Srirangam Kshetra

The first and foremost of the “Swayam vaktha kshetra” is “Srirangam” out of the eight of its kind. To praise its name and fame, the pages are not enough. Many of the demigods performed penance here and got relieved from their curses and attained their goals by the boons of the Ultimate God Sri Ranganatha.

Many years ago, Lord Brahma performed penance on Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu, by seeing Lord Brahma's devotion, appeared in front of him and gave an option to ask for a boon (varam). Lord Brahma, being a pure devotee, asked for an idol of 'Shree Ranganatha' (the sleeping posture of Lord Vishnu on Adhi Shesha) for his worship. So Lord Vishnu granted the boon.

Many years after this, Ikshvaaku the forefather of Raghu dynasty, performed a very long penance on Lord Brahma. So Lord Brahma was pleased with the king Ikshvaaku's devotion and gave an option to ask for a boon. So king Ikshvaaku asked for Sri Ranganatha's idol which Lord Brahma had and he was worshipping. But still Lord Brahma gave that Sri Ranganatha's idol to King Ikshvaaku, since the penance was sincere

So Sri Ranganathar's idol was passed to his descendants and at last came in to the hands of king Dhasharatha and finally to his son Sri Rama. Hence the idol was worshipped by the entire Raghu dynasty and finally stayed at Sri Rama's hands.

After the completion of war between Sri Rama and Ravana, VibheeShana and all other accompanied Rama in VibheeShana's Pushpaka Vimaanam, Then Sri Rama' Coronation took place. In the End shree Rama asked vibheeShana to request a boon since he was his devotee

Now it was Shree VibheeShana's turn. He took the chance and asked the idol of Shree ranganaadhar, which was worshipped by shree Rama himself. shree Rama granted his wish and handed over Shree Ranganaadhar idol by warning that if the idol should not be kept down until he reaches Sri Lanka . If he places it down then , it will remain there itself.

When Shree VibheeShana was taking the idol to Sri Lanka, he wanted to perform sandhya vandhanam, as it was evening. By that time he was in Srirangam and on the banks of river cauvery and Kollidam. And then appeared Lord Vigneshwar in the disguise of a cowherd boy, and stood in front of VibheeShana. By seeing the cowherd boy, shree VibheeShana requested him to hold the idol until he finishes the sandhya vandhanam, and he should not keep it down. The cowherd accepts and puts a condition that if he is not able to hold the idol due to its weight then he will call VibheeShana three times. And after calling three times, if VibheeShana doesn't come, he will place the idol down. Our cowherd boy calls Shree VibheeShana's name 3 times continuously and immediately places Shree Ranganaadhar idol on the banks of river cauvery.

VibheeShana becomes so anger on our cowherd boy and tries to hit him. But the cowherd boy ran and sat on top of the near by small hillock and takes his own form - Vigneshwar. VibheeShana chases and hits on the head of Vigneshwars head, where even now we can see a slight bump on Vigneshwars idol there (uchchi pillayaar koyil).

Shree VibheeShana returns to the place where Shree Ranganathar idol was placed and felt very sad that he was not able to even lift the idol from that place. At that time, Sri Rangarajar appeared before him and said that whatever has happened is for the sake of world's good and there is no need to worry and also Shree Ranganathar says that though he is in this Bhartha kandam, he will be watching his land - Sri Lanka. And every day it is said VibheeShana comes to Srirangam in the night to do pooja and returns to Lanka in the morning.

Many kingdoms from Chola to Nayakars have done temple works on their ruling period

Among the Alwars, Thondaradippodi Alwar did Nandavana Pushpa Kanikaryam and Our Thirumangai Alwar, also known as Kaliyan did Thiru Madill Kanikaryam.

Here Kavi Chakravarthi Kambar did the Ramayana Arangentram in the Mandapam, then Azhagiasingar (Narasimha Murthy). He is said to have blessed him, this Metu Azhagiasingars Sannidhi is near Thayar Sannidhi .

It is the place where Lord Ranganatha conferred the tittle of Udayavar to Bhagavan Ramanuja. It is the same place where Swami Desikan was Conferred the Kavitharki Simham and Sarvathantra Swathantrar.

It is the place where Manavala Ma Munigal was asked by Nam Perumal to do the Thiruvai Mozhi Kalashepam, then Nam Perumal came in form of a child and recited Sri Saila Dayapatram Dhaniyan on Manavala Munigal.

The Dvaitha philosophy followers were all and are camped in this holy town as their notable Aacharya stayed and praised the Ranganatha in many of their works.

After 1008 Sri Sri Madhwacharya, the prominent personalities who visited this divine land were Sri Swarnavarna teertharu, Sri Sripadha rayaru , Sri Raghuthama teertharu, Sri Vyasarajaru, Sri Vijayeendraru, Sri Vadhirajaru ,Sri Raghavendraru, followed by many, further some of the Vyasaraja math, Sri Raghavendra math, Sripatharaja Math swamiji’s moola Brindhavana are situated in Srirangam.

The idea of the “Devara Nama” (Kannada Divine song) means the hymn of god originally starts from here through 1008 Sri Sripadharajaru.

Not only Vishtaadvaitha & Dvaitha followers Sri Krishna Chaitanya and many visited this sacred land “Sriranga”