Sri Talapagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple - Nellore
Ranganayaki devi is consort of Ranganayaka Swamy.
This temple is located on the banks of the Penna River
The interesting thing about this temple is that the idols face west towards River Penna, Unlike most temples where the deity faces east.
There is 7 tiered Raja gopuram with 70 feet in height.
The name “Talpagiri” comes from the legend, that says that Adisesha took the form of a hill here when Lord Sri Maha Vishnu came down to Earth and rested here. “Talpa” refers to the bed of the Adisesha serpent in which Lord Maha Vishnu stands out. So, the temple's name is Talpagiri Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple or Uttara Srirangam. Temple faces the East direction and was built in the Dravidian style of architecture.
The main entrance of the Gopuram is Seven Tired and is 70 feet high, covered with hundreds of forms of Lord Vishnu, and has seven gold-plated kalasas on top of it. The Galigopuram was constructed by a Brahmin Sirastadar of a local court in the British regime by the name of the Late Sri Yeragudipati Venkatachalam Pantulu. A Dhwajastambham stands in the temple courtyard.
Old inscriptions in Tamil refer to the temple as Tirupparkadal (sea of milk). Addalamandapam (mirror hall) presents the most picturesque sight with its high-definition of mirrors. The hall is decorated with costly Belgian mirrors. Hundreds of images of the deity are reflected in them when the idols are placed on an elevated seat in the middle of the hall on special days. It is an exquisite and breathtaking view. Devotees also love the painting of Lord Krishna on the ceiling of the mandapam. If eight people stand at the eight corners of the mandapam and look at the painting, each one can feel the Lord’s eyes on him or her. There are marvelous Tanjore-style paintings of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu in the hall. The gold border to the paintings shines when light falls on them. The mandapam was built by a staunch devotee of the Lord, Muppirala Chinna Narasimha Charyulu, at the beginning of this century.
As per the Legend, Lord Vishnu wanted to visit Bhooloka along with his consort Sridevi. He said Adisesha to be the place for a Lord's residence to stay at Bhooloka obeying the order of the lord. Lord came down to Earth and rested here. Temple was built by Pallava rulers in the 7th and 8th Centuries A.D. This temple was later developed by King Raja Mahendra Varma in the 12th Century A.D.
Sage Kashyapa on his pilgrim’s journey to varied sacred places reached this place and performed Poundarika Yaga on the day of Ekadasi. It is quoted in ‘Aranya Kanda’ of the epic Ramayana. The Lord Rama visited this place as part of his journey. The second among the ‘Kavi Trayam’ (Trinity of Poets), Tikkana Somayaji translated the final 15 chapters of the epic Mahabharath into Telugu in this Temple.
A large festival is held every year in March and April (which varies depending on the Indian calendar). They are known as Brahmotsavam.
Temple Timings :
7.00 am to 8.00 am – Abhishekam
5.00 pm to 6.00 pm – Nitya Kalyanam
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