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Ranganatha
Ranganatha
	Murti of Ranganatha, Madyaranga Ranganatha Temple
Other names	Ranganathar, Rangan, Aranganathar, Sriranga, Tenarangathan
Venerated in	Sri Vaishnavism
Affiliation	Vishnu
Abode	Vaikuntha, Kshira Sagara
Mantra	Om Namo Narayanaya
Weapon	Sudarshana Chakra and the Kaumodaki
Mount	Garuda, Shesha
Temple	Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
Consorts	Ranganayaki as Sridevi, Bhudevi, Niladevi

Ranganatha (Sanskrit: रङ्गनाथ, romanized: Raṅganātha, Tamil: ரங்கநாதர், romanized: Raṅkanāthar) is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu, worshipped as the chief deity of the Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam. This form of Vishnu is of particular importance to adherents of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.^[1]^[2]

According to this tradition, his chief consort is the goddess Lakshmi in the form of Ranganayaki, alongside her manifestations as Bhudevi and Niladevi.

Etymology

The name Ranganatha (Sanskrit: रङ्गनाथ) is a compound of two Sanskrit terms: ranga, meaning "assembly, stage or arena", and nātha, meaning "lord, master or protector". ^[3]^[4] Etymologically, it translates to "Lord of the Stage" or "Master of the Assembly".^[5] In a metaphysical and philosophical context, particularly within the Sri Vaishnava tradition, ranga refers symbolically to the universe (samsāra) as a cosmic stage upon which the divine play (lilā) unfolds.^[6]

Textually, the name and its iconic posture (Sayanamūrti) are elaborated in various Pancharatra Agamas and Puranas, such as the Brahmanda Purana, where Vishnu is depicted reclining on the serpent Ādishésha as the ultimate cosmic controller presiding over time and space.^[7]^[8]

Iconography

The deity is generally depicted in a reclining form of Vishnu, smiling and resting upon Shesha, the king of the serpents, in the Ocean of Milk during the pralaya (the period of cosmic dissolution).^[9] This posture is believed to represent the deity's accessibility and his readiness to listen to the prayers and hardships of his devotees.

Major Temples

The Pancharanga Kshetrams are a group of the five most sacred Ranganatha temples located on the banks of the Kaveri River. In order from upstream to downstream along the Kaveri River, these temples are:

The Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangapatna (Adi Ranga); the Ranganathaswamy Temple at Shivanasamudra (Madhya Ranga); the Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam (Kasturi Ranga or Antya Ranga); the Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple at Koviladi (Tiruppernagar in Tamil Nadu); and The Parimala Ranganatha Perumal Temple at Mayiladuthurai (Vatarangam).^[10] The Sarangapani Temple at Kumbakonam is cited in place of Vatarangam in some traditional references.^[11]^[12]

The Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam is considered the primary shrine among the Divya Desams (a group of 108 sacred Vaishnava temples extolled by the Alvars) and stands as the most significant religious centers of the Sri Vaishnava tradition propagated by Ramanuja.^[13]

References

↑ Srinivasan (15 June 2011). Hinduism For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-1-118-11077-5. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
↑ Deshpande 2005, pp. 263–64.
↑ Isacco, Enrico (1982). Krishna, the Divine Lover: Myth and Legend Through Indian Art. Serindia. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-906026-11-3.
↑ Monier-Williams, Monier (1899). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 862.
↑ Rao, T. A. Gopinatha (1914). Elements of Hindu Iconography. Vol. 1, Part 1. Madras: Law Printing House. pp. 261–263.
↑ Carman, John Braisted (1974). The Theology of Rāmānuja: An Essay in Interreligious Understanding. Yale University Press. pp. 168–170. ISBN 978-0300015218.
↑ Ayyangar, S. Krishnaswami (1940). A History of Holy Srirangam. Annamalai University. pp. 12–15.
↑ Symbolism in Hinduism. Chinmaya Mission. 1983. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-81-7597-149-3. Retrieved 13 December 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
↑ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: Volume Two. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 643–. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
↑ "The Hindu : Vatarangam, seat of Hari and Haran". www.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2003. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
↑ Subodh Kapoor (2002). The Indian Encyclopaedia: Timi-Vedic Age. Cosmo Publications. ISBN 978-81-7755-280-5. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
↑ Dalal 2011, p. 339.
↑ Constance Jones; James D. Ryan (1 January 2007). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Infobase Publishing. pp. 545–. ISBN 978-0-8160-7564-5. Retrieved 14 December 2012.

Sources

Dalal, Roshen (5 October 2011). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. pp. 339–. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
Deshpande, Aruna (2005). India: A Divine Destination. Crest Publishing House. pp. 264–265, 363–64, and 374–75. ISBN 81-242-0556-6.

External links

Srirangam, Temple Information
Shri Rang Nath Ji Temple, Vrindavan
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Rangam (archived 20 February 2007)
Pomona, Temple Information

[Srinivasan2011-1] Srinivasan (15 June 2011). Hinduism For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-1-118-11077-5. Retrieved 12 December 2012.

[FOOTNOTEDeshpande2005263–64-2] Deshpande 2005, pp. 263–64.

[3] Isacco, Enrico (1982). Krishna, the Divine Lover: Myth and Legend Through Indian Art. Serindia. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-906026-11-3.

[MonierWilliams-4] Monier-Williams, Monier (1899). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 862.

[Rao1914-5] Rao, T. A. Gopinatha (1914). Elements of Hindu Iconography. Vol. 1, Part 1. Madras: Law Printing House. pp. 261–263.

[Carman1974-6] Carman, John Braisted (1974). The Theology of Rāmānuja: An Essay in Interreligious Understanding. Yale University Press. pp. 168–170. ISBN 978-0300015218.

[Ayyangar1940-7] Ayyangar, S. Krishnaswami (1940). A History of Holy Srirangam. Annamalai University. pp. 12–15.

[8] Symbolism in Hinduism. Chinmaya Mission. 1983. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-81-7597-149-3. Retrieved 13 December 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}

[Lochtefeld2002-9] James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: Volume Two. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 643–. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4. Retrieved 12 December 2012.

[10] "The Hindu : Vatarangam, seat of Hari and Haran". www.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2003. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

[Kapoor2002-11] Subodh Kapoor (2002). The Indian Encyclopaedia: Timi-Vedic Age. Cosmo Publications. ISBN 978-81-7755-280-5. Retrieved 13 December 2012.

[FOOTNOTEDalal2011339-12] Dalal 2011, p. 339.

[JonesRyan2007-13] Constance Jones; James D. Ryan (1 January 2007). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Infobase Publishing. pp. 545–. ISBN 978-0-8160-7564-5. Retrieved 14 December 2012.

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v t e Avatars of Vishnu
Dashavatara (for example)¹	Matsya Kurma Varaha Narasimha Vamana Parashurama Rama Balarama Krishna Buddha Kalki
Other avatars	Four Kumaras Narada Nara-Narayana Kapila Dattatreya Yajna Rishabha Prithu Dhanvantari Mohini Vyasa Prsnigarbha Hayagriva Hamsa
¹ The list of the "ten avatars" varies regionally. Two substitutions^{[clarification needed]} involve Balarama, Krishna, and Buddha. Krishna is almost always included; in exceptions, he is considered the source of all avatars.

v t e Hindu deities and texts
Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Agni Ashvins Ayyappan Chandra Dattatreya Ganesha Hanuman Indra Kama Kartikeya Karuppannaswamy Krishna Kubera Rama Shasta Surya Varuna Vayu Vishvakarma Yama more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Aditi Bhumi Chhaya Durga Ganga Gayatri Indrani Kali Mahadevi Mahavidya Matrikas Radha Rati Rohini Rukmini Sanjna Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more
Deity groups	Adityas Apsaras Asuras Daitya Danavas Devatas Dikpalas Gandharvas Ganas Gramadevatas Kuladevatas Kinnaras Kimpurushas Maruts Navagraha Pitṛs Rakshasas Rudras Ribhus Sadhyas Vahanas Vasus Vidyadharas Yakshas / Yakshini
Texts (list)	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more
Village deities of South India Village deities of Sri Lankan Tamils