Sriranga Kshetra (Srirangam) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra, Bhuloka Vaikuntha and abode of Lord Ranganatha

► Srirangam (Bhuloka Vaikuntha) (Swayam Vyakta Kshetra) (Divya Desam) (Pancha Ranga Kshetra)
(Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu)

▬ River Kaveri flows
▬ River Kollidam flows
◆ Kaveri - Kollidam Island
(Tamil Nadu Plain)

(Sriranga Mahatmya)

• Vishnu: Lord Vishnu abides in Srirangam (which is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra) as Sri Ranganatha Swamy.
- Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple


• Saints: Saints associated with Srirangam:

○ Alvars (5th - 9th Century): All the Alvars visited Srirangam which is known as Bhuloka Vaikuntha.
- Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple


आद्यं रङ्गमिति प्रोक्तं विमानं रङ्गसंज्ञितम् । श्रीमुष्णं वेङ्कटाद्रिं च साळग्रामं च नैमिशम् ।
तोयाद्रिं पुष्करं चैव नरनारायणाश्रमम् । अष्टौ मे मूर्तयः सन्ति स्वयंव्यक्ता महीतले ॥
- Swayam Vyakta Sthalams (Srirangam is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra)

आनन्दरूपे निजबोधरूपे ब्रह्मस्वरूपे श्रुतिमूर्तिरूपे ।
शशाङ्करूपे रमणीयरूपे श्रीरङ्गरूपे रमतां मनो मे ॥
- Ranganathashtakam - verse 1 (Lord Ranganatha is the presiding deity of Srirangam)

सह्याद्रिजा महापुण्या कावेरीति महानदी ॥
सप्तविंशमुखा प्रोक्ता सर्वाभीष्टप्रदायिनी । तत्तीराः स्वर्गदाश्चैव ब्रह्मविष्णुपदप्रदाः ॥
- Kaveri Sloka (River Kaveri flows through Srirangam)


(Sriranga Mahatmya)

Presence of Lord Vishnu in Srirangam:

• Sri Ranga Vimana rising from Kshira-Sagara: Lord Brahma (after creating the Universe) performed severe penance worshipping Lord Vishnu with the Ashtakshara Mantra. As a result the Sri Ranga Vimanam rose from the Ocean of Milk. Sri Garuda lifted it and Sri Adisesha acted as a canopy by spreading its hood over it.

• Sri Ranga Vimana being worshipped in Satya Loka: Lord Brahma took the Sri Ranga Vimanam to his abode in Satya Loka and entrusted Vivasvan (Surya deva) to conduct the worship rituals.

• Sri Ranga Vimana being worshipped in Ayodhya: In course of time, the Sri Ranga Vimanam was worshipped by the Ikshwaku dynasty (descendants of Vivasvan), who brought it to their capital Ayodhya.

• Sri Ranga Vimana getting established in Srirangam: During his coronation, Sri Rama gave the Sri Ranga Vimanam to Vibhishana to take it to Lanka. However, as per the wish of the Lord, the Vimanam got fixed in Srirangam and Vibhishana could not move it from there. However, the Lord faced South, the direction of Lanka.

• Sri Ranga Vimana being worshipped in Venkatachala: During the invasion of Ulugh Khan, the devotees moved about with the Image of Sri Ranganatha for 48 years to save it from the invaders. During this time the Image of Sri Ranganatha was kept in Venkatachala for sometime and worshipped there.