Ranganathaswamy Temple Srirangapatna - Pancharanga Kshetram (5 Vishnu Temples)

One of the few river islands in India, this Srirangapatna river island in Mandya district is more famous for this Vishnu temple, than its geography. Ranganathaswamy Temple Srirangapatna, the presiding deity here is Lord Ranganatha in a reclining position. According to Hindu mythology, the river Kaveri is considered equivalent to river Ganga, in that she cleansed all the sins of those who bathed in her. Eventually, she too had affliction by the accumulated pollution and performed penance to Lord Vishnu to grant her a way to cleanse her of all the sins and pollution.

Lord Vishnu appeared before her and granted her a boon that he would himself descend to Earth and take residence along her course. By that way, she would be protected from pollution caused by people bathing in her. The place is Srirangaptna, one of the five and first Ranganatha temples of the Kaveri river course. Archaeological Survey of India reveals that the temple was first consecrated in 984 A.D. by a local chief of the Western Ganga dynasty called Thirumalaiah. In the early 12th century, Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana granted the village to the Vaishnava saint Ramanujacharya as a place of learning.

An inscription of the Hoysala King Veera Ballala II (1210 A.D.) confirms that additions and renovations were made to the temple. The entrance of the temple has a striking main tower of 70 feet high. Most of the pillars in the courtyard of the temple are the workmanship of the Hoysala period. There are abundant secondary shrines in the temple. The complex is surrounded by the river Kaveri, where its ghats are frequented for a dip by the pilgrims before entering the temple complex.