Srirangam Heaven On Earth

The temple ofSri Ranganathaswami at Srirangam is known as Bhooloka Vaikuntam, meaning `Heaven on Earth. The main deity, Sri Ranganathaswami is seen majestically reclining on the five-hooded serpent, Adisesha, facing South, under the Pranavakara Vimana. This temple on the emerald-green island, lies between two rivers – Cauvery (Kaveri) and Coleroon (Kollidam) that appear to form a garland around it. Srirangam is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines (Swayam Vyakta Kshetras) of Lord Vishnu. It is also considered the first and most important of the 108 Divya Desams or sacred places praised in the Tamil hymns of the Azhvars (great devotees of Vishnu). It is the only Vishnu temple to have received the encomiums of the maximum number of Azhvars since eleven of the total number of twelve Azhvars have sung the glory of Ranganathaswami.