Stone remembers, and so do the ballads. These are the tales most closely bound to the fort.
The tragic hero of Gingee. Son of Swarup Singh, he revolted against the Nawab of Arcot and died young in battle. His life, love and courage — and his friendship with his general Mehboob Khan — are eulogised in Tamil ballads, street plays and poems to this day.
By one legend the temple’s idol is the original image of Ranganatha carried from Srirangam and hidden at Gingee for safety during Malik Kafur’s invasion — worshipped in secret among the rocks.
The fort is honeycombed with underground escape passages, including one said to connect the Rajagiri citadel to the Ranganatha temple, used by the royal family to worship unobserved.