Srirangam

Srirangam stands as the koil — the temple, par excellence — in all of Vaishnava theology, the first and greatest among the 108 Divya Desams. Situated on the island of Srirangam in the Kaveri river at Tiruchirappalli, the Ranganathaswamy temple covers 156 acres within seven concentric rectangular prakarams (enclosures), making it the largest functioning Hindu temple complex on earth. The outermost gopuram, Rajagopuram, soars to 73 metres and is visible for miles. Lord Ranganatha manifests here in a unique reclining posture (Bhujanga Sayana) on the serpent Adi Shesha, facing south — one of the very few Vishnu temples oriented this way. All twelve Alvars composed hymns here; Nammalvar's Tiruvoimozhi, the Tamil Veda, culminates in passionate verses about Ranganatha. The saint-poet Andal and Ramanuja, who is entombed inside the temple complex, have the deepest historical ties to this site. The annual Vaikunta Ekadasi festival sees the Paramapada Vasal (Gate of Heaven) open for just one night, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

In the Puranic tradition, Brahma gifted the vigraha of Ranganatha — originally worshipped in Vaikunta — to Maharishi Vibhishana to carry to Lanka after Rama's victory. When Vibhishana rested at the Kaveri delta, the deity refused to be lifted again, declaring this island his abode. Rama himself is said to have blessed this site, making it a place where his devotee Vibhishana could worship eternally.