Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna – History

Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna – History

According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the temple is one of considerable antiquity. The tower over the entrance bears features consistent with Vijayanagara architecture. According to historian K.V. Soundararajan, the Rangantha temples in South India built during the 9^th and 10^th centuries have a systematic arrangement of subsidiary deities as seen in this temple along with the Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple at Koviladi, Sowmya Narayana Perumal temple at Thirukoshtiyur, Veeraraghava Perumal Temple at Mannargudi and Raja Gopala Swamy Temple at Mannargudi. According to historian George Michell, contributions were also made by the Wodeyar kings of the Kingdom of Mysore. The temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance. 

Under Western Ganga Dynasty:

The garbha-Gudi or sanctum-sanctorum of Lord Ranganatha Temple in Srirangapatna was built in 817 A.D by Hambi – a dancer. An inscription at the temple reveals it was first consecrated in 984 A.D. by a local chief called Tirumalaiah, a vassal of the Western Ganga dynasty. Tirumalaiah got constructed the Navaranga Mandapam and the temple of Lord Thirumala (Srinivasa) at the left side portion of the great Mahadwara.

Under Hoysalas:

Sri Ramanuja escaped to this part in the year 1117 A.D due to Chola persecution of Vaishnavas. Sri Ramanuja converted the Jain Hoysala King, Bittideva to Vaishnavism and named him as Vishnuvardhana. Hoysala King Vishnu Vardhana (r.1108-1152) granted the village of Srirangapatna to the Vaishnava saint Ramanujacharya as an agraharam (place of learning). Sri Ramanuja got from this ruler much wealth and the lands of eight villages. An inscription of the great Hoysala King Veera Ballala II (1210 A.D.) confirms that additions and renovations were made to the temple at that time.

Under Vijayanagara Empire:

Hoysala Kings nominated certain office bearers named as prabhus or Hebbars to administer over the service of the Lord. Then the Hebbar Thimanna by name went to Vijayanagara and became an official called as Dayanayaka in the court of the king of Vijayanagara. He returned from Vijayanagara and got constructed the fort for the town and the big wall for the temple and the big gate in front. Later the town of Srirangapatna came under the direct control of the Vijayanagara King. One of the representatives of these kings, Sri Ranganatha by name enlarged the town and got constructed the inner prakara in the temple five steps at the big gate and 2 stone elephants on both sides. 

His wife Alumelamma was a great devotee and righteous women. A good number of ornaments were made by her, and they would be made to be worn by the Goddess on every Tuesday and Friday. Alumelamma would have a darshan of the Goddess with ornaments on. Srirangaraya began to suffer much from a wound in the back, so he could not look after the administration of the state. He had no Children. As then the Mysore king was efficient he sent word for the Mysore King Sri Raja Wodeyar and gave over the administration of the kingdom to him. He then retired to Malangi near Talakad and ended his life there after some time.

Even after the death of Sri Rangaraya the practice of putting the ornaments to the Goddess on Tuesday and Friday continued. One Friday Shri Raja Wodeyar came to the temple for darshan. On learning the ornaments would be returned to Alumelamma after the end of the day, Sri Raja Wodeyar insisted that they should not be returned to her but should be on the Goddess at all time. But by this time, Alumelamma had not returned some ornaments. Sri Raja Wodeyar demanded her of these ornaments.

Alumelamma thought it would be unwise to stay there and escaped to Talakad. Some soldiers followed her. In order to escape from them she jumped into the deep water of Cauvery near Malangi uttering a curse that Talakad will become a desert and the Mysore Kings should have no children. Immediately the Malangi became very deep. And around it great sandy desert arose. The Soldiers could not find her out. Even now one can see that Talakad is in the midst of a great sandy area and that Malangi water are very deep. 

On hearing the curse uttered by Alumelamma and her ending at Talakad. Sri Raja Wodeyar became greatly grieved and arranged the construction of an idol of Alumelamma in his place and offered to worship magnificently on a large scale during Dasara. This custom has continued even to the present day. One can see the idols of Sri Rangaraya and Alumelamma near the Dwarapalakas in the temple. One of the ornaments given by Alumelamma the jewel for the nose, can be seen even now. This jewel is said is as big as lime fruit, but has been gradually decreasing in size.

Under Hyder Ali Rule:

From the year 1610 AD to 1699 AD, the town of Srirangapatna was the capital of the Mysuru kingdom. In the year 1690-91 AD, the Mysuru king Sri Mummudi Krishnaraja Wodeyar appointed Hyder Ali as the commander-in-chief. Hyder was a great devotee of Lord Ranganatha. Once, when enemy troops had entered into the border of Mysuru territory, Hyder started with an army, to stop the enemy. However, the enemy was stronger and Hyder’s army was stuck between the River Godavari and the enemy troops.

Hyder was confused and despondent. He prayed to Lord Ranganatha for help. Immediately the river dried up, so that the Mysuru army could cross the river. When the enemy troops tried to follow them, the river was in floods and the enemy could not cross it. Hyder returned with his army safely to Srirangapatna and once again, after offering prayers to the Lord, he started with his army to fight the enemy and returned victoriously.

Every year in the month of Dhanur, from the 21^st day onwards grand Utsava of the Lord called Kotarotsava is held. For the celebrations, a big kothara was constructed and on the day of the Utsava, it is decorated to appear magnificent. This Mandapam is also called as Ranga Mahal. During the Kotarotsava, each day, Seva is offered by the royal family. On the 9^th day, the Lord is adorned in Mohini Alankara and the Seva is performed by the Maharaja. Music and dance performances for the pleasure of the Lord, add to the undiminishing charm of this festival.

To witness the festival, many people including the members of royal family, Hyder, and Hyder’s people would gather in the temple. In the year 1774 AD, when the Kotarotsava was being celebrated, on the 8^th day, all of a sudden, a fire broke. The Maharaja was hurt little by this little accident. In order to avoid any inconvenience to the festival in future, Hyder instantly got a stone Mandapam constructed at the very same place. The next day, the new Mandapam was ready before the commencement of the festival. The new Mandapam was named Pathala Mandapam. From then onwards, the Kotarotsavas are celebrated in the Pathala Mandapam.

Under Tipu Sultan Rule:

After the death of Hyder in 1782 AD, his son, Tipu became the commander-in-chief of Mysuru army. Tipu drove the king out and became the sultan himself. Then the Mummudi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was only 5 years old. In order to protect him from Muslims, he was kept in the 5^th floor of the temple tower. During his rule, some of the temples were also destroyed. On seeing that the temples were being destroyed, priests of some temples protected the temples by putting on rooves similar to that of houses on the temples.

One such temple is Sri Janardhana Temple in the Poornaiah street in the town. The priests of other smaller temples brought the Deities secretly to Ranganatha temple and installed them within the temple. These Deities are of Lord Krishna, Sri Pattabhirama and Sri Gopala Krishna playing on the flute. All these Deities are marvel of beauty. No one dared to cause any damage to Sri Ranganatha temple as Hyder was the devotee of Lord Ranganatha.

In the fight with British, Tipu was defeated. He had to pay a large sum of money as tribute to the British. But he had no sufficient money with him. He took few valuable ornaments from the temple and gave them to the English. Later some of the ornaments went into the hands of the French and then moved to Russians. They can be seen even now in the Kremlin. The remaining ornaments were those of Lord Ranganatha. These were considered to be the donation of Tipu. On them he got the following line carved ‘donated by Tipu Sultan’.

Under British and Wodeyar Rule:

When Srirangapatna fell into the hands of the British in 1799 AD, Mummudi Krishnaraja Wodeyar made Mysuru as his capital and appointed Poornaiah, as his divan. This king continued to get puja done on the ninth day of Kotarotsava. He got a Mandapam constructed in his birthplace and arranged for the procession of the Lord to the Mandapam. Later 4^th Krishnaraja Wodeyar got constructed the Sri Chama Rajendra Memorial, in memory of his father.

He also got constructed the flight of steps to Kaveri, so that the devotees can easily get down to the river to take holy bath. This place is called as Rajghat. Later the Mandapam which was originally constructed by the Mummudi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was enlarged and around it a garden of flowers and Thulasi was made for the use of Lord’s worship.

The Lord would be taken in a procession to this Mandapam on the birthday of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. The celebrations on that day would be called the Sakarapongala Utsavam. These Utsavams were being celebrated even upto 1953-54 and on the day of the Utsavams that was being done in memory of the Mummadi King the Courtiers and other important persons of the Palace would attend the celebrations.