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Dear friends,
Sure this finds you all in good health and safely vaccinated. with the grace of God we will be rid of this by the end of this year.
There is a temple for the Lord Ranganatha near Nellore. Let us know some things about this temple. Devotees planning for a trip to Tirupathi, may on return plan to see this temple too if they have time. JAI SRI RAM!
Varadarajan
TALPAGIRI SRI RANAGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE, NELLORE
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Talpagiri, Nellore
Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Nellore was built on the banks of Pennar river. In this temple, Lord Rangantha Swamy is seen within the reclining position on his couch Anantha Sesha.
Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Legends
The name ‘Talpagiri’ comes from the legend, which says that Adisesha took the form of a hill here when Lord Maha Vishnu descended to The Earth and rested here. ‘Talpa’ refers to the couch of the Serpent Adisesha on which Lord Vishnu reclines.
As per the legend, Lord Maha Vishnu wanted to visit Bhooloka along with His Consort, Goddess Sridevi, so He asked Adisesha to be the place of His residence while He stays at Bhooloka. Obeying His Master’s order, Adisesha took the form of a mountain in this place. Thus the place got the name ‘Talpagiri Kshetram’.
It is believed that when Sage Kashyapa performed Poundarika Yagna on the day of Ekadasi, Lord appeared and blessed him.
Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple History
This temple was built by Pallava rulers during 7th and 8th Centuries A.D. The rulers of Simhapuri contributed their part as well in building the temple. This temple was later developed by the King Raja Mahendra Varma in 12th Century A.D.
The main entrance gopuram is of seven-storied structure with excellent carvings. Gali Gopuram at the main entrance is of 70 feet high and has seven 10 feet of gold plated vessels on top of it called Kalasams.
About Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
The Idol of The Lord Ranganatha inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, reclining on his conch of Adisesha is ten feet long; with Goddess Sridevi sitting on his chest and Lord Brahma sitting on a lotus rising from the Lord’s navel. At the Lord’s feet are 26-inch high deities of Sridevi and Bhudevi. In front of the main deity are the Utsava murthis (festival deities). There is also a four-handed seated deity of Goddess Sridevi called Ranganayaka Devi. One of the interesting things about the temple is that the idols face west towards the river Pennar, unlike most temples where the deity faces towards the East.
‘Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namavali’ (1000 different names of Lord Vishnu) are penned on the walls of Sanctum Sanctorium.
There is ‘Santhana Vriksha’, a tree which is believed to grant the boon of begetting children to childless couples. The women devotees tear a corner of their sarees, put their offerings in the pieces of cloth and tie them as swings to the tree. There is an underground tunnel beneath this tree which was once used by the sages to reach the temple. It is said that those who give their offerings at this place in ‘Kondi Kasuli Hundi’ can get rid of venomous bites of scorpions and snakes.
Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple References
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.
It is quoted in ‘Aaranya Kanda’ of the epic Ramayana that Lord Rama visited this place as part of this sojourn. There are caves names as ‘Aswaththama caves’ here where it is believed that Aswathama still lives as an immoral being, doing penance for absolving his sins, following a curse from Lord Krishna for his actions of killing the sons of Draupadi clandestinely in the battlefield of Mahabharatha.
Sub Temples at Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
1. Lord Rangantha’s consort Goddess Ranganayaki.
2. There is also an Alwar Sannidhi of the 12 Alwars (The Tamil poet-saints),
3. Shrine of Lord Narasimha and
4. Shrine of Lord Venkateswara
5. Andal Ammavari Devalayam.
Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Timings
• Temple Opening Hours: 6:00 am
• Sarva Darshan: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Temple closing Hours: 12:00 pm
• Temple reopens: 2:00 pm
• Sarva Darshan Timings: 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Temple closing Hours: 9:00 pm
Darshan Ticket
• Special Darshan: Rs.20 per person
• Mukkoti Vaikunta Ekadasi Special Darshan: Rs.500 per person
Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Sevas
• Abhishekam/ Thirumanjanam: Rs.250 for 2 persons
• Astottaram: Rs.10
• Karpura Harathi: Rs.1
• Nithya Kalyanam: Rs.1516
• Poolangi Seva Ubhayakatnam: Rs.516
• Special Kalyanam: Rs.10116
• Sahasranamarchana: Rs.50
Temple Festivals
Devotees from all over India come here to celebrate Ratha Yatra, the most popular annual ritual held in the temple. Brahmotsavam another important festival which will be celebrated during the months of March – April ( Festival dates varies as per Hindu Calendar).
Temple Address
Sri Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Ranganayakula Peta, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
How to reach Talpagiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple?
1. Temple is 3.2 km from Nellore Town
2. Direct buses to Nellore available from Tirupati at high frequency.
3. Temple is 138 km away from Tirupati.