Nellore - Ranganathaswamy Aalayam

This ancient Ranganatha Alayam is a Chola gift to the theist community, and can deemed to be monumental contribution to religion, says the historian exuberantly and concludes that the Mulasthaneswaralayam lying in the Moolapet of this Vikramasimhapuram is equally significant and most visit-worthy simultaneously. This magnificent temple lies on the left bank of river Penna and Brahmanda Purana eulogizes its glory elaborately. Its legends are many and bring out the exalted position and divinity of this Lord. According to Sthalapurana, this sacrosanct huge recumbent image of Ranganatha was originally in the temple at Udagirikota, and when Muslim iconoclast invaders demolished sacred places, this became the target of their fanaticism. Fortunately, they dismantled and threw it into debris. A devout Vaishnavate belonging to Vysya community brought it all by himself unaided by big agencies to the northern bank of the river. When his resources physical and financial were exhausted, he left there. Its immensity disabled him from installation single handed. Later, one of the disciples of Srimadramanuja brought it to the present place aided and funded by the mutt. And he managed to remove the Siva linga existing since ages and install it with agamic worship due and introduced Vaishnava sampradaya in the conduct of puja and maintenance of temple.

This ancient imposing temple faces east and possess all the essential parts. The Mahadwara is adorned with a 9b-foot high tower with seven shining brass kalasas above. In addition to many mini-mandirs, it contains Vaikunta dwara beautified with a grand vimana. The enchanting mulavirat is lying on the Anantha with Sridevi and Bhudevi at his feet and Brahma above his navel. Along with this, there are four more archamurtis like Koutuka, Utsava, Snapana and Balibera set up in well-built mandirs. The mount Garuda is five feet in height and said to have been made of gold. The architecture conforms to the Vesara type and exceedingly grand to sight and pleasant to adore with bent heads. Among other worth-seeing items of this good old temple, the Addala sayana mandap beautified with the portrait of Krishna merits first mention. The Lord Balakrishna gives darsan with a smile seen from any angle. It is its speciality and that's why its attraction. The Andal mandir also is visit-worthy. The annual festival falling in Phalguna masa lasts for 11 days. The Vaikunta Eakadasi and Rathasaptami are also luring lakhs of devotees.

It lies on the Madras-Calcutta broad guage line of Southern Railway and being the head quarters town of Nellore, all types of conveyance are available at all hours.

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