4 Lord Vishnu Temples in South India Over 2000 Years Old

Lord Vishnu, who is believed to be one of the most powerful and important deities in Hinduism, is worshipped as the Protector and Preserver of the universe. Often referred to as Hari or Narayana, Bhagwan incarnates on earth in order to restore Dharma and cosmic balance during periods of evil. In short, Lord Vishnu is the omnipotent and omniscient Being who is resides in Vaikuntha who his consort Lakshmi Devi, the Goddess of wealth. Therefore, it is very important that we worship the Lord with utmost faith and sincerity. In this article, we will explore 4 powerful Lord Vishnu temples in South India that are over 2000 years old.

Located at Srirangam, an island town in Tamil Nadu, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple worships Bhagwan Vishnu as Lord Ranganatha. A powerful form of Bhagwan, Lord Ranganatha, can be seen resting on Adishesha at this temple. The origin of the shrine dates back to almost 2000 years as we can find references about it in ancient Sangam literature of Tamil.

Did you know that Srirangam Temple is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world that is functioning today? Filled with massive prakaras or enclosures, it spreads across 156 acres. Furthermore, the temple also features a 236 feet Rajagopuram which is considered as the tallest in Asia. Vaikunta Ekadashi is considered to be a deeply auspicious time to visit this temple as lakhs of devotees will gather in order to attain the blessings of Lord Ranganatha.

Dedicated to Bhagwan Venkateswara, who is another powerful form of Lord Vishnu and worshipped as the protector in Kali Yuga, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is one the most visited and richest temples in the world with millions of devotees visiting each year. With references found in early Tamil inscriptions and Sangam literature, the shrine’s history dates back to almost 2000 years.

Here, devotees express their gratitude and surrender to the Lord through a unique ritual of offering hair or by tonsuring. Moreover, Tirupati Laddu Prasadam provided at the temple is renowned globally and it contains Geographical Indication or GI tag.

Located at Thiruvallikeni in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Parthasarathy Temple worships Lord Krishna as Parthasarathy, Arjuna’s charioteer during Mahabharata war. Historical records point out that the shrine was constructed in 8th century by the Pallava dynasty even though traditions link its origin back to 2000 years. Here, we can see the idol of Bhagwan Krishna with marks on his body from the war and a moustache on his face, symbolising the key role that he played in Mahabharata war. Additionally, inside the temple premise, there are shrine dedicated to different incarnations of Bhagwan Vishnu including Rama, Narasimha, Ranganatha and Varadaraja.

Dedicated to a beautiful form of Bhagwan Vishnu, Koodal Azhagar, Koodal Azhagar Temple is located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. References about this temple can also be found in Tamil Sangam literature. Hence, its origin goes back to almost 2000 years. We can pray to the Lord who can be seen in three auspicious postures i.e., standing, sitting and reclining. This unique feature of the shrine is believed to posses supreme divine significance.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which is the oldest Vishnu temple?
   Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam is considered to be one of the oldest Lord Vishnu temple in the world.
2. Which temple is 7000 years old in India?
   The Sri Dakshinamukha Nandi Tirtha Kalyani Kshetra in Malleshwaram, Karnataka, is often referred to by locals and devotees as a 7,000-year-old temple.
3. Which temple was destroyed 17 times?
   The Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, is historically documented as having been attacked and destroyed 17 times by various invaders.