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| commons.wikimedia.org/ |
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| Srirangam Old Mottai / Rayagopuram, rarebooksocietyofindia.org |
Above image: Gateway (south) at Sri Ranganatha Swami temple, Srirangam (1847) near Tiruchirappalli, now Tamil nadu (then part of Madras Presidency). "This is plate 23 from James Fergusson's ''Ancient Architecture in Hindoostan'. It is the largest temple complex in the world and the gateway sketched by Fergusson is incomplete: the tower had not yet been added. Even at that point of time the temple was well-known for its annual Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival (December-January), dedicated to Vishnu. The scale of the gateway, 21 towers or gopurams with seven prakara and a host of amazing sculptures left a lasting impression on Fergusson. The temple was founded in the 11th century and additions were made between the 13th and the 17th centuries. The gateways and the towers are made of brick and plaster centuries back increasing in size from the innermost enclosure. The tower over the sanctum -garbagriha is a small one, an important element in Dravidian temple design unlike Nagara style (common in Odisha, etc) in which the tower over the innermost sanctuary is a tall one. No sooner had the Vijayanagara rulers begun the construction of the tower than the war (Battle of Talikota; 23 January 1565) between them and the alliance of the Deccan sultanates forced them to leave the work on the gate midway. After the downfall of the Vijayanagara rule in the 16th century during the reign of Achutha Rayan, the work on the Rajagopuram also stopped forever until 1979
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| Srirangam Rajagopuram with 13 kalasams at top. shutterstock.com |
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f Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple South Gopuram,Srirangam,Alamy.com |
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| 13 tiered tallest Gopuram in Asia Srirangam, reddit.com |
In the vaishnavite anthology, Srirangam Ranganathar temple, no doubt, has a rare distinction of having religious, historical and cultural preeminence all combined into one. A hub of Vaishnavism, the hallowed island in between the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers, since March 1985, has become one of the important pilgrimage centers in India. In that year yet another feather was added to this great and largest functional temple in the world covering about 156 acres of land - about 631,000 square meters (6,790,000 sq ft) with a perimeter of 4 km (10,710 ft). Yes, the historic event was the consecration of the new Rajagopuram piercing the sky at a height 232 feet with its 13 tiers. Dimension of the Base of the tower is 133 feet by 97 and that of the crown is 98 by 32 feet. A veritable symbol of spirituality and Sana Dharma, the majestic new Rajagopuram (tower) has added more splendor to the beauty of this holy temple replete with beautiful architecture, meticulously carved sculptures and big mantaps supported by ornate pillars.
On this occasion, when the temple is busy making preparation for the ensuing annual Vaikunda Ekadasi festival, 2023, it is our duty to pay obeisance / pranama to the late 44th pontiff of Sri Ahobila Mutt Srimad Azhagiya Singar Jeer Swamigal, who had the Rajagopuram construction work successfully completed despite his age and failing health. The tall tower that we look at today with awe is the result of 8 years of toil by about 200 workers daily backed by indomitable spirit of Jeer Swamigal and his dedication to a mammoth endeavor ever taken by a mutt's head. The expenses were met by way of public subscriptions, private donations, money from state governments, various mutts, etc. the total cost ran into roughly rupees one crore and forty-seven lakhs. The massive tower with new embellishments dominates the landscape and skyline for miles around, while the remaining 20 gopurams that were built between the 14th and 17th century adorn the other parts of the temple
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 gopram, Srirangam - remembering 44th pontiff of Sri Ahobila Mutt who built the tall tower){kind=link}