The Temple
Kōyil (Tamil: kō = king/deity + il = abode; 'the abode of the Lord') is the common Tamil word for temple. In everyday use it refers to any Hindu temple; as a Vaiṣṇava term it specifically means a Viṣṇu temple (Perumāḷ kōyil).
Sampradāya Meaning
In the Śrī Vaiṣṇava sampradāya, kōyil without qualification refers specifically to Śrī Raṅgam — the Koil among all koils, the most sacred of the 108 Divya Deśams. Similarly:
- Tirumalai → Tirupati/Venkaṭam
- Perumāḷ kōyil → Kāñcīpuram
- Āzhvar tirunagari → the Āzhvārs' sacred birthplace
The Kōyilolugu
Every major temple maintains a kōyilolugu — a detailed record of the temple's history, ritual procedures, festivals, land holdings, and administrative rules compiled over centuries. The Śrī Raṅgam Kōyilolugu is among the most detailed and historically significant such records.