chief under the Western Ganga dynasty. Historical evidence suggests that the current temple was built over an earlier shrine dedicated to Ranganatha. In the early 12th century, Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana gifted the village of Srirangapatna to the Vaishnava saint Ramanujacharya, and further enhancements were made by King Veera Ballala II in 1210 CE. The temple features Vijayanagara architectural elements, contributions were also made by the Wodeyar kings of Mysore. Situated just 400 meters from Tipu Sultan’s palace, the temple is designated as a monument of national importance by the ASI. The Ranganatha temples from the 9th and 10th centuries, including this one, are noted for their systematic arrangement of subsidiary deities, a characteristic observed in other temples like the Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple in Koviladi, the Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple in Thirukoshtiyur, the Veeraraghava Perumal Temple in Thiruevvul, and the Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannargudi.