Koiladi Appala Ranganathar.

கோயில் அடி அப்பால ரங்கநாதர் கோவில்

As we reached the temple I was shocked to see its dilapidated condition.It had worsened ,from past.Peepul trees and bushes were growing luxuriantly on its roof and in cracks on the walls and the masonry was crumbling.

From the place of origin of river Cauvery, Thala Cauvery[Karnataka] to its ultimate merging into the sea at Poompuhar [ Tamilnadu], there are five Ranganathars---[Vishnu in a reclining posture ], temples on the banks of Cauvery at various points.AppalaRanganathar or koiladi which is 20 kms from Trichy is one such . Others are ,Sri Rangapatnam at Mysore, Sri Rangam, Parimala Ranganathar at Mailadthurai and Aaramuthan at Kumbakonam

The priest of the temple, pointed out that the reigning deity, Sri AappalaRanganathar was praised in the last and final verse of Namaazhwar,who soon there after shed his mortal coils.

As I waited for the priest to finish his rituals before attending on us I could feel peace sweep over me at the sight of river Cauvery flowing at a distance, visible from the top of the flight of stairs leading to the temple, . The silence enlivened only by by fetching screeches of green parrots flying and conversing in an excitement , privy only to themselves.

We rounded of the day by visiting Ranganathar at Sri Rangam , by sitting through the closing , night time rituals around 10 pm.,in its deserted and yawning premises and by hearing a sweet veena recital --solo, to relax Sri Ranganathar and lull him to sleep. It did the same thing to me.

ஸ்ரீ ரங்கநாதர்  கோயில் கோபுரங்கள்  -ஸ்ரீரங்கம்

ஸ்ரீ ரங்கநாதர் கோவில் விமானம்-ஸ்ரீரங்கம்

Please note. Last year viz-2013 when i visited this temple i was in for a very pleasant surprise .It had been suitably renovated and looked very neat and nearly as good as new .Thanks to the sincere efforts and dedication of a devotee.I have taken the photo and posted it in this blog .Those interested may kindly view them .--2014