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 To the minds of the Vaishnavites, the word ‘Koil’ means only one temple and it is none other than Srirangam, the grand old temple in the Chennai - Trichy chord line, about 335 km. from Chennai and 5 km. from Trichy. Srirangam holds the pride of place of being the first and foremost of all 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desam shrines.
The Temple complex occupies about 156 acres of land - in fact an island - between the branches of the rivers Kaveri and Coleroon. Seven massive walls surround the temple, the total length of all the walls put together comes to a little more than six miles - 32,592 feet to be precise. There are 21 towers in the temple complex, with the Rajagopuram or the main tower measuring 236 feet. The Rajagopuram is a recent construction with 13 tiers, built in the year 1987 by His Holiness the late 44th Jeeyar of the Ahobila Mutt. Actually, the Rajagopuram is built on an ancient structure that was built up to the first level.
The Ranga Vimana
 The legends associated with the temple are many and the history of the temple is steeped in antiquity. Ranga Vimana was originally worshipped by Brahma, which he received from the Lord Himself. Later, King Ikshvaku, son of Manu and the ancestor of Sri Rama, performed severe penance and received it from Brahma. With His blessings, it was worshipped by the family down the generations.
When Sri Rama returned from Lanka, Vibishana accompanied him for his coronation. Sri Rama gifted the Ranga Vimana to Vibishana, who happily carried it to Lanka for installing it there. However, on his way, he had to stay in the banks of the river Kaveri. It was a Saturday in the Tamil month Panguni (March - April), Sukla Paksha Ekadasi, with the star Rohini on the ascendant.
Vibishana stayed there for performing puja. And at the request of the Chola King, Dharma Varma, performed the Adi Brahmotsava there. But to his disappointment, he could not move the Ranga Vimana from there. Strange are the designs of the Lord. Vibishana had to leave it behind for Dharma Varma to build a massive temple and worship for a long time.
The temple was submerged in an unprecedented flood years later. It is said that the river was in spate to such an extent that even the peak of the tower went under the water and soon was covered with silt and sand. Wild growth formed around and over it, turning the area into a jungle. Because of the devastating floods, the capital of the Chola dynasty had to be shifted from Urayur to Thanjavur. People then forgot about the existence of such a colossal structure.
It was by sheer accident that a Chola King went to the jungle surrounding the temple area. It was there that he was prompted by a parrot to look for the Ranga Vimana lying under the ground. The King from then on has come to be known as ‘Kili Kanda Cholan’ (The Chola King who saw the parrot). Kili Kanda Cholan, initiated the excavation work and unearthed the rich treasure house of our tradition and heritage. He carried out additions and alterations and consecrated the temple. He has also added a hall to the temple complex, in memory of the parrot that prompted him, called the Kili Mandapam, which is in existence to this day.
The deity, Alagiya Manavala, passed into the hands of a Mogul princess, when the Moguls invaded the South. The temple was plundered and the idol was carried away to Delhi and presented to the princess. She developed a fancy for the idol, which ultimately took the shape of a deep love, and she had kept it by her side always, in her bedchamber.
 The news about the whereabouts of the missing idol was brought home by a lady, a devotee of Alagiya Manavala, who had followed the Mogul warriors to Delhi. She is known by the name ‘Pin Sendra Valli.’ The Chief Priest then went to the Mogul Emperor and represented for handing back the idol. The princess, unable to bear the separation from her cherished idol, which was taken away from her while she was asleep, came all the way down from Delhi to Srirangam. Finding that the temple was locked at that time, she dropped dead at the entrance.
The deities of Alagiya Manavala and Ranganayaki were taken over to different places and hidden for fear of another attack of plunder. When finally both the idols could be brought back to Srirangam, a separate temple was constructed for the Mogul princess on the north-west corner, where her picture has been installed and bread and butter are offered as naivedhya for her.
Srirangam has the special distinction of being sung by all the Alwars, with the sole exception of Madhurakavi Alwar. On about 120 days, the Utsavamurthy is taken out in procession out of the inner sanctum. Aadi Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in Panguni. The grand Adhyayanotsavam is celebrated in the month of Margazhi, involving the recitation of the Prabandham hymns or Alwar Pasurams in the thousand-pillared hall.
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