Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna

According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the temple is one of considerable antiquity. An inscription at the temple reveals it was constructed in 894 CE by a local chief called Tirumalaiah, a vassal of the Western Ganga dynasty. Earlier mentions of the existence of the deity at Srirangapatna have been made, this indicates that a temple was likely built atop an already existing shrine of Raṅganāthaswāmi. In the early 12th century, Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana (r. 1108-1152 CE) granted the village of Srirangapatna to the Vaishnava saint Ramanujacharya as an agraharam (place of learning). An inscription of the great Hoysala King Veera Ballala II (1210 CE) confirms that additions and renovations were made to the temple at that time. The tower over the entrance bears features consistent with Vijayanagara architecture. According to historian George Michell, contributions were also made by the Wodeyar kings of the Kingdom of Mysore. The temple is just 400 metres away from Tipu palace. The temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance. According to historian K.V. Soundararajan, the Ranganatha temples in South India built during the 9th and 10th centuries have a systematic arrangement of subsidiary deities as seen in this temple along with the Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple at Koviladi, Sowmya Narayana Perumal temple at Thirukoshtiyur, Veeraraghava Perumal Temple at Thiruevvul and Rajagopalaswamy temple at Mannargudi. == Temple plan ==

The temple has an imposing tower over the entrance gate (gopura) and two large concentric rectangular enclosures (prakara) around its perimeter. The entrance to the inner sanctum (garbhagriha) is through multiple columned halls (mantapa). == Gallery ==

File:Gopura and prakara of Sri Ranganathaswamy temple on the island of Srirangapatna near Mysore in India.jpg|A profile of the gopuram (tower) over entrance in the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna File:Outer Wall SW Ranganatha Swamy Temple Srirangapatna Jan24 A7C 08954.jpg|Prakaram (outer wall) viewed from south-west File:Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna Karnataka India including Rama and Krishna.jpg|A view of the entrance into the main temple hall (mukhamantapa) with Vishnu avatars such as Narasimha, Vamana, Rama and Krishna on top File:Inner courtyard with lathe turned pillars in Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna.jpg|Lathe turned pillars, a Hoysala addition to the temple, in the inner open mantapa (hall) in the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna File:Srirangaswamy Temple, Srirangapatana 15.jpg|A view of the prakara (bounding wall) in the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna File:Decorative stone pot for pradakshina (circumambulation) in Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna.jpg|A relief sculpture on a minor shrine on a pedestal in the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna File:Srirangapatnam14.JPG|A relief sculpture on a minor shrine on a pedestal in the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna File:Minor mantapa facing a small kalyani (temple tank) in Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna.jpg|An open mantapa (hall) inside the complex in the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangapatna File:Chariot at Srirangapatna.jpg|Chariot at Sri Ranganathaswamy temple == See also ==