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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
[[File:RANGANATHA PERUMAL DRAWINGS IN MARRIAGE HALL.jpg|thumb|right|Wall drawings]]
The '''Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple''' (aka Singavaram Perumal Temple) is a cave-temple in [[India]] dedicated to God Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganayaki Thayar. The temple is a Pallava period structure, and was patronized by subsequent rulers.

==Description==
The Singavaram Ranganatha temple is located about 4 miles from the [[Gingee Fort]], with the Queen's Fort linked by tunnels to this temple.<ref>Alf Hiltebeitel, (2009). Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims, and Dalits, p.366. University of Chicago Press. {{ISBN|0226340554}}</ref> The 24 feet long idol of Ranganatha, carved from living rock, is in a reclining pose on the coils of the serpent Ananta.<ref name=srinivasachari/> A panel in the rear wall depicts the Gandharvas and [[Brahma]], in which [[Brahma]] is born from the navel of [[Vishnu]]. Besides [[Garuda]], the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who were killed by [[Vishnu]] are depicted. Goddess Bhoomidevi graces the feet of the lord while [[Prahlada]] sits near his knee.

Pallava cave temples, cut from rock, dating to the time of Mahendravarman or Narisimhavarman (580-688 AD), exist in Melacceri as [[Maddileshvara temple]] and at Singavaram as Ranganatha temple. As per the Mandagapattu inscription, the Pallava king, Mahendravarman I established the tradition of the Ranganatha temple. Historian KR Srinivasan suggests Durga and Vishnu of this shrine are similar to some cave shrines of Mahabalipuram; and suggests the name "Singavaram" might be derived from another Pallava king, Mamalla who was either Narasimha or Simhavishnu. KR Srinivasan also notes the Dwarapalas in this temple follow Pallava iconography. Durga with 4 hands holding the Shankha, Chakra, and two arms resting on her thigh and waist, stands on the head of Mahishasura.<ref name=krs>{{cite book |last= K.R. |first= Srinivasan |year= 1964 |title= Cave-temples of the Pallavas, Issue 1 of Architectural survey of temples, p.43, p.112, p.118, p.268. |publisher= Asian Educational Services |isbn = 8120601513}}</ref>

==Legend==
The Sthalapurana of the temple associates it with the legend of [[Prahlada]], born to the demon-king [[Hiranyakashipu]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

An inscription of [[Kadava dynasty|kōpperuñjinga]] (a Kadava chieftain) in the Singavaram temple mentions the deity is ''tiruppanrikkunru emperuman'' possibly meaning a shrine intended for [[Varaha]] Perumal.<ref>Venkataramaiah, K.M.,(1996). A handbook of Tamil Nadu, p.39. International School of Dravidian Linguistics</ref>

In a later legend, [[Nayaks of Gingee|Tubbaki Krishnappa Nayak]] kept a flower garden dedicated to Lord Varadaraja Perumal. But Perumal in the form of a boar (Varaha) destroys the garden. Krishnappa chases the animal but could not kill it. The boar goes to Singavaram, bores himself into a cave, then reveals his ''propria persona'' to the nayak. Bewildered, the nayak invokes the blessings of the Singavaram god; who then directs him to build a temple with the help of an ascetic. The ascetic attempts to kill the nayak, but the nayak kills the ascetic instead and his dead body becomes gold, using which the temple of Ranganatha inside the Gingee fort was built, and the Singavaram temple was built (refurbished).<ref name=iyer>{{cite book |last= Iyer |first= P.V.Jagadisa |year= 1982 |title= South Indian Shrines: Illustrated |pages = 182–187 |publisher= Asian Educational Services |isbn = 8120601513}}</ref>

The [[Shashti Poorthi]] celebration in this temple is associated with a legend of [[Desingh|Desing Raja]]. This temple was his tutelary deity (Kuldev).<ref>Note: While Rajputs have Kuldevi goddesses and worship their Satimatas as family protectors, Vaishnava avatars like Ram and Krishna are part of their pantheon.</ref><ref name=srinivasachari>{{cite book |last= C.S |first= Srinivasachari |year= 1943 |title= History Of Gingee And Its Rulers |url= https://archive.org/stream/historyofgingeea035396mbp/historyofgingeea035396mbp_djvu.txt }}</ref> As per local ballads on the legend, Raja Desingh sought the God's blessings before his battle against Sadatullah Khan, the Arcot Nawab, in 1714 AD. But the deity turned his head aside marking his disapproval. However, Raja Desigh in haste proceeded with his war plans and was killed. Dumont notes Raja Desingh had his own loyal Muslim ally, while Sadatullah Khan had Hindu advisors. In the legend and ballads, God Ranganatha worried at the raja's plans to proceed with the battle, appears in front of Desingh's young wife who then seeks his permission for Sati. He tries to dissuade her at first but agrees at her insistence and blesses her and her deceased husband with boons.<ref name=srinivasachari/><ref name=alf>{{cite book |last= Hiltebeitel |first= Alf |year= 1988 |title= The Cult of Draupadi, Volume 1: Mythologies: From Gingee to Kuruksetra |pages= 55–102, 392–393|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eV_kWT_hR7cC&pg=PA71&dq=gingee+amman+Melacceri+Draupadi&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTpNPdzvbSAhUBOo8KHfkQDWAQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=gingee%20amman%20Melacceri%20Draupadi&f=false }}</ref><ref name=iyer/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* http://www.singavaram.org/history.html

==See also==
*[[Gingee Fort]]
*[[Gingee Venkataramana Temple]]
*[[Chenjiamman]]

[[Category:Forms of Vishnu]]
[[Category:Indian rock-cut architecture]]
[[Category:Hindu cave temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Viluppuram district]]

Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple - Revision history

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