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 Srirangam, a dream fulfilled “It is well known that I am 85-year old man. At this age Ranganatha gets into my heart and goes on dictating, non-stop”: who was that old man what was the Lord nagging him about? It was Srimad Srivansatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikan,  the 44 th  head of Sri Ahobila Matam. Ranganatha appeared in his dreams and asked him to construct, or complete the incomplete “mottai gopuram” at Srirangam. The tallest temple gopuram that has become an iconic symbol of the most important Vishnu temple, and the largest functional Hindu temple in the world happened only in the 1980s and it was the Jeeyar’s dream and the word he gave to Ranganatha that made it possible. Srimathe Srivansatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikan   The 44 th head of Sri Ahobila Matam Srirangam temple despite its importance and size was not a money spinner. In fact, people in the know say how till the time the Rajagopuram happened the salaries at the te...

Bateshwar today needs no introduction. Thanks to the mammoth restoration work, and one of the significant temple restorations in the country, the story of Bateshwar reconstruction actually is pretty well known by now. This remote place off-Gwalior and off-Morena in Madhya Pradesh has been a huge laboratory chiseling and perfecting the north Indian Nagara style temples. Bateshwar temples are credited to the time of Gurjara-Pratiharas who have been bulwarks against the Mohammdan invasion till Kannauj fell to Mohammad Ghauri in 11th century. Ravages of time, intensified by its history and geography the temples were nothing but huge heaps of rubble when the Archaeological Survey of India started the restoration work, well documented by archaeologist K.K.Muhammad.  The temple complex today has over 40 temples restored, and among them many do not have murtis in the garbhagriha, and only one temple in the whole complex is under worship apart from the Hanuman murti in the complex. The temp...

  Sirkali Arunachala Kavirayar (1711-1779) When the Ayodhya temple Bhumi Pujan activities started, the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam sent prasadam, waters from Kaveri, vastrams, garlands to Ayodhya. Many in the north may not know, but those who know the sthalapurana of Srirangm, the legend of the Pranavakara Vimana and the Ranganathaswamy can make the connection between the temple in deep south and Ayodhya Raman. Arangan (Ranganatha) was the aradhya deity of the Ikshvaku dynasty and Rama had gifted it to Vibishana after his coronation. Somehow Vibishana and the Lankans had to cede Arangan to Aranganagarvasis (residents of Srirangam) and so he had made the island between the Kaveri and Kollidam rivers his abode since then. This is not just a puranic lore, the memory of Ramayana’s association with the Srirangam temple has manifested in the medieval and later times in a very interesting way.   Kamba Ramayanam is world famous, as a Tamil recreation of the adi kavya of ...