Srirangam, is a small a river island, encircled by the Kaveri River on one side and its distributary, Kollidam, on the other. Recognized as the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams — a collection of Vishnu temples — it is famous for the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, one of the largest temple complexes in India. Additionally, Srirangam is a notable residence for a small community of Sri Vaishnavas, devoted followers of Lord Vishnu. 

While three temple towers are multi-colored, the eastern tower of the Srirangam temple is white in color. There is a story behind this.

In the year 1323 Srirangam was invaded by the Delhi Sultanate during the hot summer month of Vaishaka. Allauddin Khilji’s forces stormed the temple and looted Lord Ranganatha's jewels and the temple's gold. They wanted to get hold of the idol of Lord Vishnu, but one Vaishnavite Acharya, Pillailokacharya, managed to escape with the sacred idol and relocate to Madurai. 

Unable to locate the idol, the Sultanate forces ruthlessly killed the temple authorities and started a manhunt for Pillailokacharya and Namperumal. Approximately 12,000 residents of Srirangam island valiantly sacrificed their lives in defense of the temple.

Pillailokacharya needed time to get away from the invaders. In order to distract the attention of the forces, Vellayi, a temple dancer, cleverly performed a dance before the forces' commander. 

Her mesmerizing dance lasted for hours. Not sure if the mission had been accomplished Vellayi cleverly led the commander to the eastern gopuram, where she pushed him to his death. There was no turning back now.  Vellayi, chanting the name of Ranganathar, courageously leapt to her own death from the tower at the eastern entrance.

In tribute to Vellayi's selfless sacrifice, the leader of the Vijayanagara forces named the tower in her honor. The gopuram, now known as Vellai Gopuram, continues to be painted white in remembrance of her bravery. Vellai means the fair one.

The idol of Lord Vishnu was brought back to Srirangam nearly fifty years later and restored in the sanctum sanctorum. 

Images (c) istock.com