- Ranganatha
Ranganātha (
Sanskrit : रंगनाथ), also known as Sri Ranganatha, Ranganathar, or Ranga, is aHindu deity, more well-known inSouth India . The deity is a resting form of LordVishnu , one of the foremost ofHindu Gods. His consort is GoddessLakshmi , also known asRanganayaki , Thayar (mother in Tamil). Most of the deities portray a 'smiling' lord in a reclining position over the celestial serpentAdisesha . This is the form in which he is open to listening to all of his devotee's woes, and blesses them. Apart from being worshipped by all Hindus, this form is of particular importance to theSri Vaishnava community.Fact|date=February 2007 His name isSanskrit for "protector of the place of assembly".One of the most sacred of Ranganatha temples is at
Srirangam . Of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred places of worship of Lord Vishnu), Ranganatha or the reclining posture of the God can be found in many temples. They include Thirumayyam, Thirukoshtiyur, Koviladi, Kapisthalam, Thiruneermalai,Tiruvallur and Srivilliputhur.The five sacred Ranganatha temples on the banks of the Kaveri River are popularly known as
Pancharanga Kshetrams . Also Kaveri forms small islands in the following 3 places:
* Adi Ranga - atSrirangapatna
* Madhya Ranga - atShivanasamudram
* Antya Ranga -Srirangam The
South India n nameRanganathan is derived from the name Ranganatha.External links
* [http://www.divyadesamonline.com/hindu/temples/trichy/srirangam-temple.asp Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Rangam]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.