| Mulavar | Sri Ranganathar, Periya Perumal |
| Utsavar | Namperumal, Azhagiya Manavaallan |
| Thayar | Sri Ranga Nachiyar |
| Kshethram | Sri Ranga Kshetram |
| Theertham | Chandra Pushkarani, Vilva Theertham, Naaval Theertham, Arasu Theertham, Punnai Theertham, Maghiz Theertham, Porasu Theertham, Kadamba Theertham, Maa Theertham |
| Pose & Direction | Bujanga Sayanam facing South |
| Vimanam | Pranavaakruthi Vimanam |
| Sthala Vruksham | Punnai |
| Paadiyavar | Pei Alwar, Boodhath Alwar, Poigai Alwar, Periyalwar, Kulasekara Alwar, Andal, Thirumangai Alwar, Thondaradi Podi Alwar, Thirumezhisai Alwar, Thiruppan Alwar, Nammalwar |
| Travel Base | Trichy |
| Nearest Railway Station | Sri Rangam |
Location & Access
It is located in the middle of the Trichy town. It is hardly 5 kms from Trichy, well connected by road and rail. The temple is located on the Trichy-Madras road. After crossing the River Cauvery Bridge while coming from Trichy, we can see the temple Rajagopuram. While coming by Train we can get down at Sri Rangam Station. We can either stay at Trichy or at Sri Rangam, with all facilities available.
History
The deity here resembles the Lord as He is in Srivaikundam. Once Lord Brahma meditated on Lord Vishnu and obtained the Sriranga Vimanam, depicting the posture of Lord Vishnu as in Srivaikundam. Lord Brahma performed His creation duties only after worshipping the Sriranga Vimanam. Lord Surya’s grandson, King Ikshvaku, worshipped Lord Brahma and brought the Sriranga Vimanam to Earth, installing it in Ayodhya. The Surya Dynasty from King Ikshvaku to Lord Rama worshipped the Sriranga Vimanam.
After His Pattabishekam, Lord Rama gifted the Sriranga Vimanam to King Vibhishana of the Eezha (Lanka) Dynasty. While King Vibhishana was carrying the Sriranga Vimanam to Sri Lanka, he placed it on the banks of River Cauvery & Kollidam. When Vibhishana tried to unearth it, he couldn't, as Lord Vishnu had granted a boon to River Cauvery that He would remain on Earth and wear her as a garland.
Lord Vishnu appeared before him and declared that Lord Ranganathar would lie here facing Sri Lanka. The Sriranga Vimanam was situated near Trichy on the Cauvery banks where King Dharmavarma of the Chola Dynasty erected a shrine. Following a major Cauvery flood, the temple was submerged. Generations later, King Killivallavan was resting under a tree when a parrot revealed that Lord Ranganathar lay beneath. He unearthed and renovated the Sriranga Vimanam, naming the location Sri Rangam. This temple is the foremost of the Nava Rathnam Temples, representing Ranga Rathnam.
Architecture
This temple is the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu and is considered the supreme temple of all Vaishnavite shrines, also known as Adhi Rangam. It is renowned for its grand proportions:
- Temple Name: Periya Arangam
- Mulavar Name: Periya Perumal
- Thayar Name: Periya Piraati
- Concentric Enclosures: The only temple having Seven Inner Circles (Prakarams).
- South Tower: The Rajagopuram stands at 236 feet, making it one of the tallest towers in South-East Asia.
- Garudalwar: Houses the largest Garuda idol among Vaishnavite temples.
The Seven Prakarams (Inner Circles): (a) Boologam (surrounded by Maadangal), (b) Buvarlogam (in memory of Thiru Vikrama Cholan), (c) Suvarlogam (in memory of Killi Cholan), (d) Maharlogam (in memory of King Thiru Mangai), (e) Janoologam (in memory of King Kulasekaran), (f) Thaboologam (in memory of King Rajemahendra Cholan), and (g) Sathyalogam (in memory of King Dharmavarma Cholan).