Hyderabad, a major centre for the technology industry is also known for its ancient temples in and around the city. Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, one of the ancient such temples located at Jiyaguda, Hyderabad is considered as a very sacred temple by the localities. This 400 years old temple is situated on the banks of the Musi river, near the High Court of Telangana and the Purana Pul i.e Ranganayaki commonly refers to mother. The old bridge to be precise.
Sri Ranganatha is that form of Lord Vishnu where He is resting on the great form of the serpent snake, Adisesha amidst the ocean of milk. Goddesses Lakshmi, popularly known as mother. The ocean of milk here refers to our Galaxy or the Milky Way. It is believed that it is in this reclining posture that the Lord listens to the woes of His devotees and blesses them for their good deeds.
One of the major celebrations held at Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple is the marking of the Vaikunta Ekadasi. The Ekadasi celebrations coincide with the Dhanurmasa celebrations that are observed for a month. These celebrations are held in accordance with the Vaishnavite traditions. The celebrations are on the lines of the Brahmotsava celebrations in Tirumala. The entire temple and its premises is decorated with lights and flowers during the Ekadasi celebrations. The presiding deity is also decorated on this special occasion. Darshan when the Lord is thus decorated is regarded to be quite fruitful to the devotees. Puja archana is performed between 7 am and 12 midnight. However, there is no system of ticketing in this temple nor is there any kind of fees charged for any puja or darshan as is prevalent in many other temples.
The temple has a legendary in it. it is believed that once when a group of saints were passing through the dense forests of Kohedu (in Hayathnagar), they heard the voiced of Lord Sri Ranganatha asking them to take him away from the snakes’ nest where he was present. The saints informed the patwaris. But the patwaris paid no heeds to the saints. The same night these patwaris dreamt that Sri Ranganatha was whipping them up. Soon after this, the patwaris with the help of the saints located the snakes’ nest and rescued the idol of the Lord, performed the rituals and placed the idol on the bullock cart. The idol of the Lord guided them through the villages and indicated the place where it could be established. This place was the then Gandhichevrvu gutta, the present day Jiyaguda.
The Vaikuntha Ekadashi and the Ram Navami are celebrated in a grand way. Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple Committee founder trustees Srungaram Tiruvengalacharyulu, Sesha Chari priest Srungaram Rajagopala Charyulu are some of the committee members. They make every arrangement to have the celebrations go off peacefully.
Temples of Lord Sri Hanuman and Navagrahalu are also there in the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple premises.
Temple Timings: 6:00 am to 12:00 Noon and 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple is 12 kms from Secunderabad Railway Station and 3.1 kms from Charminar.
Temple Address:
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple,
Indira Nagar,
Ranganatha Nagar,
Ziaguda (Jiyaguda),
Hyderabad,
Telangana 500006.
Phone: +91 99597 42042.
