Shri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (Rangasthala) — Attraction in Karnataka

ஆங்கிலத்தில் எழுதுவதற்கு மன்னிக்கவும்.

Came to know about this temple via the internet. From the moment we saw the Wonderful unique rajagopuram we decided we should visit this temple without fail in our life time.

After having a wash and having a cup of tea in the hotel, though the sun was setting down, still we decided to give it a go. The temple was about 7 kms from the hotel.

Managed to take some pictures of the temple, When we visited, there was a lot of crowd in the temple, we thought people are visiting the temple, no we were wrong, they were doing a cine shooting inside the temple. hmm

We requested the priest to show us the aarathi to the lord and he was kind enough to do that. He also gave us flowers from the lords feet as prasadham. Wow wow wow it was simply unbelievable.

Temple faces south, Lord Ranganatha faces south with his head pointing to west direction. Thaayaar faces west. Kodimaram present. Wonderful and unique 7 tier rajagopuram present and faces south.

The Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Rangasthala, has a fascinating history and significance.

At the end of the Treta Yuga, when Lord Rama defeated Ravana and returned to Ayodhya, a coronation ceremony to crown him the king was held. Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana, also attended it.

As a token of gratitude and appreciation, Lord Rama gifted Vibhishana, an idol of Lord Ranganatha, in a bamboo basket to carry to Lanka.

Commemorating Lord Rama’s noble gesture, the Saptarishis or the seven sages, installed an idol of Lord Ranganatha and began worshipping it.

Later the Hoysala rulers, in addition, built a magnificent temple enshrining Lord Ranganatha.

As per popular belief, devotees attain Moksha or liberation when they visit the Rangasthala temple after worshipping the Lord in Srirangapatna, Shimsha and Srirangam. Hence the Lord bears the name ‘Moksha Ranganatha’ in Rangasthala.

Ranganatha is called Adi Ranga in Srirangapatna (Karnataka), Madhya Ranga in Shimsha (Karnataka) and Antya Ranga in Srirangam (Tamil Nadu). Seeing these three temples from dawn to dusk on a single day is said to have had Triranga Darshan. The Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Rangasthala, thus serves as a sequel to the Triranga Darshan.

They say that the idols of Lord Ranganatha in Srirangapatna, Srirangam and Rangasthala were installed on the same day.

Furthermore, Guru Parashara Bhatta composed the Sri Rangaraja Stotra praising the Lord in Rangasthala somewhere during the 12 century A.D.

The presiding deity, Lord Ranganatha, is about four and a half feet long and is carved of a single Shaligrama stone. He reclines on the serpent Adishesha with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi. The deity’s features are very appealing, and he has an enchanting smile. Hence, the Lord here is also acknowledged as Jaganmohana (the enchanter of the universe).

Definitely a wonderful temple to visit if you are...

Ranganatha Swamy Temple rangastala

It js Situated in Chikkaballpura. It's around 60kms from Bangalore. Chikballapur is the District Headquarters of the newly created District of Chikballapur in the State of Karnataka, India.

Chikballapur is about 57 km north of Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), the silicon plateau of India. The north-south National Highway NH-7 goes through the town, functions as the Main Street of the town, and is locally known as Bengaluru-Bellary Road or BB Road.

The stone statue of Vishnu is simply splendid. The black stone sculpture carved in the Vijaynagar style .

History:

In photos you can see are a Saligrama Moorthy and Saptharishi did the Prathistaparu(Build). The Moorthy's at Srirangam, Srirangapatana and Sri Rangastala all were installed on the same day and same time. Outside praharam and Gopuram etc were constructed by Vijayanagara Kings. There is a praharam around garbhagriha. If you closely observe you can observe as if the garbhagriham is in the shape of a Bamboo Basket we assume that Sri Ranganatha is in the middle of the basket. One more interesting story which we got is During Lord Rama's Patabhishekam Vibhishana also comes to attend it and in the end Rama presents a Lord Rangnatha's moorthy in Bamboo basket and Vibhishana is compelled to do the Prathistai in Srirangam and to commemorate the occasion the Saptharishi s do the Prathistai of Lord Ranganatha with Bhoo and Neela Devi here in Rangasthala. SO the Lord appears as if he is in Bamboo basket.

The idol of Ranganatha is four and half feet in length with Bhoo and Neela Devi sitting near the leg. Lord is in Yoga Nidra and his Shesha is spreading his five hoods like a Umbrella. And Vainatheyan is sitting below . In the wall there are Sapthrishis ,Brahma, Ashta Dhikbalakas, Rambha ,Urvashi ,Pancha Ayudham's etc. and it appears as if Lord is in Vaikunta and he is surrounded by all the gods. And All Devatha's etc they are doing Namaskaram to Lord.

How to reach?

Nearest Railway Station:Chikkaballapur Nearest Airport:Bangalore Road Transport:To reach Rangasthala: From Bangalore, then Travel towards Chikkaballapur , then once you reach Chikkaballapur ask for Bus stand / Gauribidanur road Then if you travel 5 kms on Gauribidanur road on Right hand side you will find the Sign...

A long drive, outside the "hustly" "bustly" Bangalore city, not too far too, to appreciate the wonders of creations of our ancestral rulers and historic beings. The Sri Moksha Ranganatha Swamy temple at Rangasthala, a temple constructed and dedicated to the future generations by the rulers of the Hoysala dynasty and subsequently developed and improved by rulers of the Vijayanagar period. Located at about 60 km from Bengaluru city, 6 km from Chickaballapura, on the Chickaballapura - Ranebennur state highway, amidst the Nandi Hills range of mountains, refreshing lush green surroundings. According to the history, the statue, carved out of a single Saligrama boulder, was installed by the Sapta Rishis (Sages) in commemoration of the idol gifted by Sri Ram to Vibhishana after winning over Ravana, which is said have been installed at Srirangam in Tamil Nadu. The idols at Srirangapattana, Srirangam and this Rangasthala are said to be installed on the same day and the same muhurtham. Hence, people who visit the three Ranganatha Swamy temples, viz., Adi Ranga, Madhya Ranga and Anthya Ranga are supposed to visit this Ranganatha at Rangasthala to attain Moksha. Hence this deity is called Moksha Ranganatha. The deity is very beautiful and mesmerising. The sanctum sanctoram is in the form of a basket symbolising the gifting of the idol to Vibhishana in a basket. The temple is located in a serene atmosphere, is vast and beautifully depicted with wonderful carvings and sculptures on the Dashavatharas and the lifestyles of that period. There are two Kalyanis (sacred water tanks) in the form of the sacred Shanku and Chakra Thirthas. The entrance Raja Gopura is quite huge and magnificent with a huge statue of GarudaGaruda in the foreground over a pedestal. It gives a wonderful sense of happiness and fulfilment having visited this historic temple after a long drive away from the...