History Malik kafur
The temple of SRIRANGAM is an important place in religious INDIA, as most active place of VAISHNAVISM that flourished in south during 7th-13th centuries. The place is referred in ancient tamil works Silappadikaram (3rd century), Nalayaram (7th century).

Prehistoric
Chola and Alwars
Hoyasala kings
Jataverma Madurai
Malik Kafur
Vijayanaga kings
Nayak rajas-Hyderali
East India company
 

MALIK KAFUR AND MUSLIM INVASION (1311) ------------
Pandya dynasty along with srirangam temple fell to muslim Malik kafur & muslims.The temple was sacked, many statues along with the main statue ALIGIAYAMANAVALA Perumal and treasures were stolen & carried to DELHI. Later devout Tamils stole the statue from Sultan and brought it back to Srirangam region. During this time a replica (Tiruvaranaga) made & worship continued. Much later in 1371 a blind washerman identified the original statue at Tirupati and it was reinstalled by Vijayanagar generals. In 1333 Ibn Buttata an Arab traveller visited this region and accounted a secondtime muslim forces, occupied Srirangam Temple & converted it to fotified camp. But before second invasion statues and jewels were saved in Tirupati.


ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF SAME EVENTS ------------------
During 1311-12 Malik Kafur and his forces invaded the temple and took NAMPERUMAL to Delhi. Some daring devotees ventured to Delhi and enthralled the king with their histronics. Moved by their talent the Namperumal was returned to devotees. At this point dramatically. Surathani, the king's daughter fell in love with the diety and followed devotees to Srirangam. She prostrated to the God infront of sanctum sanctorum and attained Heavenly abode immediately. Even now a paining of Surthani (Thuluka Nachchiyar or Bibi Nancharamma) is seen near arjun mandap and chappathis are made for her nivedyam. But the king took that magical powers of the diety has killed his daughter and there was a second invasion in 1323. However before the invaders reached Srirangam, Pillai Lokacharya with a group of devotees moved main diety to Tirupati. Lokacharya died on the way at Tirunelveli. Swami Vedantha desikan, who planned the operation was at the temple and closed the sanctum sanctatorium with brick walls, to look like a masjid and thus protected the temple for ALL OF US next generations. 13000 Sri vaishnavas lied their lives resisting the armies of sultan, ensuring the temple protected. EVEN Devadasis of temple seduced the army chief to save and protect the temple.