Rangasthala

On the 7^th of November, after lunch we thought of going on a drive. While browsing nearest places I came across this temple – Rangasthala near chikkabalapura. We left home at around 3:30 and reached there by 5:00. (60Kms) The route is pretty easy – Banglore- chikkabalpura. Once in the city take the Gauribidanur road. In about 5 kms, you find the temple arch on your right.

Brief History of Ranganatha Swamy temple:

The idols at Srirangam, Srirangapatana and Sri Rangasthala all were installed on the same day and same time. Outside praharam and Gopuram etc were constructed by Vijayanagara Kings. There is a praharam around garbhagriha. If you closely observe you can observe as if the garbhagriham is in the shape of a Bamboo Basket we assume that Sri Ranganatha is in the middle of the basket.

One more interesting story which we got is During Lord Rama's Patabhishekam Vibhishana also comes to attend it and in the end Rama presents a Lord Rangnatha's moorthy in Bamboo basket and Vibhishana is compelled to do the Prathistai in Srirangam and to commemorate the occasion the Saptharishi s do the Prathistai of Lord Ranganatha with Bhoo and Neela Devi here in Rangasthala.

SO the Lord appears as if he is in Bamboo basket. The idol of Ranganatha is four and half feet in length with Bhoo and Neela Devi sitting near the leg.

Can cement match the beauty of carved stone? Do we want to modify the painting of monalisa? then why a new Gopura that can never match the beauty of the original, in spite of the original being in ruins. Why not protect it than redo it?

We thought of driving up the Nandi hills for sunset but it was dark already when we left the temple. But otherwise this would a good half a day trip around Bangalore.