Sridhar Stunning Gopurams of Srirangam: The First and Foremost among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Sri Vishnu, the Sri Ranganatha swamy Temple complex is not just a temple, but a temple- town!. The temple is unique with its planning/architectural typology, “Sapta-Prakaram” formation with Sapta (seven) concentric rectangular enclosures or prakarams. The inner 4 enclosures define the religious zone. The temple’s outer 3 enclosures contain business establishments of the town and houses. The size (950 metre by 816 metre along its perimeter) and scale of the complex (spread over 156 acres) are unprecedented, make it the largest functioning temple complex in the world (Angkor Wat is bigger, but non-functioning). Gopurams symbolize sacred mountains, the habitations of gods. The Temple Complex has 21 very vividly coloured and artistically sculpted Gopurams (consecrated gateways with towers) which are feast to the eyes. A TO Z INDIA ● APRIL 2022 ● PAGE 9 Ancient Hindu Architecture: Rajagopuram: The 236 feet Rajagopuram standing atop the main entrance rises from the base area of around 5720 sqft and moving up in 11 progressively smaller tiers and finally reaches a height of 236 feet. The structure of the Rajagopuram remained at the base (“kalkaram”, 17 metres high) for over 400 years.