Thursday 19 March 2020

RANGANATHAR TEMPLE / ARULMIGU ARANGANATHA SWAMY THIRUKOVIL, SOWCARPET, GEORGE TOWN, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU.

19th January 2020
It was a long wish to explore the congested streets of George Town and Sowcarpet areas of the old black town in Madras City. Many temples were existed before the British came to Madras and many temples constructed during their periods also. This Ranganathar Temple is about 100 meters from Arunachaleswarar Temple on Mulla Sahib Street.

Moolavar  : Sri Ranganathar
Consort    : Sri Ranganayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with a mottai gopuram ( Rajagopuram base  without super structure ). Deepa sthambam, balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudan.  The sanctum sanctorum comprises of three Sannadhis. Moolavar stucco image is on the mukha mandapam. Keeping moolavar Moolavar Ranganathar  at the centre on his right is Nammalwar and on his left is Ramanujar.  Moolavar Ranganathar with 4 hands reclining posture on Adiseshan keeping his head on south side facing north. Brahma is from his naval and Sridevi and Bhudevi are at his feet in sitting posture. Processional deity is Sri Parthasarathi, who was brought from Thiruvallikeni/ Triplicane.

Like moolavar sannadhi, Thayar Sannadhi is built with three sannadhis. On right of Thayar Krishna as Venugopalan Sannadhi. Venugopala is with Bama & Rukmani. Cattle is shown behind Venugopala.
     
In Prakaram Anjaneyar, Thulasimadam, Srinivasa Perumal, Sri Varadharajar Sannadhi. Pathamandapam, Yoganarasimhar and Alwars. In Ramar Sannadhi Rama is with Sita, Lakshmanan, Bharata and Shatrughna. Hanuman is in kneeling posture with hands are in anjali hastam.

ARCHITECTURE
The Sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam, mahamandapam and mukha mandapam. The Vimanam is called as Ranga / pranavakara Vimanam. The koshtams are empty. On the back side of the sanctum Periya Thiruvadi and Siya Thiruvadi ( Garudan & Hanuman ) are facing each other in worshiping posture in the form of stucco image bas-relief.  The Vimana is of two tiers with stucco images of Ramar, Sita and Lakshmanar and Varahamurthy with Sridevi & Bhudevi on the back side, Ranganathar and Lakshmi Narasimhar on the south side, Vaikunthanatha and Kalinga Narthana Krishna, Venugopala are on the north side.  Mukha mandapam was built during Vijayanagara nayak period.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple is more than 200 years old with a 1824CE Telegu inscriptions. A Telegu inscription tablet, about thirupani or the renovation of the sanctum is laid on the wall . As per the inscription the work was started in 1959 and completed in 1960. The names of the donors are inscribed and some of the names are inscribed in Tamil. Interestingly many people donated 116 Rupees ( why this denominations, is it auspicious ?). The Highest amount donated was Rs 5000 by a single person.

FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS.
This temple is a abhimana sthala for the Sri Parthasarathi of Thiruvallikeni. Brahmotsavam in Panguni, Rama Navami, Vaikunda Ekadesi, Andal Neerattam, Rapathu, Pakalpathu, Krishnar Jayanthai are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
The temple office landline number +914425290387 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:
This temple is on the Mulla Sahib Street, in the midst of Sowcarpet where  north Indian population is more in this area.
The temple is about 3 KM from MGR Central Railway Station.
The nearest Railway station is MGR Central Railway Station.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Sri Ranga Vimana
 Ranga Vimana Back side





---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--

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