The Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple (aka Singavaram Perumal Temple) is a cave-temple in India dedicated to God Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganayaki Thayar. The temple is a Pallava period structure, and was reconstructed and patronized by Krishnapa Nayakkar of Senji Nayak dynasty..
The Singavaram Ranganatha temple is located about 4 miles from the Gingee Fort, with the Queen's Fort linked by tunnels to this temple.[1] The 24 feet long idol of Ranganatha, carved from living rock, is in a reclining pose on the coils of the serpent Ananta.[2] A panel in the rear wall depicts the Gandharvas and Brahma, in which Brahma is born from the navel of Vishnu. Besides Garuda, the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who were killed by Vishnu are depicted. Goddess Bhoomidevi graces the feet of the lord while Prahlada sits near his knee.
Pallava cave temples, cut from rock, dating to the time of Mahendravarman or Narisimhavarman (580-688 AD), exist in Melacceri as Maddileshvara temple and at Singavaram as Ranganatha temple. As per the Mandagapattu inscription, the Pallava king, Mahendravarman I established the tradition of the Ranganatha temple. Historian KR Srinivasan suggests Durga and Vishnu of this shrine are similar to some cave shrines of Mahabalipuram; and suggests the name "Singavaram" might be derived from another Pallava king, Mamalla who was either Narasimha or Simhavishnu. KR Srinivasan also notes the Dwarapalas in this temple follow Pallava iconography. Durga with 4 hands holding the Shankha, Chakra, and two arms resting on her thigh and waist, stands on the head of Mahishasura.[3]
An inscription of kōpperuñjinga (a Kadava chieftain) in the Singavaram temple mentions the deity is tiruppanrikkunru emperuman possibly meaning a shrine intended for Varaha Perumal.[4]
In a later legend, Nayaks of Gingee Krishnappa Nayakkar kept a flower garden dedicated to Lord Varadaraja Perumal. But Perumal in the form of a boar (Varaha) destroys the garden. Krishnappa Nayakar chases the animal but could not kill it. The boar goes to Singavaram, bores himself into a cave, then reveals his propria persona to the nayak. Bewildered, the nayak invokes the blessings of the Singavaram god; who then directs him to build a temple with the help of an ascetic. The ascetic attempts to kill the nayak, but the nayak kills the ascetic instead and his dead body becomes gold, using which the temple of Ranganatha inside the Gingee fort was built, and the Singavaram temple was built (refurbished).[5]
The Shashti Poorthi celebration in this temple is associated with a legend of Desingh Raja. This temple was his tutelary deity (Kuldev).[6][2] As per local ballads on the legend, Raja Desingh sought the God's blessings before his battle against Sadatullah Khan, the Arcot Nawab, in 1714 AD. But the deity turned his head aside marking his disapproval. However, Raja Desigh in haste proceeded with his war plans and was killed. Dumont notes Raja Desingh had his own Muslim ally, while Sadatullah Khan had Hindu advisors. In the legend and ballads, God Ranganatha worried at the raja's plans to proceed with the battle, appears in front of Desingh's young wife who then seeks his permission for Sati. He tries to dissuade her at first but agrees at her insistence and blesses her and her deceased husband with boons.[2][7][5]
Referencesedit
^Alf Hiltebeitel, (2009). Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims, and Dalits, p.366. University of Chicago Press. ISBN0226340554
^ abcC.S, Srinivasachari (1943). History Of Gingee And Its Rulers.
^K.R., Srinivasan (1964). Cave-temples of the Pallavas, Issue 1 of Architectural survey of temples, p.43, p.112, p.118, p.268. Asian Educational Services. ISBN8120601513.
^Venkataramaiah, K.M.,(1996). A handbook of Tamil Nadu, p.39. International School of Dravidian Linguistics
^ abIyer, P.V.Jagadisa (1982). South Indian Shrines: Illustrated. Asian Educational Services. pp. 182–187. ISBN8120601513.
^Note: While Rajputs have Kuldevi goddesses and worship their Satimatas as family protectors, Vaishnava avatars like Ram and Krishna are part of their pantheon.
^Hiltebeitel, Alf (1988). The Cult of Draupadi, Volume 1: Mythologies: From Gingee to Kuruksetra. pp. 55–102, 392–393. ISBN9780226340456.
senji, singavaram, ranganatha, temple, singavaram, perumal, temple, cave, temple, india, dedicated, ranganatha, goddess, ranganayaki, thayar, temple, pallava, period, structure, reconstructed, patronized, krishnapa, nayakkar, senji, nayak, dynasty, wall, drawi. The Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple aka Singavaram Perumal Temple is a cave temple in India dedicated to God Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganayaki Thayar The temple is a Pallava period structure and was reconstructed and patronized by Krishnapa Nayakkar of Senji Nayak dynasty Wall drawings Contents 1 Description 2 Legend 3 References 4 External links 5 See alsoDescription editThe Singavaram Ranganatha temple is located about 4 miles from the Gingee Fort with the Queen s Fort linked by tunnels to this temple 1 The 24 feet long idol of Ranganatha carved from living rock is in a reclining pose on the coils of the serpent Ananta 2 A panel in the rear wall depicts the Gandharvas and Brahma in which Brahma is born from the navel of Vishnu Besides Garuda the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who were killed by Vishnu are depicted Goddess Bhoomidevi graces the feet of the lord while Prahlada sits near his knee Pallava cave temples cut from rock dating to the time of Mahendravarman or Narisimhavarman 580 688 AD exist in Melacceri as Maddileshvara temple and at Singavaram as Ranganatha temple As per the Mandagapattu inscription the Pallava king Mahendravarman I established the tradition of the Ranganatha temple Historian KR Srinivasan suggests Durga and Vishnu of this shrine are similar to some cave shrines of Mahabalipuram and suggests the name Singavaram might be derived from another Pallava king Mamalla who was either Narasimha or Simhavishnu KR Srinivasan also notes the Dwarapalas in this temple follow Pallava iconography Durga with 4 hands holding the Shankha Chakra and two arms resting on her thigh and waist stands on the head of Mahishasura 3 Legend editThe Sthalapurana of the temple associates it with the legend of Prahlada born to the demon king Hiranyakashipu citation needed An inscription of kōpperunjinga a Kadava chieftain in the Singavaram temple mentions the deity is tiruppanrikkunru emperuman possibly meaning a shrine intended for Varaha Perumal 4 In a later legend Nayaks of Gingee Krishnappa Nayakkar kept a flower garden dedicated to Lord Varadaraja Perumal But Perumal in the form of a boar Varaha destroys the garden Krishnappa Nayakar chases the animal but could not kill it The boar goes to Singavaram bores himself into a cave then reveals his propria persona to the nayak Bewildered the nayak invokes the blessings of the Singavaram god who then directs him to build a temple with the help of an ascetic The ascetic attempts to kill the nayak but the nayak kills the ascetic instead and his dead body becomes gold using which the temple of Ranganatha inside the Gingee fort was built and the Singavaram temple was built refurbished 5 The Shashti Poorthi celebration in this temple is associated with a legend of Desingh Raja This temple was his tutelary deity Kuldev 6 2 As per local ballads on the legend Raja Desingh sought the God s blessings before his battle against Sadatullah Khan the Arcot Nawab in 1714 AD But the deity turned his head aside marking his disapproval However Raja Desigh in haste proceeded with his war plans and was killed Dumont notes Raja Desingh had his own Muslim ally while Sadatullah Khan had Hindu advisors In the legend and ballads God Ranganatha worried at the raja s plans to proceed with the battle appears in front of Desingh s young wife who then seeks his permission for Sati He tries to dissuade her at first but agrees at her insistence and blesses her and her deceased husband with boons 2 7 5 References edit Alf Hiltebeitel 2009 Rethinking India s Oral and Classical Epics Draupadi among Rajputs Muslims and Dalits p 366 University of Chicago Press ISBN 0226340554 a b c C S Srinivasachari 1943 History Of Gingee And Its Rulers K R Srinivasan 1964 Cave temples of the Pallavas Issue 1 of Architectural survey of temples p 43 p 112 p 118 p 268 Asian Educational Services ISBN 8120601513 Venkataramaiah K M 1996 A handbook of Tamil Nadu p 39 International School of Dravidian Linguistics a b Iyer P V Jagadisa 1982 South Indian Shrines Illustrated Asian Educational Services pp 182 187 ISBN 8120601513 Note While Rajputs have Kuldevi goddesses and worship their Satimatas as family protectors Vaishnava avatars like Ram and Krishna are part of their pantheon Hiltebeitel Alf 1988 The Cult of Draupadi Volume 1 Mythologies From Gingee to Kuruksetra pp 55 102 392 393 ISBN 9780226340456 External links edithttp www singavaram org history htmlSee also editGingee Fort Gingee Venkataramana Temple Chenjiamman Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple amp oldid 1166124977, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
