Sri Rangam Ranga Natha Temple, also known as Sri Ranganathswamy Temple or Thiruvarangam is located in Srirangam 10 kms from Trichy in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The temple is grand and is dedicated to the reclining form of Lord Vishnu. It is considered to be the oldest among 108 Vishnu temples known as divyadesams. It lies on an island formed by the river Kaveri and its tributary Kollidum.
The temple is built majestically in the Dravidian style of architecture and is huge in size. The complex of the temple spreads over 156 acres. The complex has several shrines devoted to different forms of Lord Vishnu. The entire temple looks like a temple town having a unique structure called as SaptaPrakaram- a centralized design pattern having seven rectangular enclosures known as Prakarams formed by huge, thick fortified walls.
The roof tower is called as Vimana and the underlying towers as Gopurams and, the huge hall is termed as Mandapam. Some of the scholars even believe this temple to be the largest functioning temple in the world. As per the evidences the temple is assumed to belong to Sangam period and thus dates back to 1st century CE. The Ranganathswamy temple is thus significantly important and popular in religious as well as historical context.