In the Journey of Life

This is the listing of some real life incidents of  common man collected over a period of time. The objective is share these life incidents to public which may result in a time pass for few, interesting reading  for few, learning for few, however these may not find a way to gain commercial publication since most remain unpopular, unknown in the society.

The Collection of written language dates back more than 5000 years. About 30,000 clay tablets from ancient Mesopotamia were discovered. It was around 1300-1200 B.C then there were no books but information’s were incorporated in clay with symbols, pictures on various aspects to induce knowledge. Few of these remain in British Library even today.

Later, Library is meant for family of King and Royals and access to public was denied. King Loius IV was the first person to organize a Library for the development of people and society after the invention of Lithography (printing).

Napoleon the Great was one of the noted Kings who had passion for reading and have collected books for the library written in various languages.

As per UNESLO findings, habit of reading early in the morning helps to reduce blood pressure and maintain healthy heart. Further their survey discovered the average among literates (few years back) had a habit of reading only 32 pages in a year, where in recommendation remains at minimum of 2000 pages. This would result in reduction of stress, helps in control of Blood pressure and increase of Wisdom.

I remember reading about an expression by a well known personality on his day of retirement. He said the reason for his successful career was he wisdom he gained by acquiring the knowledge to make the right decisions from making wrong decisions.

Knowledge is accessible more than muscle and money. If I use a gun, other person cannot use the same gun to shoot, similarly the currency note I have in my wallet cannot used by others unless I spend them; but knowledge can be used by every one at the same time.

Once a teacher to induce the importance of knowledge asked kids in their class, “Kids tell me what you will ask if God appear before you”. One bright kid replied I will ask for a Rs. 500/- note, teacher was amazed by the reply and expressed “Beta (colloquial Hindi) God is in front of you ask for knowledge (Buddi)” instead of asking Rs.500 currency. Kid replied, “Teacher, what I don’t have I am asking and you may ask what you don’t have ….

A soul departing to heaven expressed.

I am destined to see three surprises:

                - Being there

                - To see those others who I know

                -  To see those others who I never met or heard

While I decided to pen this and publish in this blog about all my little exposure in life so far, with a belief it may interest others who reads?

Like the soul

              

    -   I believe there will be shape to these pages and creates interest.

    -  To write a blog, which I never dream' t earlier in my life.

   -  To see others who I never know, reading this contents.

I may be violating the standard norms of writing with my limited exposure, however I assure you that your time is not wasted by reading.

I know this published blog may not even gain a prominent window on web, unless you all share to your friends.

To gain an endorsement, I had shared most of the contents of this compilation with the people I know and observed that their liking. Their comments were encouraging. I trust, you will also enjoy the same way.

 “Don’t doubt your belief and believe in your doubts.” (Navjot Singh Sidhu – former Indian cricketer in an interview)

The contents comprise of real life experiences and the short stories which I read and heard and I don’t claim any ownership on these short stories what ever I have shared, I could not obtain permission from the author of these stories as I am not aware of their names. I admire their wisdom and the skills which enable me today to bring it forward in my compilation. I would have been very happy to incorporate them names if I come to know with their authorization.

My association with a private university in India offering professional education helped me to gain confidence to test my skills of writing.

My approaches during the career, involve addressing a seminar, make presentations, and counsel a student.

During this public addressing, I had used these short stories, life experiences and observed their responses, interests. Their enthusiasm, acknowledged me further to gain endorsement again.

I have touch based certain social events, un-answerable social life situations, philosophical thoughts, besides the real life experiences and the short stories.

My exposures to two interesting experiences in my life are most memorable.

                     ‘HOW TO SELL TO A DEAD MAN’

                     ‘HOW TO CATCH FISH IN A BARREN LAND’

Both of them are true stories and a real life incident. I have shared them on these papers which I feel one of the important learning I had.

This is not a memoir nor a complete history but I assure you  it may lead  you to develop interest in  reading all the inked pages..

“HONEY FORCED IN TO MOUTH DOES’NT TASTE BITTER”

Sep 11 or 11 / 09 America cannot forget the loss of twin towers and the world cannot forget the human massacre due to terrorism.

 There is a coincidence to this day when Dr. R. T. H. René Laennec (French) who first made a stethoscope to hear the vibrations of heart beat on Sep 11, 1816. Dr. Nicolas made the improvements and the modern day uses this modified version; however the credit goes to Dr. R. T. H. Laennec.

He was inspired by watching children playing a game. They were keeping their ears on a wooden plank to hear the vibration created. The game is about one child use a hammer and nail to hit on the edge of the plank, while others  hold opposite side and keep their ears to hear the vibration. This gave him an idea to make a paper roll to hear the heartbeat of a human being by placing on their chest.My attempt to write this has happened in the month of Sep.



Turning Point

In the story of the formation of communist China, there is one event that stands out: the Long March. In October 1934, the Communists were on the verge of being wiped out by Chiang Kai-Shek’s forces in the Jianxi province. However, in a daring move, the Communists managed to give them the slip by retreating to the western and northern parts of China.

By the end of 1934, Mao Zedong had assumed the leadership of the First Red Army, one of the three groups of Communist forces. Mao’s army traveled around 12500 km over nearly a year through some of the world’s harshest terrain. When Mao started, he had 100,000 soldiers. In October 1935, when Mao’s army reached Shaanxi province only 8,000 had survived. There, the other two units eventually joined Mao.

Though the Communists suffered a heavy toll during the march, they man aged to recruit people from the countryside to their cause.

Mao Later wrote: “The Long March is a manifesto. It has proclaimed to world that the Red Army is an army of heroes while the imperialist and the running dogs, Chiang Kai-shek and his like, are impotent. It has announced to some 260 million people in 11 provinces that the road of the Red Army is their only road to liberation.”

The Long March quickly captured the imagination of the rest of the world after Edgar Snow’s Red Star over China was published. Not Only did the Long March ensure the undisputed leadership of Mao over the Chinese Communist Party, it has since been held up as an example of the party’s resilience.

Happiness

happiness

"Dad, everyone is looking for happiness. But what is meant by happiness?" This was one of the questions a wise boy in India, Sveta-ketu, put to his father many centuries ago.

"One of the signs of happiness, son, is that a person who has it becomes active. A person who does not find happiness does not feel like being active. His mind is cramped, his will is weak. What is vast and infinite brings happiness. There is no true joy in what is small or finite. I can tell you that the Infinite alone is happiness; but you must desire to understand this Infinite, my son."

"I want to understand it, Dad," said Sveta-ketu.

"Good," said his father. "Then you must listen carefully to what I say and think deeply about it:

"When a person sees that nothing and no one is separate from him, that he is one with all the people, animals, and objects in the universe, when a person sees and hears and knows nothing else -- that is the Infinite.

"But, if one sees or feels some other thing, obstructing him, separating him, then that is the finite. He has not yet found the Infinite.

"The Infinite never passes away; it lasts forever; but what is finite will pass away."

Chhandogya Upanishad

 Crossing the Waters

You must have heard that Jesus walked on water to save the drowning Peter, his disciple. There are many accounts in India of persons who walked over water in this way, due to their tremendous faith. This story is about a farmer's daughter whose duty it was to carry fresh milk to customers in various villages. One of the customers was a priest. To reach his house, the milkmaid had to cross a good-sized stream. People crossed it by a sort of ferry raft, for a small fee.

One day the priest, who performed worship daily with the offering to God of fresh milk, finding it arrived very late, scolded the poor woman. "What can I do?" she said, "I start out early from my house, but I have to wait a long time for the boatman to come." Then the priest said (pretending to be serious), "What! People have even walked across the ocean by repeating the name of God, and you can't cross this little river?" This milkmaid took him very seriously. From then on she brought the priest's milk punctually every morning. He became curious about it and asked her how it was that she was never late anymore.

"I cross the river repeating the name of the Lord," she replied, "just as you told me to do, without waiting for the ferry." The priest didn't believe her, and asked, "Can you show me this, how you cross the river on foot?" So they went together to the water and the milkmaid began to walk over it. Looking back, the woman saw that the priest had started to follow her and was floundering in the water. "Sir!" she cried, "You are uttering the name of God, yet all the while you are holding up your clothes from getting wet. That is not trusting in God!"

Never under-estimate the power of faith!

Sri Ramakrishna

Fantastic stories

Vyasa and the dairy-maids

Once there was a great sage named Vyasa. He lived near one of the big rivers in India, called the Yamuna. In those days one had to cross the river by ferry boats, and one day when he wished to cross, the ferry, for some reason, did not show up. He noticed that some dairy-maids of the village of Vrindaban were seated on the bank, also waiting. They had tubs of butter, milk and yogurt with them, to be carried to market across the river. The dairy-maids were getting worked up, and quite anxious about not getting there before their produce began to spoil. Vyasa said to them, "I am very hungry." Now the milkmaids, thinking "This is a famous holy man, who keeps no money; so it is surely our duty to feed him," asked him to help himself. So Vyasa drank and ate and ate and drank till he had finished about half of their wares. People like Vyasa can acquire great spiritual power, and sometimes this comes out as "miracles." That is why Vyasa could say to the river: "O Yamuna! If I have not eaten anything today, let your waters part and allow us to walk through." And sure enough, the waters of the river parted, leaving a pathway through which they all walked! (You may have heard of a similar incident in the Bible.)
When they reached the other bank the dairy-maids were in astonishment. "What?! He ate all that food and then he says to the river, 'If I have not eaten today, may your waters part!' What does it mean?"
Well, it means this: Vyasa, being enlightened, no longer thought of himself as a body or mind. Constantly he kept himself in the thought "I am the soul, the Atman. No action, good or bad, belongs to me. It is the work of the Universal Doer." His ego had gone.

Srimad Bhagavatam

Sri Krishna

We don't know how long ago he was born. It was long centuries ago. There are many legends, as you know, about some of the people who leave their mark on history. One of these is Sri Krishna, whom millions of people have looked upon as God, born in India in a human body.
One day when he was just a baby, still crawling on the ground, he got into a mud-puddle, and you can well imagine that very soon he was putting some of the mud into his mouth -- it looked so good! Something like chocolate? Boys of the neighborhood saw Krishna eating the mud and, knowing it would not be good for him, ran to tell his mother.
She hurried to the mud-puddle. Worried to know how much the baby had put into his mouth, she placed her hand on it and asked him to open it. And you cannot imagine what happened to her. Instead of the usual pink tongue, palate and little teeth, Mother Yashoda saw the whole universe in the mouth of her baby. Krishna's mouth displayed the entire solar system in the Milky Way, the sun, moon and earth itself, crawling with its many living creatures.
Do you understand why she saw it this way? Her vision was changed. Like clouds dispersing before a blazing sun, her ordinary ideas about this baby being just human like the rest of us vanished, and by the power of God even in that tiny body, the divine nature of this child shone through.
But his mother didn't understand this right away. She thought she must be dreaming. When she realized she was actually seeing God in her baby, she became very humble. Aware, now, of his real power and holiness, she gave voice to a prayer: "O Lord of Love, who has entered our world as a human child, you have given me the honor of taking care of you; please shower Your blessings on us forever!"
Then -- to finish our story -- you must know that her consciousness changed again. Yashoda became her usual self and was able to pick Krishna up and take him to a basin and wash off all the mud. And she warned him about eating it. So once again the Lord, covering himself with a human disguise, so to say, allowed himself to be brought up as babies always are.
When they are a bit older babies can also be naughty and get into worse trouble. Sri Krishna was not different in this respect. One day his mother had churned milk to make fresh cheese. She had kept it in a pot where she thought it would be safe. But Krishna found the pot, pulled it down and broke it. Putting his little hand in, he pulled out some cheese and crawled to a dark corner to eat it. Just then a monkey wandered in (as they sometimes do in India) and Krishna fed some of his cheese to the monkey. When Mother Yashoda discovered all this, she gave the boy a good scolding and decided to fasten him somewhere with a rope, so she might go on with her work.
She thought she had chosen a long enough piece of rope, but it proved too short when she tried to use it. So she got more rope, and still more, and tied them together, but Krishna seemed so big she could not get the rope around him! How could He, who has no beginning or end, and is everywhere in space, and who is all powerful, ever be bound with ropes? Yet little Krishna, secretly smiling, finally allowed his mother to fasten the rope around him. Because of her great love, he could not resist her any longer and let her have her way.

We too can come close to Sri Krishna, by the love we have for Him: He hears the call of a loving and devoted heart and responds. You believe it!

Srimad Bhagavatam

    

KOLAR

1. Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple , Kalkunte.
2. Sri Prasanna Venkateshwara Swamy Temple Chikka Thirupathi.
3. Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple , Rangasthala.

The Ranganatha Swamy  Temple situated in Kalkunte a place in between Bangalore and Malur in Kolar District and it is 35 Km from Bangalore. A small Agrahara is still there and  it has produced many illustrious people like Dr.Varadhachari etc.

The Sthala Puranams says that Srinivasa temple existed long back and the Moola Moorthy disfigured ( Binnam) and for long time there was no idol , say 300 years ago some one dreamt that they should reach VAKALERE  Lake in Kolar district and there they will find a swayambu Murthy of Lord Ranganatha under a Ant-hill. The elders of the village reached the VAKALERE and behold they found our Lord under the ant Hill and they brought it to Kalkunte and built a small temple and started doing Pooja, The main occupation of the Village was stitching the Thaiyal Ellai ( As the people used to partake food in leaves stitched together.) Slowly due to grace of Lord Ranganatha the standard of people started rising up and the villagers progressed in every front.

Now we enter the Small and compact temple of Lord Ranganatha Swamyof Kalkunte. And here Swamy gives you darshan with usual anantha sayanam pose along with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi at the feet , Brahma in Nabhi Kamalam a small but lovely Moorthy.

Then on the right side of the Lord you can find the small Sannidhi for Sri Ranganayaki Thayar. 

Then on left side you can find the Sannidhi for Andal.

Then there is a interesting story how the Uthsavar came here. The people long back went to Mysore Palace and over night they lifted a Uthsavar from the Palace without the knowledge of the King, in the melee the Pettam got damaged and the people  did not do the prathistai and they wanted to make anew Uthsavar and they tried their level best but the moorthy's shape would not come, then in dream as usual told that they can repair the peetam and do the Prathistai to the same Moorthy which was brought from Mysore. The Moorthy looks very beautiful.

Now they have formed a Samithi named " Sri Ranganatha Seva Samithi" and conduct all Uthsavams. The annual Car Festival takes place on Pubbha Nakshatram in the Magha Masam

To visit the temple one has to take the road to go to Airport , then to Marthahalli then Hope Farm cross near Whitefield and take a right turn at Channasandra ( Famous land mark is M V J College of Engineering) . Channasandra is on NH-207. One then has to travel toward Saniatamallasandra, Ettukodi and Kalkunte Agrahara to reach Chikka Tirupathi.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.                  

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

Sri C S Gopala Bhattar or Sri Lakshmi Narasimhan , Trustee of  Sri Ranganatha Seva Samithi,
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
Kalkunte , Pin :  Kolar  District,
Karnataka India

The temple's address is:
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
Kalkunte, Kolar  District,

C S Gopala Bhattar Tel +091 8151 7945643 may be contacted here. If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

2.Chikka Thirupathi

Sri Prasanna Venkateshwara Temple

Sri Prasanna Venkateshwara Temple situated in Chikka Thirupathi place in between Bangalore and Malur in Kolar District and it is 40 Km from Bangalore.

The Sthala Puranams says that It is said that the main idol of Lord Prasanna Venkateshwara  was installed by Lord Agni  the god of fire. The temple is linked to the great epic Mahabharata's Kandava Dhana Kandam, at the end of Dwaparayuga Lord Agni developed severe stomach problems and indigestion after accepting "Havis" (offerings) from the various yagnas performed during those days. He then went to the  Arjuna and Lord Sri Krishna for a solution.

Arjuna suggested that Lord Agni take advantage of the medicinal herbs present in the Kandava forest by eating it whole. Lord Agni did so and during the burning both Arjuna and Krishna guarded the forest so that no one could stop the forest fire. But unfortunately the King of snakes Takhsaka who was trapped in the forest got injured in the fire. An angry Takhsaka cursed Agni and therefore he lost his tejas (brightness).

Lord Agni then approached Lord Shiva from help. Shiva advised that he pray and invoke Lord Vishnu's blessings. As advised by Lord Shiva Agni prayed Lord Vishnu. And our Abhadbhandava Lord Vishnu was able to free him from the curse. A grateful Agni then did the Prathistai of the idol named Prasanna Venkateshwara and built a temple for the Bhagvan  The main idol is made from Krishna shila (black rock), about three-and-a-half feet tall and is perched on padma peetam   Here i remember a Tamil Proverb the Moorthy Serithu analum Keerthi Perithu that means Even thought the moorthy is small but its fame is great.

There are two  unique features of this temple one is  that the right hand of the lord is held in an upward mudra called ‘abhay hasta’ while the hand of the Lord in Tirumala is in a downward mudra called ‘Vaikuntha hasta.’ At Chikka Tirupathi the lord is standing with his consort Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, and there are no separate sanidhi for Goddess Padmavati. The second unique feature is during the Rathotsava a seventy-feet tall wooden chariot is made every year. This similar system exists only in Jagannatha Temple situated at  Puri in Orissa

Since the place is considered as an alternative to Tirupathi Thimmappa , the ritual of tonsuring the heads among the devotees is also held here and similar festivals are celebrated. The Brahmotsava or the annual festival is  held in large scale as it is held in at Tirupathi. Similarly Rathotsava, Puspapalakki, Ashwavahana and Rathasaptami festivals are celebrated here.  The Navaratri, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dhanumasa are the other major festivals celebrated.

Inscriptions says that a Chola king named Janmajaya also visited the temple in 11th century.

To visit the temple one has to take the road to go to Airport , then to Marthahalli ,then Hope Farm cross near Whitefield and take a right turn at Channasandra ( Famous land mark is M V J College of Engineering) . Channasandra is on NH-207. One then has to travel toward Saniatamallasandra, Ettukodi and Kalkunte Agrahara to reach Chikka Tirupathi.

Please contact Office of the Temple Administration for the sevas listed above.

Temple is open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm without a break.

The temple's address is:

The Executive Oficer,
Sri Prasanna Venkateshwara Temple
Chikka Thirupathi , Pin : 563 156
Temple Land Line 08151 238623

3.Rangasthala

Sri Ranganatha Swamy

Sriman Seshadri Bhattar was kind enough to tell the Sthala Purana of Rangastala. This is a Saligrama Moorthy and Saptharishi did the Prathistai. The Moorthy's at Srirangam, Srirangapatana and Sri Rangastala all were installed on the same day and same time. Outside praharam and Gopuram etc were constructed by Vijayanagara Kings. There is a praharam around garbhagriha. If you closely observe you can observe as if the garbhagriham is in the shape of a Bamboo Basket (Moongil Thathu in Tamil ,Sibir Thate in Kannada). We  assume that Sri Ranganatha is in the middle of the basket.  One more interesting story which Bhattar tells is During Lord Rama's Patabhishekam Vibhishana also comes to attend it and in the end Rama presents a Lord Rangnatha's moorthy in Bamboo basket and Vibhishana is compelled to do the Prathistai in Srirangam and to commemorate the occasion the Saptharishi s do the Prathistai of Lord Ranganatha with Bhoo and Neela Devi here in Rangasthala. So the Lord appears as if he is in Bamboo basket. The idol of Ranganatha is four and half feet in length with Bhoo and Neela Devi sitting near the leg.Lord is in Yoga Nidra  and his Shesha is spreading his five hoods like a Umbrella. And Vainatheyan is sitting below . In the wall there are Sapthrishis ,Brahma, Ashta Dhikbalakas, Rambha ,Urvashi ,Pancha Ayudham's etc. and it appears as if Lord is in Vaikunta and he is surrounded by all the abovementioned peoples. and All Devatha's etc they are doing Namaskaram to Lord. The moorthy is very beautiful and moorthy looks as if Lord is in relaxed state. Then There is majestic Ustava Moorthyy with Ubhaya Nachiyar s. There are Vigraham's of Lord Chakrath Alwar, Ramanuja , Desikan and a beautiful and rare Vigraham of Nam Alwar. There are two ponds known as Shanka and Chakra Theertham respectively We cannot compare temple here and Srirangam and Srirangapatana , but the temple and Moorthy is beautiful and compact. The Brahma Ustavam is celebrate in the Month of December. If you observe the Lord During the Thirumanjanam he looks very beautiful.

 The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 11.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.                  

Sri Sheshadri Bhattar,
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple,
Rangasthala , Thippanahalli Post,
Chikkaballapur,
Kolar District,
Karnataka India
Tel- 08156 - 273565 & Cell : 97314 42409

How to reach Rangasthala: First Reach Yelahanka in Bangalore, then Travel towards Chikkaballapur , then once you reach Chikkaballapur ask for Bus stand / Gauribidanur road Then if you travel 5 kms on Gauribidanur road on Right hand side you will find the Sign board Rangasthala take a right turn and travel till dead end 

Sheshadri Bhattar lives in the same temple compound, If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements. The rate for Thirumanjan

Chamrajnagar district.

1. Beligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple - B R Hills

Beligiri Ranga Hills

Sri Beligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple

          

The temple's address is:
Sri Beligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
Kollegala Taluk , Chamarajanagar District,
 

Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple is devoted to Lord Ranganatha or Lord Venkatesha. Situated on the highest peak of the hill range, this is the only temple in the country where Lord Ranganatha is depicted in a standing position. Besides the idol of Sri Biligiri Ranganatha, this temple also houses a statue of the Lord's spouse, Ranganayaki. On Fridays, a special pooja is performed at Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple to the deities.

This temple is of greater significance for many Srivaishnavites. Once in two years, the local tribes of this region present a large pair of skin slippers, measuring 1 foot and 9 inches, to the Ranganathaswamy.  Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple is also famous for hosting the famous car festival of the deity, also known as 'ratha festival', every year. This festival is held during 'Vaishakha' in April, and attracts thousands of pilgrims.

    

Bangalore district.

1. Sri Kote Venkataramna Swamy Temple, Bangalore
2. Sri Chokka Narayana Swamy Temple, Bangalore
3. Sri Apremeya Swami Temple - Doddamallur.
4. Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple , Kurunegere.
5. Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple Ramanujapuram.
6. Sri Venugopala Temple - Devanahalli
7. Sri Thimarayana Swami- Thimarayana Beta

1.Kote Venkatramaswamy Temple

 

This temple has been constructed by His Highness Sri Chikka Devaraja  Wodeyar The erstwhile ruler in 11th century , later his son Kanteerva Wodeyar presented 4 villages to cater the daily pooja's needs of the temple for nil consideration.

Opposite to the temple there was large Parade ground conducted by the then British soldiers Behind the temple there is a summer palace even today constructed by the then Nawab Hyder Ali Khan and Tippu  Sultan During the Third Mysore war in 1791 under the instruction of Lord Carnival's the then Governor general of India The bullet aimed at Tippu Sultan by British army from the Parade ground hit the GARUDA GAMBHA (Pillar) of the temple and thus Garuda Gambha saved the life of Tippu Sultan. Both Hyder Ali and Tippu sultan had special reverence and regard for this temple . We can even say this temple became a holy place for  fostering Hindu Muslim Unity.

The temple building is based on Dravidian style of architecture the stone wall the sacred Santorum depicts Girija Kalyana with various Idol of Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwara, Saptha Rishis, Saptha Narthakies , Ashta Dikpalakas, there are four huge pillars with intricate Carvings of Navaranga sculptors.

The sacred sanctorum has the main deity of Sri Kote Prasanna Venkataramna Swamy  to its south east is Sri Anjaneya Swami ,and to its north east is Maha Lakshmi Thayar, Then Uthsavar Moorthy with Consort Sri And Bhoo Devi ,

On 15-10-1811 H H Mumidi Krishna Raja Wodeyar first performed Pooja here before conducting special durbar at Tippu's Summer Palace behind the temple.

As per Pancharathra agama daily Aradhana's are performed and in the month of May/June (Vrushaba Masa under Star Pubbha Constellation) Annual Car festival of the Lord is conducted .  Special Pooja is conducted on UGADI Day , Every Shravana Nakshatram, Vishnu Deepam, Dhannur masa Pooja and Special Venai Alankaram is done on Vaikunta Ekadasi Day.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.30 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 9.00 Pm. On Saturday special Pooja is done

Sri. Sheshadri Bhattar  & Gopalakrishna Bhattar ,
Sri Kote Prasanna Venkataramna Temple,
Fort, Bangalore :560002.  

Sheshadri Bhattar Tel: +91 80 2661 1996, Gopalakrishna Bhattar : 26792445

2.Hokkanarayan Swamy  Temple Domlur            Did you know there is 10th century Chola temple situated in a by lane, very close to the main Domlur Road is west-facing , called the Chokkanarayan Swamy temple which is the oldest in the City. The temple stands on a high base and probably was in the centre of the locality and once a prominent structure. One question you may ask Chokka means it should be a Shiva Temple , no your are mistaken it is Temple of Lord MahA Vishnu, yes in Chokka mean beautiful in Telugu, You may see the deity and say  Swami Entha Chokka anka Unaru? ( That means  how beautiful swami is is )

The illustrious kings of the  Chola, Pallava, Hoysala, Vijayanagar, dynasties who were great patrons of scholars, but they have built several temples in Southern India.

The pilasters in the sanctum sanctorum and the Navaranga walls and the name Chokka Perumal, suggests that the temple is of Chola origin, there are some old Grantham scripts to prove it was built by Cholas The whole of the Chola belongings of Bangalore were in the Illaipakka Nadu (present day Yelahanka) of Rajendra Solavala Nadu (Gangaikondacholan). Domlur itself is referred to as Tombalur and as Desimanikkapattanam in the inscriptions.

The Epigraphia Karnataka , Volume  9 of Bangalore district mentions six inscriptions. The Tamil inscriptions of Chakravarthi Posalaviraramanatha Deva are addressed to the authorities of all temples in his kingdom. One epigraphy says that all kinds of taxes, tributes and tolls of Sondekoppa village have been granted by Devaraya II of Vijayanagar to the temple. The wet and dry lands in Tombalur together with wells, trees, houses are granted to Lord Sokkapperumal.

On the door frame dated about 1270 AD, it is written in Tamil that one Alagiyar donated the two door posts. Another Tamil inscription says, one Talaikkattu (maybe a general) and his wife donated as tax-free the temple property, for the God Tripurantaka Perumal, as also the dry and wet lands in the village of Jalapalli, the tank at Vinnamangalam and other lands below the big tank of Tombalur. The charge of the temple was given to Talai Sankurappachariyan.

Another inscription speaks of Poysala veera Ramananda who donated 10 pens for the temple from the Tombalur revenue account in 1290AD. From the inscriptions in Kannada, on the stonewall skirting the door entrance, as also an inscription on the right which has the seal of a cow and its calf. 

Renovation of this monument has been extensively done, as the original structures are only the sanctum sanctorum, and two ardhamantapas in front of it. One of this has an underground cell that is fully covered. This was earlier meant to store valuables. All that remains is a pointer that is slightly longer than its counterpart, on the inner side of the arch jutting downwards. 

The images of Maha Vishnu or Chokka Perumal, his consorts Sri and Bhoo in the garbhagruham, are carved from the saligrama stone from Gantaki Nadi (Nepal), the only place where the sacred stone is found. It was found that one of his consorts Bhoo Devi had a small chip off her nose. To correct this, the entire figure was scraped and the same was done to the other consort Sri Devi too. There is also equally beautiful Uthsavar Moorthy of Chokka Narayana swamy with Sri and Bhoo Devi.

The Thirumanjanam is performed to the main deity only on Saturdays.

The Vijayanagar style Navaranga pillars and the front mantapa are later additions. The sculpture on the Navaranga pillars depict the kolata scene, fight of Vali and Sugreeva and a lion figure at the base. An interesting feature is the presence of eight pranic points discovered by a retired chief executive engineer 10 years ago. 

The Chola temple was renovated 20 years back and the whitewashing was sand blasted thereby restoring its antiquity. On the outside, at the right corner to the front is a Ganesha shrine, which is a later day addition. 

The Cholas are credited for bringing Vaishnavisam to Karnataka in the late 10th century and early 11th century. It was the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhan who brought it to the heartland of Gangavadi around 1116.

Just a furlong further down is an Anjaneya temple and it is said that if a line is to be drawn the head of his deity is positioned beneath the feet of Chokkanathaswamy. Though the oldest among the three old temples in Bangalore, the other two - Gavi Gangadhareswara and Ulsoor Someshwara are more well known ( They are Shiva Temple) .

As per Pancharathra agama daily Aradhana's are performed and in the month of April/ May ( Annual Car festival of the Lord is conducted .  Special Pooja is conducted on UGADI Day , Vishnu Deepam, Dhannur masa Pooja and Thommal Sevai Alankaram is done on Vaikunta Ekadasi Day.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.30 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 9.00 Pm. On Saturday special Pooja is done

Smt.Shakunthala Mami ,
Sri Chokkanarayan Swamy Temple,
Domlur, Bangalore :560036.
Cell : 9448083815  Tel: +91 80 25353815

3.Doddamallur      

Aprameya Swamy Temple 

About 60Kms from Bangalore, on the Mysore - Bangalore Highway (one mile from Channapatna), the tall tower of a famous temple peeking through the swaying coconut palms seems to beckon your attention. The highway road sign identifies the place as Mallur Agrahara. The curious traveler who pulls over to explore this tower, would have reached the temple of Lord Aprameya, His Consort Aravindavalli and the renowned ‘Ambegal’ Krishna.

This is a Divya Kshétram and a Punya Bhoomi. The verdant greenery, Punya Theerthams, the temple complex and its āvaranams all provide for an atmosphere conducive for religious piety.

 “MALLUR” has an interesting story to its name. Sārangadāra, a King, had his limbs amputated by his enemies, who threw them in the Nirmala river, which flows near this place. Though suffering from immense pain, he chanted the Bhagavath nāmā incessantly and approached the temple where he was blessed with a darshan of a  Divya Jyothi. With the Lord’s bountiful grace, his limbs grew back to their original form. “Growing” in Tamil is “Mulaithathu” and since Sārangadāra’s limbs grew back, this Kshétram got its name ”MULAITHOOR” (Tamil) and as time passed , “Mulaithoor” became today’s “Mallur”.

This sthalam is also referred to by other names in our ancient sacred texts, a few being:

“DAKSHINA AYODHYA”: “CHATUR VEDA MANGALA PURA”: “GNYāNA MANTAPA KSHéTRAM”: “RAJENDRA SIMHA NAGARI”:

Sri Aprameya swamy Temple is a very ancient structure. Some historians date it back 3000 years, but local historic documents date it not less than 1500 years. There is evidence that this temple existed even before Lord Ramanuja’ s Digvijayam in Karnataka and it will not be a surprise if it was built much before Lord Ramanuja’ s Birth. There is a written document preserved to date, which mentions the Kainkaryam of lighting Nanda Deepam to Lord Aprameya in the year 980. This is a proof of the temple’s existence in that period.

Legend has it that Lord Rāma stayed here, in Dakshina Ayodhya, for many years and during this time, he worshipped Lord Aprameya. Hence Lord Aprameya is also known as Sriramaprameya. Lord Rāma also performed Homams and other rituals in this place and even to this day, there are remnants of the structures where he conducted the Yagnams. In kshetram Mahatmiyam Kandam of Brahmanda Purana there is a description of Lord Aprameya in twelve chapters.

The specialty of the temple is it is standing on sand and not on any solid foundation. It appears from the style of construction of the temple, that it was expanded during the regimes of certain kings who ruled Mallur in the past.

Standing outside the temple, one can see the towering and beautiful Raja Gopuram. Built in the dravidian architectural style, one finds sculptures from the Dasa Avataram adorning the side walls (Madal) of the Raja Gopuram. The Maha Dwaram is 30 feet high. Opposite the Maha Dwaram is the tall Deepa Sthambam made from a single stone which vies with the Maha Dwaram in height, at 30 feet. Facing the Rajagopuram, is the Purandaradasa Mantapam, a tribute to the composer of the famous krithi  “Jagadoddharana Adisidalu Yashoda” which immortalizes his ecstasy on seeing the Navaneetha Krishna here, for generations to come.

This is the sannidhi of Sri Aravindavalli Thāyar. As Goddess Maha Lakshmi was born in a Lotus flower in Vishnu Theertham (to the North West of the temple), she is known as Aravindavalli. She is seated in the Padmasana posture on a Lotus. Thāyar is giving darshan with her chaturbhujams, holding Lotus flowers in the two upper hands and blessing devotees with two hands in Varadha and Abhaya postures.  In the same Sanctorum you will find idols of Sri Andāl Thāyār and Sri Desikan.

As you proceed to the North Western ramparts of the temple, the next Sannidhi you see is that of the renowned Lord Navaneetha (Thavazrar/ambegal (crawling)) Krishna. This Krishna figures in a lot of Purānas. It is believed that Sage Vyasa did the Prathishta of thisVigraham. This lovely, adorable Krishna Vigraham depicts Him in a crawling pose, holding his favorite butter in his right hand. It appears as if Lord Krishna is crawling towards you to invoke the maternal instincts within you, compelling you to spontaneously shower your love on him. His face is like Poorna Chandra Bimbam, his doe-like eyes are very attractive and the curly locks of his hair are a sight to behold. This Neela Megha Shayma is crawling on a Garuda Peetam. He is adorned with a lot of jewels like amulets, chains, necklaces and anklets. He flaunts his Pulinagam (Tiger Claws dollar) as if to show off his prowess while the priests make sure he wears it to avoid Kan Dristi Dosham from his many devotees ogling at his boundless beauty! While drinking in this lovely sight, you may think you heard the jingling of bells from the cord he wears around his waist and the gorgeous anklets adorning his tender ankles, as he crawls closer to your heart!!

His beauty inspired Purandara dasa to compose the popular krithi “Jagadoddharana Adisidalu Yashoda” when he visited this sannidhi. The delicious Navaneetham he is holding in his right hand is no ordinary butter but Gnyanam (self realization) shaped like a butter ball. Parandhāman is willing to share this precious treat with you, if only you ask him for it, with a true mind. Another boon that this God is famous for granting is the gift of children to those who need it. The loads of silver and wooden cradles in the Sannidhi offered by people desirous of begetting offspring stand testimony to this fact.

You are now in the divine presence of the majestic looking moola moorthy of  Lord Sri Aprameya  made of Sāligrāma Shilā. It is an ancient Idol of the Lord.’ Prameyā’ means measurable quantity, Aprameyā means immeasurable and since his mercy is of immeasurable quantity, he is called so

His two upper arms are holding the Shanka and Chakra and in the lower two arms are the Gadhā and Padma in the Abhayahastam mudra. The Shukanāsika Mantapam houses Lord Aprameya’s  Uthsavar in a sandal wood Mantapam. He is bedecked with jewelry. This Uthsavar is a replica of the Moolavar and is extremely beautiful.  Uthsavar is accompanied by Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi thāyars. The Divine trio are accompanied by a Uthsavar Moorthy of Lord Ramanuja and it appears as if he is doing Kainkaryam to the Trinity.

The temple is now becoming famous because of Sriman A M Rajagopalan Famous Astrologer , Editor of famous Tamil Astrology Magazine "Kumudham Jothidam" Time and again he recommends this temple to millions of  issueless couples to visit this Kshetram and invoke the Krishna's blessings. Recently there was a article by him about Doddamallur and also places around this Kshetram . From here we proceed to Kurunegere Narasimha Swamy Temple which is similar to Ahobillam .

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

For Thirumanjanam of Lord Krishna the charges are Rs.600/=  ( Confirm from Temple Office ).

For Neyvedhanam for one ser the cost is  : Puliyodarai  =Rs.250/-, Chakarai Pongal = Rs.125/- ( Confirm from Temple Office ).  .                          

Please contact temle authorities for the above sevas listed .

The temple's address is:

The Executive Officer,
APRAMEYA AND NAVANEETHA KRISHNA TEMPLE,
Dodda Mallur, Channapatna Taluk, Pin :571501

4.Kurunegere

Yoga Narasimha  Swamy Temple

It was a time when KANVA MahA Rishi was doing penance in the forest area known asKurunegere ( it is hardly 4 Kms from Doddamallur) While doing penance he observed Lord Narasimha was there in a hillock . Lord Narasimha's Bimbam was in Sthambam. He wanted this matter to be known to the entire world .Then  a settlement of Nomads known as KADU GOLLAS  came to dwell in the same forest. They used to graze their cattle in the hillock and forest etc. It was observed that one particular used to go to the hillock near a particular bush and used to automatically pour the milk and come back. Then our Kanva MahA Rishi thought that it was the opportune moment to let the whole world know mahima of our Lord. Then he disguised as Kadu Golla and went and started a topic about the cow's strange behavior and he aroused their curiosity, Then the Kadu Golla's followed the cow observed what it was doing , then Kanva Rishi suggested that let them clear the bush and see what is there , as per his suggestionthey cleared the bushes and behold our Lord Yoga Narasimha reveled himself in a Sthambam and Karnataka People consider this place as equivalent to Ahobillam. Then once Narasimha Swamy became visible our Kanva MahA Rishi disappeared after making proper arrangement for necessary Pooja etc. Then Those Kadu Golla's Started doing business making our Swami as Business partner and they prospered like anything. Even today 20 Family's the descendent of the ancient Kadu Golla's live in the village and even now they do business invoking the name of our Lord and also every year they celebrate the Jathra ( Village and they will donate the Swami's share in business profit that day.

The temple is now becoming famous because of Sriman A M Rajagopalan Famous Astrologer , Editor of famous Tamil Astrology Magazine "Kumudham Jothidam" wrote about this temple also and we on our part decided to put the matter in web site for the whole world to known about this beautiful place situated in serine atmosphere in a hillock and the hillock is motorable. From here we proceed to Ramanujapuram

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 6.00 Pm

For Thirumanjanam of Lord Krishna the charges are Rs.600/= .

For Neyvedhanam for one ser the cost is  : Puliyodarai  =Rs.250/-, Chakarai Pongal = Rs.125/-  .                          

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

Sri. Bharadwaj  Bhattar, Sri Sheshadri  Bhattar,
Sri  Kurunegere Yoga Narasimha Temple,
Kurunegere ,Chakallur Post , Channapatna Taluk, Bangalore District, Telephone: :+91 80 7262311          Bhattars  may be contacted If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

5.Ramanujapuram

Presently known as Macherenahalli

Srinivasa Perumal Temple This is 3 Kms from Kurunegere . This is township established by our Udayavar when he was doing Digvijayam of Karnataka. The Vigraham of Lord Srinivasa was done Prathistai by Ramanuja himself. Main person instrumental in setting up this township was Ananthalvan who was doing Pushpa Kainkaryam to Lord Srinivasar as per instruction of of Bhagavath Ramanuja. The Moorthy is very small and cute. First as you enter the village you will find a kalyani which is similar to Melkote one. Then on the Banks you will kind our VayuPutran. It is beautiful moorthy. Then you walk 200 Meters you will reach the Srinivasa perumal koil of Ramanujapuram. Then Main Gopuram which was majestically standing once upoun a time is there ( Now it is in ruins [ Pic is the testimony] Then next to it a madapilli ( But now only a stone slab which was used to mix Ogre( I mean Pulliogere etc) is there.  Then we enter the Temple On the left side you will find our beloved Nam Alwar and besides him our Lord Ramanuja is there. then You will find our Sweet cute Srinivasar is there, There is no Thayar Sannidhi since he is having his Thayar in the Vrashasthalam. In two upper hand he is holding Shanku and Chakra , then there is Abhaya hastham and Kati hastham. It is said During Dhannur masa every year the Malai mariyadai comes from Thirupathi  due to Ananthalvan and Bhagavath Ramanuja The tradition is continuing till now , but due to bad shape of temple and due to financial constrains the Ustavam is stopped and i am sure with the support of Government and and generous Sri Vaishnava's throughout the world .   It is said  previously 200 Brahmin family used to live, a well planned township was there with well connected Water Supply system. every house used to connected by two canals for water supply. One canal was madi / Acharam ( for cooking and Pooja etc) water and and one used to be regular water.  All the family have migrated to greener pasture and they have forgotten their roots , one of the famous Food industries owner is from this village. It is high time they do something for their village. God is great there is one Brahmin family in village and he is the Aradhakar of the temple who is 84 years and very young at heart. He is Sri K V Narayana Iyengar. Due to him perumal is getting his Pooja done .

Sri. Narayana Iyengar
Sri Srinivasa TEMPLE, Ramanuja Puram ,
Marechanahalli , Channapatna Taluk, Bangalore District, Telephone: : 9844126359 ( Sri  Yagya Varahan , S/o of  Sri. Narayana Iyengar )

The temple is now becoming famous because of Sriman A M Rajagopalan Famous Astrologer , Editor of famous Tamil Astrology Magazine "Kumudham Jothidam" wrote about this temple also and we on our part decided to put the matter in web site for the whole world to known about this beautiful place situated in serine atmosphere .

6.Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple - Devanahalli

Gopala Bhattar told this Sthala Purana . This temple is situated in Bangalore Rural District and the place is known as Devanahalli ( a New Proposed International Airport of Bangalore is going to come up).  Ranabera Gowda was the resident of Kanchi and later on he came and settled in a village named Avathi near Benthakalur (Modern day Bangalore). One day a Hailstorm and rain came and it washed away their settlement. Then they collected all the belongings whatever they could lay hand, and kept them under a tree, then one broom stick got struck in a ant hill and when they tried to pull it did not come , so they left it and slept under a tree. In night they got a dream that in the ant hill there are seven vessels of  Gold and jewelry , then a idol of Venugopala Swamy and Thimarayana Swami are there and they should  do the Prathistai of the same. Then next day they dug out the Treasure and also the Idols of both the Perumal and did Prathistai of Thimarayana Swami in Gauthama Giri Beta and They came to Devanahalli as they wanted to build a Fort of their own and also do Prathistai of the Venugopala Swami. At that time one Pallegara named Deve Gowda who had a fort built in mud. They requested Deve Gowda that they want to build a Fort of Stone and also build temple for Venugopala , Deve Gowda told i will give the place for building both the Temple and Fort , but you should keep my name to the new place. So they Build the Temple and Fort and Named the place as Devana Halli and the place is 500 years old. This it  is the same place where A International Airport of Bangalore is going to come in few years time. So this is the history of Devanahalli . This Kote was build by the Pallegara. Devanahalli is also famous because Hyder Ali  resided here and some people say his son Tipu Sultan ( The Tiger of Mysore ) was born here . Our Hyder was working for Land Lord named Drona Raya a Madhava Brahmin . Hyder was looking after the cows. every day he used to take the cows for grazing and did all household work. One day Hyder was tired and when he took the cows for grazing , so he slept off. Then he did not go to Land Lords House for the Lunch , so his master came in search of him. Behold they were stunned to see a Cobra raised his hood and was protecting him from sun. Then Drona Raya immediately thought that this person is having a big Yoga and he will rule the Country one day. So Master took him and gave him nice lunch with Vade and Payasa ( Vade and Payasa is prepared only on special occasion and festivals) . Then Hyder asked his master that what is the special occasion , for that master told that you are going to have a bright future. Then after some time the Army contingent came to Devanahalli  and Hyder joined them as the stable  hand .Then he slowly became a sepoy then a Commander in chief and then ruler of Mysore.

Now  you start your journey from Bangalore, then you reach Yelahanka then straight you go   you will reach Devanahalli , As soon as you enter the place you get a small circle please turn to your left and then ask for Fort and Venugopala Temple, if you travel for 2 Kms you will get the Fort then you cross the fort you will be greeted by small three tier Gopuram. Then you enter you will get Vahana Mantapam then you will see our Rukmini Sathaya Bhama Sametha Venugopala , Then inside the sacred sanctorum you will find the Ustava Moorthy, then if  you will you find Maha Lakshmi Thayar.

  

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 7.00 Am to 10.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm.
The Temple Address:

Sri. Kannan Bhattar,
Archakar
Sri Venugopala SwamyTemple,
Fort, Devanahalli :562110.
Cell: 98865 36673

PS : From here you can proceed to Thimarayana Beta to have have Darshan of Thimmaraya. You have to travel in route towards the Chikkaballapur road , then on left side you will get a sign board pointing route to  Nandi Hills then take a left turn then travel for 4 Kms and you will get Ahuthi Village and turn towards right and motorable road to Thimarayana Beta (Hill) comes. Have darshan come back in same route and then turn towards left to proceed to Chikkaballapur and then once you reach Chikkaballapur town please  turn towards the Bus stand and travel in Gauribidanur road and after traveling for 5 kms on right side you will reach Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple of Sri Rangasthala.

Bangalore      

7.Sri Thimarayana Swamy Temple - Thimarayana

Betta

Please await Shtalapurana

   

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning Temple Timings - Mon to Friday ( 9 am to 1 pm), Sat - (9 am to 5 pm ) and Sun ( 9 am to 2 pm) .

Sri. N. Sridhar Bhattar
Sri Thimarayana SwamyTemple,
Gauthama Kshetra,
Avathi Post, Thimarayana Betta  : 562110.  

Tel: +91 80 7645352 & Cell : 9845359843

 In 1501, a mud fort was built by Mallabairegowda spread over 20 acres and the town was named ‘Devadanahalli’ or ‘Devanahalli.

The fort remained with his descendants until mid-18th Century and in 1749, the then Dalwai of Mysore, Nanjarajaiah, occupied it.

 In the years that followed, the fort was conquered regularly by the Marathas, the Mysore kingdom and the British under Lord Cornwallis.

 Later, the fort passed into the hands of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who re-built the fort with stones in the form that it stands now.

 Tipu and Hyder Ali’s houses and Dewan Purnaiah, a high-ranking official in Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan’s court lived also exists till date.

 As one enters the fort area, green fences demarcate the temple areas.

 On the right is the famous Venu Gopalaswamy Temple which has a traditional courtyard with a ‘Garuda Stamba’ with the walls showing scenes from the Ramayana and also the antics of Lord Krishna as a child.

 The sculptures within the temple are in the lines of those found in Halebid and Belur (Hoysala style).

MANDYA

1. Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple - Maddur.
2. Sri Vardharaja ( Alanatha) Temple-Maddur.
3. Sri Ranganatha Temple - Srirangapatana.
4. Sri Thirunarayana Temple - Melkote.
5. Sri. Nambi Narayana - Thondanur.
6. Sri Chenna Keshava Temple - Bindinganavile
7. Sri Pralaya Varaha Swamy -  Kalhalli
8. Sri Sowmiya Keshava Temple - Nagamangala.
9. Sri Adhi Madhava Temple - Bellur

1.Maddur

Ugra Narasimha Swamy Temple

The Ugra Narasimha Swamy Temple situated in Maddur a place in between Bangalore and Mysore has a Special significance.

The Sthala Puranams says that In Dwapara Yuga Arjuna asked Lord Sri Krishna the he wished to see the Narasimha Avatara , for that Lord Sri Krishna  told that it is not possible but he can arrange for a darshan of Ugra Narasimha and he asked him to proceed to the present day Maddur. The old timers say the Maddur was known as Arjunapuri also  . Purans says that Sri Kadamba Rishi lived here and worshipped the Lord  due to this it  is also know as Kadamba Kshetra and Nadi which is flowing here is also know as Kadamba Nadi.

Now we enter the Small and compact temple of Lord Ugra Narasimha Swamy of Maddur. And here Swamy gives you darshan with eight hands and Three eyes which is  a very rare sight.  With two hands he is tearing the Asura Hiranya Kasipu who is lying in his lap, with other two hands he is wearing the Hiranya Kasipu's Intestine as Mala, then in the other two hands he is holding Pasha and Ankusha and in other two hands as usual he is holding the Shanku and Chakara. At the feet of lord our Garuthaman stands on left side and  on the right Bhaktha Prahalada is standing in  Posture doing Namskaram.

It is said that Swamis third eye came when he was doing the Hiranya Kasipu's Samhara. It is very rare to see a Thinetra Dari Narasimha  ( Here we can recollect the the Narasimha Sostra which describes the lord Narasimha as Jwala Kesham , Tri Netram)

Now we have the darshan of our Lord Ugra Narasimha and come out. Then we see a Sannidhi for Lord Srinivasa, Then next Sannidhi is of Matha Yashode breast  feeding Our Lord Kuti Krishnan It is also a rareMurthy , then we step into praharam and on the left side corner we find Goddess Sowmiya Nayakiand then after having her darshan we move to right side corner and we see Goddess Narasimha Nayaki. Then we walk further we come across Sannidhi of Patabhishekam Ramar then once we come out of praharam we immediately find the Sannidhi for Udayavar, Namalwar and Swami Desikan.

It is said these temples were reconstructed during the period of Hoysala Kings regime. It is said if you pray sincerely and say that you will do Thirumanjanam to Lord  your wishes will be fulfilled . It is also said that if childless couple do Thirumanjanam and then after manjalkappu of perumal is taken out and put in a vessel and with that the childless couple is given a bath and then the couple will be blessed with a child. One more thing is also done, If you land up without notice and somebody else is doing the Thirumanjanam then you can pay some token amount to the person who is getting the Thirumanjanam done and then you can undergo the same ritual as mentioned above.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm. On Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays Morning 10.30 Am  - 2.30 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

For Thirumanjanam of Lord Narasimha the charges are Rs.300/= .

 For Neyvedhanam for one ser the cost is  : Puliyodarai  =Rs.160/-, Chakarai Pongal = Rs.125/-  , Kesari Bath = Rs.60/-       

                    

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

Sri T Narayana Bhattar or M.G.Singa Iyengar Bhattar or K R Manjunath - Parapethagar ,
Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple & Sri Vardharaja Swamy Temple
Fort ,Maddur , Mandya District,
Karnataka India

The temple's address is:
Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple or Sri Vardharaja Swamy Temple,
Fort ,Maddur , Mandya District,
Telephone: +91 832 233680 ( Singa Iyengar ) , 91 832 232610 ( T Narayana) , 91 832 233056 ( Manjunath ) ; Mobile # of Narayana Bhattar : 9844421388 

Sri Narayana Bhattar or M.G.Singa Iyengar Bhattar may be contacted here. If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

2.Maddur

Vardharaja / Alanatha Swamy Temple

Then after having the wonderful darshan of Lord Ugra Narasimha we come out then turn to our left behold you will find a small hillock and a small temple dedicated to Lord Vardharaja. And if you see suddenly you will feel that you are in Kanchi. Now we walk towards the temple and then climb the flight of steps similar to Hastha Giri. Then behold you will see a Majestic Lord Vardharaja majestically ( yes the statue is 18 feet in Height. ) Now lets know the reason that how this  Majestic Looking Lord Alanatha came to Maddur. It is said during the regime of King Vishnu Vardhan , it is said his mother lost the eye sight. Then he consulted the Astrologer and they told if she undertakes a pilgrimage to Kanchi and has the darshan of Lord Vardharaja then she can regain the eyesight. Considering the age the Old lady will not be able to undertake the pilgrimage. So King called the sculptors from Kanchi and requested them to make a statue of Lord and install there. As desired by the king the statue was installed. Then proper Samprokshana as done and instead of Kings Old mother our King Vishnu Vardhan himself worshipped the Lord Vardhan . Then on 45th day  He brought his mother to the temple and with Vardha's grace Queen mother regained the Eyes. One of the name which people call him him "Kan Kota Vardha" ( Vardha ho gave eyes in Kannada). Other names which they call him him Kanchi Vardha, Alanatha. There is a saying in Kannada that " Ella Devaranu Mundey Nodu  Alanatha na  Hinde Nodu ( the meaning is See all the deities from front but see Alanatha from the back) Such is the beautiful carving from back side. Now Bala Alyam is done and Archeological Survey of India is doing restoration work. .  And a grand temple tower etc is being built.

One interesting factor how Maddur got the name. Few centuries ago Pallegara [ Local Chieftain ] used to make ammunition for the Guns  ( In Kannada Madhu Gundu)  Hence it is known as Maddur . And one more interesting fact Maddur is also famous for  famous "Maddur Vadai".

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm. On Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays Morning 10.30 Am  - 2.30 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

For Thirumanjanam of Lord Varadha the charges are Rs.600/= .

 For Neyvedhanam for one seer the cost is  : Puliyodarai  =Rs.160/-, Chakarai Pongal = Rs.125/-  , Kesari Bhath = Rs.60/-                           

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

Sri T Narayana Bhattar or M.G.Singa Iyengar Bhattar or K R Manjunath - Parapethagar ,
Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple & Sri Vardharaja Swamy Temple
Fort ,Maddur , Mandya District,
Karnataka India

The temple's address is:
Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple or Sri Vardharaja Swamy Temple,
Fort ,Maddur , Mandya District,
Telephone: +91 832 233680 ( Singa Iyengar ) , 91 832 232610 ( T Narayana) , 91 832 233056 ( Manjunath ) ; Mobile # of Narayana Bhattar : 9844421388 
 

Sri Narayana Bhattar or M.G.Singa Iyengar Bhattar may be contacted here. If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

3.Srirangapatana

Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple 

Did you know the Cauvery water is equivalent to Sacred Viraja Nadi situated at Vaikunta . Did you know that Lord Ranganatha has manifested in three places in  at Adhi Ranga - Srirangapatana, At Madhya Rangam - Shivanasumdram and At Anthima Rangam - Srirangam, And to cap it all the three places are in Island amidst of Mother Cauvery and all the moorthy are Swayambu. Once Mother Cauvery performed Penance to Lord Ranganatha.

Lord was pleased with her and gave three boon. 1] The River Cauvery will be more sacred than Gangai , 2] Srirangapatana will become a pilgrimage centre and 3] Lord Ranga will settle down at Srirangapatana alone and bestow boons to the devotees who come to him. Then one day Lakshmi also came and took bath in Cauvery and worshipped Lord and settled down in South est side of Ranganatha Sannidhi as Ranganayaki . Realising the Greatness of place  Brahma and Rudra came down and worshipped lord Ranganatha at Srirangapatana and Brahma built temple and also instructed Naradha to do worship according to Pancharathra method here. 

Once there was a terrible famine in the country and all Rishis  found difficulty in doing daily anushtanam, then they came to Rishi Gowthama's ashram , he welcomed them and looked after them very well but other Rishis became jealous of Gowthama and they planned to drive him away and occupy his place , so they created a cow out of mantra and made it to graze Gowthama's fields and on seeing the cow Gowthama asked his disciples to drive away the cow. But unfortunately cow came and fell at Gowthama's  feet and breathed its last. Then Gowthama saw in Gyana Dristi and cursed them. Then he went on pilgrimage  and reached Srirangam and he wanted to serve lord , but lord told Vibhishana is serving him and let him go to Adhi Ranga , he went in search of the place , He was joined by other sages i.e. Bodhayana , Atri, Yagyavalkya, Kanva, Shuka, Parashara etc. They joined and performed a Homa and lord was pleased and told he is in the ant hill in nearby Thulasi vana  , Then Kamdhenu came and showered its milk in Ant hill and our Lord Ranganatha , it was puniya Kala of Mesha Masa , Shukala paksha , Sapthami Day , Saturday, Then they went inside the sacred Sanctum . They saw a Swayambu Moorthy of Lord resting in his Adhisheshan, His head rested in right hand,  left arm stretched, Then Lakshmi adorned his chest, and Goddess Cauvery seated in his feet . It is said Three Days stay in Banks of Ganga or Five days stay at the bank of Yumunai or a mere dip in Cauvery removes all the sins. Such is greatness of Cauvery and Srirangapatana . It is said Ganga also comes to Cauvery in the Thula month and takes a holy dip to get her sins washed ( as all people go and take dip in Ganges to get rid of their sins & ultimately Ganga comes to Cauvery  to get rid of all sins.  The lord cannot be seen at a time you have to view him in three part, i.e First Siras, then Body and then Padam, such is lord lords personality, their is Sannidhi dedicated to Lord Sudharshana and Yoga Narasimha and Goddess Ranganayaki.

                  

The Bhattar s Address is:

Sri Vijayasarathi L
Pradhana Archakar - Thayar Sannidhi
Tel 08236 - 292422 or Cell 94488 77648

Sri M R Prasanna Kumar
Pradhana Archakar - Perumal Sannidhi
Tel:08236 - 252454 or Cell 98453 32024


Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
Srirangapattna : 571 438
Mandya District
 

4.Melkote

Sri Thirunarayana Swamy Temple

Melkote yes true to name it is a Kote ( in Kannada Means Fort) of Vaishnavism. And our Yoga Narasimha Temple looks like a real fort on top of hill.

Melkote located near Mysore in Karnataka houses an ancient shrine to Vishnu, worshipped as Thirunarayana. This shrine is known for its long standing association with the spiritual leader Ramanujacharya. Melkote is also known as Yadavagiri, yatistalam, Vedadri and Narayanadri.Legend has it this image of Vishnu was held in worship by Brahma. It is believed that the festival image Sampath kumara was worshipped by Rama and his son Kusha; hence thename Rama Priya. Legend has it that Krishna installed this image here at Melkote.

The presiding deity here (Moolavar) is known by the name Thirunarayana, while the processional image of Vishnu goes by the name Shelva Pillai or Sampath Kumara. Vishnu's consort is known by the name Yadugiri Nachiyar. The image of Shelva Pillai is housed in the Rangamandapa. There are shrines to Yadugiri Thayar and Kalyani Nachiyaar. The temple tank is known by the name Kalyani Theertham.

Melkote has two distinct temples. The Thirunarayana temple at the foothills and the hill temple to Yoga Narasimha. Legend has it that the Yoga Narasimha temple image was installed here by Prahalada.

King Bitti Deva of Karnataka who embraced the Sri Vaishnava way of life and patronized the saint Ramanujacharya, assumed the name of Vishnuvardhan and built five shrines known as the Pancha Narayana temples. It is believed that at that time the Narayana PURA shrine was in ruins and that both the images of Thirunarayana and Sampath Kumara were missing and that Ramanujacharya discovered the image of Thirunarayana in the midst of Thulasi shrubs on the Yadavagiri hill and installed it back in the temple.

Legend has it that during the Muslim raids of South India, the festival image of Melkote was stolen andtaken away and that Ramanujacharya restored it from the court of the ruler. It is said that it a Muslim princess had gotten attached to the image of Shelva Pillai and that being unable to part with it, she followed the Acharya to Melkote and then merged into the shrine there. In honor of this, there is an image of Bibi Nachiyar here.

This temple is known for its Vairamudi Sevai in the month of March-April, when the image of Shelva Pillai is adorned with a diamond crown and taken out in procession. It is traditional belief that this crown is not to be looked at when it is not worn by the festival image; hence each year, during the occasion, the officiating priest picks up the crown from its chest with his eyes blindfolded and then places it upon the head of the image of Shelva Pillai. Thousands congregate to celebrate this occasion each year.

Such was the hospitality of the residents of Melkote that they were reluctant to let Ramanuja leave for Srirangam. Hence, Ramanujacharya made an image of himself and left it behind. It is to be noted that Ramanuja's body in its preserved state is maintained at Srirangam and that there is another image of Ramanuja at Sriperumpudoor near Chennai.

There is a Sannidhi of Bhadri Narayana  and it a small temple near Shelva Pillai temple

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm. Hill temple closes earlier.

Then you have the Brindavan of  H H Adivan SaTakopa Jeer  the first Jeer of Ahobila  Mutt and it is also Avatara Sthalam of  H H Adivan SaTakopa Jeer

The temple's address is:
Sri Cheluva Narayana Swamy Temple
Melkote , Mandya District, Karnataka
Pin: 571431

Please Contact the following person for any kind of help.
In Thirunarayana Perumal Temple:
Sri S. Narasaraja Bhattar,
Pradhana Archakar,
Tel:08236 - 298913
Mobile:9448754696 & 9448813124

In Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple in Hilllock
Sri S. Narayana Bhattar,
Pradhana Archakar,
Mobile:94484 12656

Sri Nagaraja Iyengar:
Journalist & 4th Sthanikar
Mobile:0823-298711

Ps: For accommodation at Melkote you can Please Contact Sanskrit Academy  - Mr. Krishna Prasad  who is the Registrar  & also  few Dharma Shalas are available.

5.Thondanur

Sri Nambi Narayana Swamy Temple

Yes Thondanur  means immediately you can go to flash back mode to our Udayavar's  era and time. A Shivate king Koluthunga Chola was ruling the South at that time. He was a staunch Shivate.  He had an evil Minster named Nalluran. He did not like our Vaishnavism growing, so he poisoned the ears of the King and told him that he should take it in writing from all the Religious head that Shiva is greatest of all. Particularly he did not like our Udayavar's  and Our Vaishtaadwaithams growth. Then some how news reached  Udayavar's camp that kings men are coming take him to Kings court. Sensing trouble Our Koorath Alwan convinces Ramanujacharya to undertake  Pilgrimage. Saying this  Koorath Alwan  and our Ramanujacharya exchanged their clothes. Then Kings man took away  Koorath Alwan  and rest is history.  Meanwhile our Udayavar traveled along the river Cauvery's course and ultimately reached Thondanur in Melnadu ( Present day Karnataka ) One of the Pradhana Shishiya named Thondanur Nambi his disciple was happy to play host to his beloved Acharya . But problem was lot of disciple had also come  along with Our beloved Acharya , Nambi was not  rich. Then knowing this our Acharya Valal Sent word to Katalaivari and Kongupratti and they donated 1000 Gold coins, with this daily Bhagavath Aradhanam and Thadi Aradhanam was held nicely. At that time Hoysala was ruled by Bitti Deva and he was a follower of Jainism. Once Nambi went to Palace and found it was gloomy. Then he asked Raja what is the problem. For that he told his daughter is processed by Brahmarakshas and even my Jain Guru's could not do anything. For that Nambi told My guru is here and he will cure. For that Bitti Deva told if that miracle happens he will  become the followers of Udayavar. Then Udayavar went to palace, he was welcomed by the King and queen Then the princess came and did act  of mad woman. Then Ramujar Sprinkled the Holy water from his kamandalam. Then she fainted and when she regained consciousness , she was turned a new leaf. Such is the mahima of our Udayavar. Then seeing this King and queen bowed to our Acharya and asked him to accept as disciples, Our Acharya accepted them and He did a Namakranam to King as Vishnuvardhan.( In memory of this great event, the king built five Vaishnava temples Channiga Narayana temple at Belur, Nambi Narayana temple at Thondanur, Keerthi Narayana temple at Talakad, Veera Narayana temple at Gadag and Chelva Narayana temple at Melkote. These temples are lasting monuments of Karnataka culture and architecture. Ramanuja built many other temples too in Thondanur).
 

Then seeing this Jain Acharyas told Ramanuja has done some Vasiyam and they wanted to have a debate. Then 12000 Jains debated with our Udayavar, Then Our Ramanuja asked his disciple to put a screen and he took a form a 1000 headed Adhisheshan and defeated this Jains.  ( even today you will find the Statue of Udayavar in Nambi Narayana temple and also Narasimha Temple. Here there are three temples, they are Nambi Narayana Temple. ( It is one the Pancha Narayana KSHéTRAM established by Bhagavath Ramanuja.  the Moolavar is  18 feet height and he is holding Shanku and Chakra in reverse order  ( We could not take picture as it is under Archeological Survey of India , May be in near future you can see the Picture) . it is said he did   Pancha Samasakara to Thondanur Nambi, then a Narasimha Temple and Gopala Krishna Temple. Then near by you can see a vast big lake which was built by our Udayavar with his own hand.

6.Bindinganavile

Sri Chenna Keshava Swamy Temple

Yes If you think of Garuda Sevai , what immediately comes to our mind is Nachiyar Koil Kal Garudan and next is Kanchi Varadharajar Garuda Sevai. But there is one more place where Garuthaman is famous that place is Bindinganavile in Karnataka, To known the Sthala Purana we have to go back to thousand and thousands of years back. The people of Bellur in now Hassan District wanted a Garuda Vahana for Lord Chenna Keshava in Bellur. So they ordered a Vahana at Kanchipuram and when it was ready it was carried all the way from Kanchipuram. In those days there was no freight containers or truck etc. So the people had to physically carry the Garuda Vahana by foot. So they carried the Garuda Vahana from Kanchi and they used to travel with Vahana all the day and when they reached the nearest Village they used to rest that night at that place and next morning commence the journey. Like this the Vahana traveled all the way from Kanchi and reached the now Bindinganavile, They Saw Sowmiya Keshava Temple (Temple had existed then also). People halted that night at Sowmiya Keshava Temple. Next day morning after doing the Nitya Anushtanam they wanted to proceed further to Bellur so they tried lifting the Garudan. But they could not lift at all. They were astonished. They never faced any problem from Kanchi even thought they halted at so many places. Same time there lived a Palyagara (Local Representative of King) of Nagamangala named Jaga Deva Raya . Previous day he had dream, in that dream our Garuthaman tells I have come to place known as Bindinganavile which is under your territory and I want stay there, so give all facilities for me to stay in Bindinganavile. Then next day morning Jaga Deva Raya also lands up in Bindinganavile and he enquires from the People about the Garuda Vahana, people narrate the incident that had taken place that morning. Then Jaga Deva Raya also narrated his dream, then one of the person who was carrying Garuthaman from Kanchi told that he also had similar Dream and in that Garuthaman tells that I had the darshan of my Lord Keshvan and I don't want to to go to Bellur. So don't disturb me from here. Then they decided to do the prathistai, so they did the prathistai. at the place were they placed the Garuda previous night, Jaga Deva Raya made all facilities for Vainatheyan.
Daily Aradhanam was done to Sowmiya Keshavan, Sowmiya Nayaki and Our Vainatheyan. The Vahana was made in wood, And it was placed in Mud floor on a wooden plank, Soon the Ant Hill grew on it over the days. The ant hill fully covered the Garuda Alwar and then there lived a snake in that ant hill. The Archaka's used to perform the Thiruaradhanam to to Sowmiya Keshavan, Sowmiya Nayaki and also to Ant hill covered Vainatheyan, the Snake used to come out and play and go inside. , It never used to harm anybody. The Archaka's used to keep Milk for Snake in a vessel. Years rolled on. Then 800 years rolled on. The people prayed to Vainatheyan that it is ok now what will coming generation do for worship.
One Sri B K Garudachar who was in some trouble had dream and Vainatheyan told him that He is in ant hill hill and his roopam is destroyed by ants and he wants a new Moorthy in place of old one. Then B K Garudachar visits Bindinganavile and sees the place and finds the ant hill and prays to Lord Vainatheyan and asks him to guide him the next step. So Garuthaman once again comes in the dream of Sri B K Garudachar stating that His Archa Avathra Moorthy should be made in Sandalwood and then Prana Prathistai be done. So Sri Garudachar gets a Achari( Carpenter) to start the work. They go to forest select the Sandalwood tree with good Lakshana , they bring it to Bindinganavile and place it in front of ant hill , they wanted to do Pooja in the morning and start the work .Next day they did Pooja and then lifted the tree and they were surprised to find the sketch mark of Vainatheyan ( In Present form) in the tree . The Achari was frightened because he thought in night there was nothing , but in morning full sketch is there and how can he carve the wood., but Vainatheyan told him nothing will happen and ask him to proceed. Then finally our Sculptor finishes the Vainatheyan Statue in wood in present form. Meanwhile one day the snake which was in Ant hill goes to the Moorthy of Keshava and merges himself with him. Then they wanted to do the prathistai of Vainatheyan for that he tell the Village Pramuk in dream that let them do Bala Alayam to old Moorthy and and remnants of old Moorthy be put in the Brindavan which was at the backyard of the temple. Then next day they do Bala Alayam to old Moorthy which was in the hill and they put all Power in Kumbam and then disperse the old Moorthy in Brindavan and do Prana Prathistai to the current Vainatheyan Moorthy , The Prathistai was done in the year 1931.
Every where you will find Garuda Alwar in Vahana Roopam , but here he is in Shilla Roopam, Vahana Roopam and Archa Roopam. He is the Family deity for 10,000 people. Here even Seriya Thiruvadi is also there the Moorthy of Seriya Thiruvadi was carved over a single night from the remaining Sandalwood. Then there is another interesting story how Anjaneya also Joined Garuda Alwar in Bindinganavile . In village chieftain's dream our Anjaneya goes and tell's that he is present in Bindinganavile temple and his body is burning. So the chieftain goes and tells to the pradhana Archakar about the dream and they all search throughout the temple and they could not find anything. Then they enter Madapalli there also they could not find anything, and finally they come to the stone stab where they used to mix the Puli Ogre Prasadam, They washed the stone slab nicely and there appeared a bimbam of Anjaneya , Anjaneya once again appeared in the dream of of Chieftain and instructed that he should be kept in the starting of the Village. As instructed by Seriya Thiruvadi they did Prathistai in the starting of village. Seriya Thiruvadi is also given equal importance. See The Periya Thiruvadi came and settled and Seriya Thiruvadi came automatically ( Udbhavam) so it really a very special place.

It is said Achrya Sarva Bhoma Ramanuja Charya stayed in Bindinganavile for three days.
Pray Lord Sowmiya Keshavan, Goddess Sowmiya Nayaki and Lord Vainatheyan bless you all.

How to reach Bindinganavile

It is situated on the Bangalore-Mangalore Highway . First please reach Tumkur Road of Bangalore , you will find CMTI on right side , then travel further You will find Kennametal-Widia Factory on right side. Then travel further You will find Nelamangala Cross road, Please take the left side road ( It leads to Hassan) {, If you take middle road it will take you to Tumkur} Then you will pass Kunigal, You Pass Yediyur then you can break for your break fast at couple of Hotels , then go to Bellur cross, Then watch for a place known as Kadbali then take a left to go towards Bindinganavile ( You can find a board also) And in the tenth Kilometer you find Bindinganavile , abode of our Lord Vainatheyan It is at a distance of 86 miles(145 kms) from Bangalore.

Temple Address
Sri Sowmiya Keshava Temple
Bindinganavile
Pin: 571 802
Timings: 8 Am - 12 Am and 5 Pm - 8.30 Pm
Contact Persons:
Sri Seshadri Secretary, Sri Vainatheyan Bhakta Mandali ,Tel :08231 284245 or 958234 284245
Sri H S Keshava Bhattar Tel: 08231 284018 or 958234 284018

7.Kalhalli

Sri  Bhoo Devi Sametha  Pralaya Varaha Swamy Temple 

Kalahalli It is also known as Varahanathana Kalahalli. It is small village in Mandya district, and it very near to Bookenekere . Now Bookinanekere is synomyn with Karanatka because the Present Chief Minister of Karnataka, sri B S Yeddyurarappa ( Bukinanekere Siddalingaih Yeddyurappa) hails from this place. He is the first chief minsiter from Bharathiya Janatha Party and it is first time the the BJP came to power in South. Now I want you to travel to Kalahalli village with me and it needs your Patronage. It is a very big treasure which our fore fatheres have left for us. The Temple of Varahanatha the protector of World now itself needs the protection and I am sure if we act now atleast for our posterity we can leave something to show them how our fore fathers were great builder and artitechtures without any modern facility like crane etc. I appeal to younger generation to atleast visit this place as cultural tourism. it can be covered in a day, You can Visit Kalahalli, then some jain Basthi is there near it and A Statue of Gomatheswars is there and recently House of Kodhays have rebuild a temple of Venugopala which was submerged in KR Sagar dam when the dam was built. But House of Khodays who are known to do lot of social work for human welfare, entered into the picture and they undertook the challenge to relocate the entire temple when it was lying submerged under dam. When the water was low they started the dismantling act they meticulously numbered and then transported each and every stone and rebuilt a new temple for Lord Venugopala, there is also a Narasimha temple there, then last you can visit the K R Sagar dam and Brindavan Garden and end your Holiday and return safely to your base. 

Now let us focus on the Kalahalli It is situated in on the right banks of river Hemavathi in Krishnarajapet taluk of Mandya district, it is in the distant of 50 Kms of Mysore city approachable by a motor able road via Krishanarajasagar Which is incidentally the nearest railway station. From Krishnarajasagar the road runs along the northern banks of the vast water spread behind the dam. The village is called the VArahanatha or varahanathana kalahalli, because of the famous Varaha situated at a distance of 2.5 Kms from the main village. Government can do a lot to protect this treasure.

In the year 2005 I and my udanperava sahodaran Haresh Balasubramaniyam from Singapore were touring different Vishnu Kshetram of Melnadu ( Karnataka) , then one evening we went to Parakala Mutt in Mysore and Swami ji was there , we went and called on Swamiji , we introduced about ourselves and i told represent Gopura Darshanam Magazine in Karanataka and cover the Vishnu temples in Karanataka and also put the detials in my website . Then his spontaneous reaction was that I should Visit the Place known as Varahanathana Kalahalli, Swamiji just told the rough route,Then we we took leave of Swamiji and we proceeded to Hedathale Which is the birth place of our Acharyan ( I and Haresh had Samasharnam from him) H H Rangapriya Swami which houses a Thirukootachala temple for Srikantha Perumal, Lakshminarasimha and Venugopala). Then next morning at 10 we left Mysore on the trail of Varahanathana Kalahalli, We went to Pandavapura, then Chinakurli and Bhukenekere and Ganjegere and finally reached the Kallahalli and for our good fortune Sri Vijay Bhattar was there. He normally comes in the morning 10 Am and he will be there throughout the day and closes the temple at evening 6 Pm and goes off.He stays nearby place known as Bhukenekere. Then i could not collect much details so i could not write any article.

Then I visited Kalahalli for the second time two years back . That is another interesting story as desired by Parakala Swamy I was trying to get in touch with Parakala Mutt manager at Mysore /  Bangalore , I could not succeed and finally I got his telephone number and spoke to him , he told he does not know much about the details and he in turn put me on to Sri Venkatramaiah in Bangalore. I got in touch with him and told he wil introduce me to Prof E S Dwarakadasa a Srivaishnava and a industrialist who taking deep interest to bring the original glory to this temple .Then He introduced me to Prof.E S Dwarakadasa. Prof told on Varahajayanthi they all are going to Kalahalli . I knew Prof Dasa sir thorugh my e-group. Then I went and met Venkatramaih A native from this kalahalli village (a madhava Brahmin) knew about this temple and he was very much intrested that this temple should be known to the world. He did a lot to trace the history and origin etc, then he stumbled upon a record which stated this this temple is gifted to Parakala Mutt & Muzrai Department. As usual Muzrai department cannot take care of this ancient treasure with limited budget at its disposal. Sri Venkatramaiah told that this temple was deserted and there was fungus formation on moorthy without any abhishekam and pooja etc. Then he went to Parakala Swamy many times and requested to visit the temple. then because of his continuous visit One fine evening Parakala Swamy visited the temple and on seeing the moorthy he shed Ananda Kaneer and from that day Parakala Mutt started taking active part and arranged a for a full time priest who will come in the morning and stay till evening. Then on Varaha Jayanthi in the month of Thai on Revathi Nakshatra I once again visited the temple along with Prof E S Dwarakadasa sir, his family members and Sri Venkatramaiah and had a blissful darshan. Now i have some details which i gathered from Sri Venkatramaiah .

It is believed that this Varaha Moorthy was the samputa Moorthy of Kanva Rishi ( Samputa moorthy is one moorthy which is carried by the rishis in Palm leaves box { Ollaipoti} of Kanva Maharishi who had his hermitage in the nearby area. It is a unique moorthy . Its hieght is 25 Ft from the ground and the Bhoo devi Thayar siting on his left Thigh is 6 feet in height. it is said at the back (MUDUGU) of the moorthy there is a Sudharshan chakra engraved, it is made of Saligrama Shila. Shrines for Varaha are very very rare and to name a few, we have A varaha temple in Sri Mushnam, Then Near Mahabila puram the Nithya Kalayana Perumal temple,Then Varaha Narasimha at Simhachalam and Ahobilam, Then Varaha Perumal at Thirupathi. And in Karnataka we have this Giant Moorthy and also a Sveta Varaha temple at Mysore Palace. 

When Krishnaraja Sagar Dam was being constructed 24 villages were submerged but by the grace of Varaha Swamy this Village and Temple escaped. It is really miracle this temple is located on a High mound with the Three rivers Cauvery,Hemavathi & Lakshmanatheertha at its foot and the lush green paddy feilds around ,this village commands a picturesque view of the surroundings and i infer it is under Parakala Mutt. I feel the Lord Pralaya Varaha has not received the due attention it deserves either as a mega scultputre or as unique iconagrpahy.

The history of this area begins with ganga rulers of talakad,subsequently it became the part of Hoysala,Vijayanagara, and Wodeyar Kingdom. Only one shilashasna has been noticed from this village , it is engraved on stone slab lying outside the temple, it is dated Saka 1257 ( It corresponds to reign of Hoysala Veera Bhallala III.It registers the gift of village of Kalahalli which was converted into a Agrahara and renamed as Devalapura after Queen Devala Devi. The temple stands on a high mound facing east with a flight of steps leading to the main entrance .The superstructure has undergone lot of changes from the original structure .There is also remain of rubble wall around the temple which had functioned as protective wall against the fiery of river Hemavathi's floods. The temple consists of a garbhagruha, Antardwara,Navaranga.

The main moorthy of Varaha with Bhoo Devi Measures 21 feet .Swami is seated in Sukhasana, with mother earth Godess seated in the left lap and hold a water lilly ( Lotus) Swami is embracing the lower left arm around mother.His right lower hand is in Abhaya Mudra. With Chakra and Shanku in his upper right and left arm respectively. Similarly Mother is shown with two arms , her left hand she sports the Nilothphala flower and her right hand is around lord waist. Lord wears Kiritamukhuta and Mother is sporting Karanda Mukhuta. from the point of art and sculpture the Moorthies are carved in beautiful manner.

Now since the politically there is change of guard , i am sure in coming days this place will be recognized and it will become place tourist attraction. 

Now lot of people go and visit in week ends. It is said that people who dont get married visit this place and pray to Mother Bhoo Devi and she blesses them and they get married soon after visiting this place. Those who are afflicted by planet Rahu also visit this place and get the dhosha nivarthi. It is place for Vathu Dosa Nivarthi since Vasthu Purusha is Bhomi Putra.

So please patronize our ancient treasure left to us by our ancestor and please help in restoring the ancient glory of this Varahanathana Kalhalli temple.we should be happy while building the K R Sagar Dam all nearby place got submerged but this place escaped, because it is prama dhaya of our Karauna Moorthy Varaha and Bhoo Devi.

The Temple of Varahanathana the protector of World now itself needs the protection and I am sure if we act now at least for our posterity we can leave something to show them how our fore fathers were great builder and architectures without any modern facility like crane etc. I appeal to younger generation to at least visit this place as cultural tourism.

Now the Rajagopuram has been built and concerted in the month of June 2013 by Parakala Mutt and Devotees of Varaha Perumal .

Today (14.07.2013) I received a call from Sri Srinivasa Raghavan Mama requesting me to update the contact details and add few more details.

You can Contact 
Sri Srinivasa Raghavan Mama
Mobile +91 94480 11535.

Sri Nagesh Rao ( He is localite )
Mobile :+91 94490 09711

Prakala Mutt , Mysore
0821- 2422536

(Please keep Sri Srinivasa Raghavan Mama informed so that he can guide you all )

A clean good route without any humps through National Highway is given below. Distance is slightly more, but old people can enjoy the peaceful journey.( Thanks to Sri Srinivasa Raghavan Mama ) 

From Bangalore take Tumkur road, turn left at Nelamangala ( Left hand side It is known as Hassan / Mangalore Road ) Pass through Kunigal, then Belur Cross, at Belur Cross take a left turn travel to Nagamangala ( If you wish you can have th darshan of Nagamangala Sri SOwmiya Keshvan Perumal ) then from there travel to K R Pet, from there to Hosa Holalu ( there a wonderful Temple dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narayana is there ) then to Ganjigere then finally you will reach KALAHALLI . The total distance by this road it 165 Kms.

Alternate route with lots of road HUMPS etc.

From Bangalore take Mysore road, then Pass Channapatna (yOu can visit Doddamallur Lord Aprameya / Lord Ambegal Krishna Temple ) then Pass Maddur ( You can see Lord Ugra Narasimha temple and Lord Varadharaja Tempe ( Separate temple), Then look for Pandavapura road board in the right side , reach Pandavapura ,from there travel to Chinakurli , from there to Bhookenekere, from there to Ganjigere and then finally KALAHALLI . Distance Approximately 130 Kms but this route has lot of Humps even thought is S H of Bangalore - Mysore ) .

Have a wonderful Darshan

For high resolution photos please log on to

http://www.pbase.com/svami/kalahalli

       

Temple Sri Soumiya Keshava Swamy Temple Sri Soumiya Keshava swamy Temple amangala 

Sr  i Soumiya Keshava Swamy Temple

 Om Keshavaya Namaha

About the temple

This temple is at proper Nagamangala, Mandya District. The Saumya Kesava temple is a large and splendid temple, which was built in 1170 A.D. The three-celled temple raised on a stellate parapet has the image of Saumya Kesava is a fine piece of sculpture, which is six feet in height. The sanctum to the left houses an image of Lakshmi-Narasimha, while the one on the left has the image of Venu-Gopala.

The central hall is very ornate, elegant and impressive, resting on twelve finely carved columns and having lovely ceilings: the enclosure has many shrines including that of Goddess Saumya-nayaki. The Garudagamba in front of the temple is fifty-five feet and considered finest sculptured column in Karnataka.

Sthalapuranam:

During Mahabharatha, Lord Krishna planned to start war but he worried about Nagasthra of Karna. If the war starts, Karna could kill Arjuna by using Nagasthra which is very powerful. Suddenly Lord Krishna controlled all the nagas of this world in his Shank and the war is also started. So the whole control of Nagas came under Shank. In this temple you can see the Shank (which controls all Nagas) and Lord Krishna appears with Shank in his right hand (which is rare)..This shank controls all the nagas of this world by its power. This is the only place in which adhisesha is on top.

Adhi Shesha is sitting in Mandala akara. In the whole world you will not find the Adhi Shesha Sitting in Mandala akara on top of mantapa. Our Adhi Shesha is sitting on a big Shanku which appears as if it is placed on heap of 108 Shanku. This is a unique feature and no where in the world you will find the Adhi Seshan sitting in Mandala Akara Position beneath the Bhuvaneshwari Mantapam sitting atop of Shanku

In one angle if you see You will see as if Adhi Seshan is Perched on top of a Very Big Shanku, then if you ,move to the central point you will see as if the Adhi Seshan is in top of Reversed Lotus Bud. Bhattar says Once you have darshan of Keshavan all your problem will disappear like Slokam Keshava Klesha Nashana.

How to reach Nagamangala Temple:
Route:
1. Bangalore to Belur Cross [Take 'Bangalore to Hassan Bus' and get down at Belure Cross] [It takes around 2 hrs]
2. From Belur Cross, many share autos, Government and Private buses available to reach Nagamangala [It is just 15mts to reach Nagamangala from Belur Cross)

Belluru Mandya district

Sri Adhi Madhava Swamy Temple

         
The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm.
Sri Sowmya Kesava Perumal:

Sri Sowmya Kesava perumal temple is in Nagamangala of Mandya District. The temple is about 1000 years old. The temple was constructed by Hoysala Pallegara Sri Jaya Deva Raya. The place is known as Anantha Kshetra, Nagamangala Paniparaha Kshetra. 

Main deity is Sri Sowmya Kesava Perumal in standing posture with his consort Bhoo Devi and Neela Devi. He holds Sanku to his Right upper hand and Chakkra to left upper hand,Padmam in his right lower hand and Gadha to his left lower hand. Normally we sanku in left and chakra to right hand but in this temple they are changed. This is how Kesava Moorthy holds sanku and chakra.

We see two more sanctums to either side of the main sanctum. To the left sanctum we see Lord Krishna, with his consort Rukmani and Sathyabhama. 

For Abhishekam / Thirumanjanam & Neyvedhanam : Get in touch with Bhattar

Sri Madhusudhan
Archakar
Sri Madhava Raya Temple.
Belluru,
Nagamangala Taluk,
Mandya District,
Pin: 571418.

Or Contact Sri Somshekar - Convener.
Tel: 08234 - 287406

Mysore district.

1. Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple - Madhyarangam
2. Sri Keerthi Narayana Swami - Talakad
3. Sri Kote Vardharaja Swamy - Sathyagalam.
4. Sri Lakshmi Kantha Perumal Temple - Hedathale
5. Sri Yoga Narasimha & Udayavar Sri Pada Theertham -Saligrama.
6. Sri Rama Swamy Temple - Chunchunkatte.
7. Sri Varadharaja Swamy Temple - Hemmige
8. Sri Gunja Narasimha Swamy Temple - T.Narsipur

Madhyarangam

Sri Ranganatha  Swamy Temple

Madhyarangam is the One of the three Rangam situated in between the Adhi Rangam and Anthima Rangam. The Adhi Rangam is Srirangapatana , Madhya Rangam is this and it is situated near Shivanasumdram and Anthima Rangam is Srirangam. It is very close to Sathyagalam say 5 Kms. The Sthala Puranam is awaited but i will like you to have the darshan of this beautiful temple. It is said first it was an island and you should go in Dhoni a type of boat . It is very close to Kabini Reservoir and two beautiful falls are there, it is very picturesqueue spot.  The falls are known as Gagan Chukki and Bhari Chukki Then Once you reach Sathyagalam Hand post bus stop please turn to left hand side travel 5 Kms and a small Motai Gopuram welcomes you. Then Our Sridhar Bhattar greets you. Then first you enter the temple , You will find Sannidhi for Takshan, Ramujar, Swami Desikan, Nam Alwar, Other Alwar, Vayu Puttran, And many more small Sannidhi. Then you enter the sacred Santorum . You will find our Lord Ranganatha with Cauvery Matha sitting in the leg side. A beautiful Saligrama shilla Moorthy, Then As usual Uthsavar with Sri and Bhoo Devi, Santhana  Krishnan, Chakrath Alwar. etc.  then you come out and go to Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi which is our side and separate. You will find your Karuna Matha sitting majestically . Since we did not get the Sthala Purana i cannot go into details.. Please make a visit t on any Vaikunta Ekadasi Day, They do a special Venai Alankaram using 75 Kgs, of butter and it understood Takshan was granted moksham. on this day here.

           

                                                                                            

                                                                            

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

The temple's address is:
Sri Sridhar Bhattar
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple                                                                                                                Shivanasumdram Mysore Dist.

Sri Sridhar Bhattar's Father is Aradhakar at Talakad and His Brother Madhavan Bhattar is Aradhakar at Sathyagalam 

Talakad

Keerthi Narayana   Swamy Temple

The Keerthi Narayana   Swamy Temple is situated in Talakad.

The Sthala Puranams says that Ramanujacharya during his Digvijayam to Melnadu that is  modern day Karnataka did Prathistai of 5 Narayana, They are known as  Pancha Narayana Kshetram. So Talakad is one of Pancha Narayana Kshetram and the Presiding Deity isKeerthi Narayana

The moment you say Talakad immediately what comes to your mind is Deep Cauvery river and Sand dunes let us examine a old story how Malangi water became Deep  and Talakad became sand dunes. ,for this we have to travel to Srirangapatana for a while and then come back to Talakad. After Bhagavath Ramanuja Got Srirangapatana from the then ruler . Then Srirangapatana was placed under an officer of Vijayanagar, then there lived  Alameluamma who was the wife of the king’s representative named Srirangaraya.  Every Tuesday and Friday, Sri Ranganayaki Thayar of Srirangapatana  borrowed Alameluamma’s jewels and returned it after the Pooja. Since Srirangaraya did not have any issue & Srirangaraya developed a tumor on his back, resembling the hood of a cobra (the disease is called Bennu Phani Roga or Raja Roga in Kannada). he sent word to Mysore Maharaja Sri Raje Wodeyar and gave the administrative control to him. He then retired to Malangi and then his end came soon there. Even after the death of Srirangaraya practice of putting ornament to the Goddess Ranganayaki continued, Then Mysore Sri Raje Wodeyar came to have darshan of Goddess on one Friday, On learning that ornaments have to be return ed to Alameluamma , King got wild and told ornaments should not be returned. By that time Alameluamma got some ornaments with her, thinking life is in danger , she rode horse back towards  Malangi in Talakad , she was chased by few soldiers so she jumped in Waters of Cauvery at Malangi, but before doing she cursed three things , 1] MalangiMaduvu Agile,2Talakad Marel Agile & Maharaja Nir Vamsha Agile ( That means Let Malangi become deep , Talakad become Sandy dune and Maharaja should not have issues.) The presence of a large mass of sand in Talakad amid lush green vegetation is something that is worth pondering. While geologists say that Talakad is filed with sand carried by the wind from the dry bed of river Cauvery, the locals still prefer to go by the age-old tale of Alameluamma and her curse.

Now we move to magnificent structure of Keerthi Narayana temple, which is the only temple in Talakad to have been constructed in the Hoysala style of architecture. A greater part of this temple is buried in sand. Other than the sanctum sanctorum, there is a sukanasi and a Navaranga in this temple. Inside the sanctum sanctorum stands an eight-foot-tall statue of Keerthi Narayana. Recent excavations in the temple complex have brought to light remains of earlier centuries. Among the findings are an intricately-carved mantapa (with carvings of Ugra Narasimha) made of stone, which is about 12 foot tall. A thulasikatte (Thulasi madam)  remnants of a Garuda Gamba, two stone inscriptions and walls of an unknown structure were also found here.

The archeological depart is doing yeoman service. they are trying to renovate the temple . Each piece of stone has been numbered, and the mantapa are being rebuilt bit by bit. Work is still on at the site of excavation. The painstaking efforts of the archaeologists is bound to bring to light some more astounding facts about the structures that once stood in the precincts of the Keerthi-Narayana temple.

Here our Keerthi Narayana is holding Shanku and Chakra in reverse order which is rare this same style you find in Nambi Narayana temple of Thondanur. It appears as Lord is going to do Pancha Samasakara , If a person standing in opposite wants to do Pancha Samasakara he should hold Shanku and Chakra in reverse order only. At present the Uthsavar Moorthy is kept in Temporary temple and Picture you can observe the Lord Holding his Shanku and Chakra in reverse order

. 

Bhattar's house is close by you have call him from his house and have the darshan. They have done balaalyam and they have transferred the power to a Chitram which is in opposite side

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.                          

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above. Bhattar Mama is Father of Sridhar Bhattar Aradhakar at Madhya Rangam and Other  son Madhavan Bhattar is Aradhakar at Sathyagalam

The temple's address is:
Sri Balakrishna Bhattar,
Pradhana Archakar,
Sri Keerthi Narayana Swamy Temple,
Talakad :571112
Tel:08227-273262

Kote Vardharaja  Swamy Temple

Nesting amidst natural surroundings and against the backdrop of the holy waters of Cauvery is a shrine, which is adorned by Sri Varadharajar and Perundevi Thayar, known as SATHYAGALAM. Sathyagalam had the distinction of being selected as a perfect setting for swami Desikan’s daily Anushtanam and worship and writing. It is only 130 Kms southwest of Bangalore and is well connected by road. Nearby there are some picnic spots like the Gaganchukki Falls, Madhyarangam temple, Bluff ( name of a power generating station), Talakad etc.

Swami Desikan, a ,Lion among Acharyas was appropriately known as Kavitarkika Simha and Sarwa Tantra going by the contributions made by him to the Hindu religion and Srivaishnava Community in particular, he is only next to Sri Ramanuja. It is he who laid the firm foundation to Vasishtaadwaita philosophy which was articulated by Ramanuja.

Kottai Varadharajar and his consort Vardha Vallabha Thayar also known as Perundevi Thayar. It is said the idols of both the deities descended to Sathyagalam - other words they were Swayam Vyaktam. They revealed themselves to our Swami Desikan ..

In 13^th Century, Srirangam city was invaded by Muslims. Malik kafur the General of Allauddin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi. Srirangam became a veritable hotbed of attacks from northwest of India towards the end of 13^th Century beginning of 14^th Century forcing people to flee Srirangam. One of those who could not escape was Sudharshana Bhattar, author of the famous commentary on Ramanuja’s famous Sri Bashyam known as Shrutha Prakashike. He however wisely vested this book as well as two young children in the safe custody of Swami Desikan, who thinking it was God’s will lefty Srirangam for a safe place. He traveled along the course of river Cauvery it is no wonder he reached SATHYAGALAM, he must have said “this is it”.

Swami Desikan settled down nicely at Sathyagalam and got into his routine of Aradhanam, meditation, writing and Kalakhsepams on Sri Bhashyam. It may be mentioned here that swami had the unique distinction of giving Kalakshepam on Sri Bhashyam over 30 times , a feat which does not appear to have been matched by anyone ever since. He is said to have written a number of books and the one, which is frequently mentioned, is “ABHITISHAVA”, the recitation of which is said to ward off all types of fear.

While in Sathyagalam, Swami Desikan had selected a particular spot on the riverbed for his daily “Anushtanam” and meditation under a “peepul tree” {Ashwatha Vriksham}. This spot has been revered by generations of people who acknowledge the tree as Swami Desikan’s “special seat” seated where he composed many literary compositions. The entire setting with the “peepul tree” {Ashwatha Vriksham} is known as Gynaashwatha. This spot was in bad shape until recently, when it underwent renovation and was spruced up to make it fit for visiting Holinesses and others to observe their “Anushtanam”. Swami Desikan once had a dream in which a “Satvik” person requests that he allow him to do some form of service {Kainkaryam} to him. Swami Desikan did not read too much into this dream. The very next day when swami was returning from the river after his “Ahannikam”, a tortoise followed him all through and “raced fiercely”. This happening also did not bother him in anyway. However, that night in his dream, he had a vision of GOD wherein he was told to do “Anugraham”. The next morning when swami Desikan returned to his special spot under the gnyaanaashwattha, he found a stone Peetam in the form of a tortoise [“Koormasanam”]. The swami started using it during his “Anushtanam”. The unique Sri Koormasanam (naturally formed in granite) on which Our Swami performed his Nithya Anushtanam on the Banks of Cauvery is now preserved in his Sannidhi.

There is a unique feature in the Desikar’s Idol at Sathyagalam. Swami Desikar is in Ninra Thirukolam or standing pose. It is said Swami is standing and anxiously looking towards Srirangam to see if peace has returned or not (his standing posture gives an impression that he was literally on his toes, to head back to Srirangam). This pose is not there anywhere in the world as you will generally find him in all the temples in a seated pose. Swami Desikan left SATHYAGALAM for Srirangam when all the trouble had ceased there. His fame kept growing by leaps and bounds, what with his unique contributions and display of “Pandithyam”, some people did not tolerate His greatness and one among them was Lakshmanacharya. His follower’s dragged swami Desikan one day and manhandled him. This was yet another instance when SATHYAGALAM beckoned Swami Desikan. Not much later Lakshmanacharya was stricken with Leucoderma and his wife was quick to realise that this was a result of their showing disrespect (Apacharam) to Swami Desikan, without losing time they reached Sathyagalam and made amends.

The Temple Timings are 6 Am to 10 Am & 5 Pm to 7 Pm

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas .

B S Selvanarayanan  +91 821 2543392 (Mysore) or +91 8231 240051(Belakawadi).

K.Madhavan Bhattar  +91 8224 752109 ( Kollegal).

The temple's address is: 
Sri Kote Vardharaja Swamy Temple,
Sathyagalam, Kollegal Taluk,
Pin:571440.
Karnataka,
India.

Sri Madhavan Bhattar's Father is Aradhakar at Talakad and His Brother Sri Sridhar Bhattar is Aradhakar at Madhya Rangam.

Hedathale

Sri Lakshmikantha Perumal Temple 

The temple is dedicated to Lakshmikantha Perumal. It was built in 1182 CE, It was built by Hoysala's, This is known as Thrikutachala Style of temples . Thrikuta Means three. The Pradhana Sannidhi is of Sri Lakshmikantha Perumal  and to the right is Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal Sannidhi and to the left is Venugopala Perumal Sannidhi. Hoysalas built this type of Thrikutachala Temple in five different places they are Hedathale,  Holenarsipur, Hospete near K R Pet, Mavinakere and one more place.

Each place the Importance and first Pooja is given to different deities. In Hedathale it is Lakshmikantha Perumal , In Holenarsipur it isLakshminarasimhan in K R Pet it is Venugopala. Now we enter the temple go inside right in front of us we get Lakshmikantha Perumal what a radiant face, Then once you have darshan you come out of Sannidhi you will find Lord Lakshminarasimhan The Moorthy is very nice and you will not feel to come out of this Sannidhi , Then Bag opposite to this Sannidhi is Sanidhi of Venugopala

Then if you come out right in front of you you will find a beautiful Idol of Andal, What a radiant beauty, I have not seen any other beautiful idol of Andal. The specialty of the particular Andal Idol is while the  sculpturing was going on , My Abhimana Guru H H Sri Ranga Priya Maha Desikan Swamigal of Ashtaanga Yoga VignyAna Mandiram personally supervised the moorthy and it is his Ubhayam to the temple. Please have a look at this finely sculptured moorthy of Andal. Then We have Idol of Vishwaksenar, Namalwar, Ramanuja Vedanta  Desikan etc. Ustava Moorthy of Ramanuja is once again the Ubhayam of H H Sri Ranga Priya Maha Desikan.  Now once again we are enter the Moola Sthanam of Srikantha Perumal aka Lakshmikantha Perumal, Before that H H Sri Ranga Priya Maha Desikan used to say there are Dwadasha Type of Moorthy's. To identify different morthys there are different postures for example Srinivasa there are two arms with Katka Hastha , Lakshmikantha Four arms , Shanku Chakra in Samasarna Mudra in  Front ( in reverse order ) and Padma and Gada at the back. The specialty of Samasarna Mudra is that  If a Acharyan Does Samasarna then he holds the Shanku in his right hand and Chakra in in his left hand, then only while doing Samasarna he can place the Shanku in your Right hand and Chakra in left hand. So here in Hedathale Lakshmikantha Perumal also has Samasarna Mudra. Like this Mudra you can find only in Pancha Narayana Kshetram established by our Udayavar and King Vishnuvardhan, The Pancha Narayana Kshetram are Sri Thiru Narayana Temple at Melkote  Nambi Narayana Temple at Thondanur Keerthi Narayan temple at Talakad, Veera Narayana temple at Belur and Vijaya Narayana at Gadag ( I have seen Samasarna Mudra at Thondanur , Talakad And Belur ). Then if you come out You can find Chavadi or Hadinaru Mukha Chavadi ( 16 Point Chavadi) , Chavadi is nothing but big Hall. The temple an the Chavadi was built by Then Pallegara Bhimana Dhanda Nayaka , There is a interesting story behind it. They say Bhimana Dhanda Nayaka had sixteen daughters, and he wanted to talk to all the sixteen daughter and sixteen Son in laws. In Then if you for minute assume you are Bhimana Dhanda Nayaka's wife who will sit along with her husband then she can see all her sixteen daughter's  who are sitting with their husbands in all sixteen points. This you will understand better if you sit there practically, It was very interesting when Archakar narrated this to us,Archakar also informed me that few years back the temple was in ruins and all the anti social elements of village used to misuse the temple. Then One of the two great sons which Hedathale village has Produced  H H Sri Rangapriya Swamigal took initiative and requested Sriman Gopal and Venu Srinivasan  of T V S company to help and restore the sanithya of this beautiful temple., Even thought this temple is Heritage site under Archeological Survey of India and State government they did not care much. As usual our Sriman Gopal and Venu Srinivasan  of T V S company  gave a helping hand and they helped in building the temple once again and restore its old glory. Archakar informed all the stones were numbered and and then temple was rebuilt. Now you can have wonderful Darshan of these perumal due to Sriman Gopal and Venu Srinivasan  of T V S company . In Karnataka in Tumkur TVS people have restored the Devarayana Durg Temple and At Sathyagalam at the request of  H H Sri Rangapriya Swamigal they have donated a large sum for Nitya Aradhanam. May their tribe increase. 

It will not be out of place to mention that my Late Uncle S. Parthasarathy Ayyangar , ML IP, Former Commissioner of Police - Madras Presidency and I Inspector General of Police was a good friend of Founder of TVS group Sriman Sundaram Iyengar.

Sriman Narayan who is the Archakar of the Temple is Nephew of H H Sri Rangapriya Swamigal , their house is close by temple and he resides in Poorva Ashram House of H H Sri Rangapriya Swamigal , The beauty is Temple is Flanked by two illustrious  sons of Hedathale namely H H Sri Ranga Guru and H H Sri Rangapriya Swamigal . 

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

The contact Details are:

Sri Narayan ,
Archakar,
Sri Lakshmikantha Swamy Temple,
Hedathale : 571001
Mysore District,
Tel:08221 - 235457 & 9880552361

How to reach : Go to Mysore then take Ooty road, reach Nanjangud, Take Chamrajnagar Road, travel towards Badanawal then once you reach Badanawal please take right turn and reach Embargala and then you will reach Hedathale , in the whole it may be 35 Kms from Mysore.

A Tribute to Hedathale Village and Her Spiritual Sons

Hedathale is a small village situated in the Mysore District of Karnataka. On the western side of it flowed once upon a time, the well watered Gundle river with a smaller stream on the eastern side, making the village virtually an island. The village was filled with dry and wetlands, coconut groves and gardens. Ponds existed in almost every house. Seasonal birds visited the village regularly .Many herbs with medicinal values could be found in the area. In the center of this town till today stands, a small but majestic temple dedicated to the 3 forms of Vishnu – Lakshmi Kantha , Lakshmi Narasimha and Venugopala.

Born in such a scenic place, were two great sons of this village. Both of them though born years apart becameunited in their quest for spiritual perfection . They were none other than Sri Ranga Mahaguru and one of His dearest disciples Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan.

Sri Ranga Mahaguru was born to Sriman Tirumalacharya an agriculturalist and Srimati Rukminiyamma. As a child Sri Ranga Mahaguru was known as Srinivasa Ranga or simply as Rangasamy. Sri Ranga Mahaguru’s father was a Sri Vaishnava Brahmin who performed religiously all the rites prescribed by the tradition without fail. Sri Ranga Mahaguru had little formal education but that did not hinder his mental progress. He possessed an extra-ordinarily sturdy physique and intellectual powers of a high order. He spent some years in the maharaja’s Sanskrit college in Mysore. He also worked in the Yogasala there as an instructor. Some years later due to some differences in opinion he had left the Yogasala and returned to Hedathale and founded what we know today as the Ashtaanga Yoga Vijnana Mandiram. As the activities of the Mandiram increased, the Mandiram moved it’s base to Mysore with branches in Bangalore and Chikkamangalur District.
Sri Ranga Mahaguru, attained spiritual knowledge at a young age and became well versed with the intricacies of Yoga which was a lost science. In later years he had many disciples whom he shared this knowledge with, one of them who is none other than HH Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan. Sri Ranga Mahaguru attained paramapadam in 1969. His achievements are well documented in an English biography published by Ashtaanga Yoga Vijnana Mandiram. H.H. Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan , a learned scholar and philosopher, hails from Hedathale in Mysore District. Swamiji is a recognized expert in yogAbhyasam. His Holiness was an ardent disciple of Sri Sriranga Mahaguru, of the same town in his purvasrama.  In 1989, Swamiji was initiated into sanyasam by the 35th Parakala swami - Srimad Abhinava Ramanuja brahmatantra swatantra- under the title Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan. Prior to undertaking sanyasashrama ,HH was the chair of Sanskrit Department at National College, Basavanagudi. Today a yathi of great pravachanaSakti and erudition, was completely mute as an infant-Not having uttered a single word until the age of Rangapriya swami in purvasrama was taken to a kalakshepam by Sri SrInivAsa Mahadesikan Swami, the founding Acharya of Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam. After upanyAsam, having learnt about the child's plight from its parents, the Acharya uttered, in succession - the thaniyan of vedAntadeSikar, and the first verse of nigamAntaguru's hayagrIvastotram into the child's ear. Lo and behold!! The child reproduced these flawlessly. SrI SrInivAsa Mahadesikan swAmi - having miraculously dispelled a speech impediment that had afflicted this child, then gave blessings and foretold that it would go on to become a paramagnyAni and mahAyogi.  The very child who received the anugraham of the founding Acharya of Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam today, heads the "ASTAngayoga vignyAna mandira" in Hanumanth Nagar, Bangalore. It is a small, simple monastery, but has great piety, scholarship and kindness - all exemplified by its Acharya, Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan. In recent times, HH Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan has been instrumental in the development of Lakshmi Kantha Perumal Temple. Swamiji personally supervised the whole process of sculpting to consecration of the deity of Godha Devi in the temple. Swamiji has also installed the utsava murthy of Saint Ramanuja in the temple. Blessed indeed is the soil of Hedathale , the village that produced two of the world’s most precious spiritual sons without whose guidance many of us today will be drowning in the claws of the ocean of misery .

Acharyan Thiruvadigale Saranam!Narayana !Narayana !Narayana!

Saligrama

Sri Yoga Narasimha  Swamy Temple & Udayavar's Sri Pada Theertham

Gauthama Rishi did the Prathistai. It is said Nam Alwar got the temple constructed in 24 hours here. Then it seems Ramanuja Charya had dream that he should visit this Kshetram and On arriving in Karnataka Ramanuja reached Saligrama it is also known as Shalapuri . The serene atmosphere of the place appealed to him. Vaduhanambi, the priest of the local Narasimha temple, becameRamanuja's disciple. The people of the vicinity, on learning that Ramanuja had arrived at the village, gathered round him. There is pond in that village and it is a kind of memorial to the great man. Even today Sri Pada Thirtha is considered to be sacred to all Srivaishnavas. The temple is still in charge of the descendants of the family of Vaduhanambi.

Incidentally, Ramanuja Charya fell ill here and spent severaldays in Saligrama temple (Karnataka), at the service of Vadaga Nambi (came to be called) and his family. He may have visited the nearby Ramanathapura temple as well. The Sthala puranam, as recorded in Acharyara Patni short story by Masti venkatesha Iyengar, states that Ramanujacharya's wife briefly met him here in disguise, and breathed her last breath here. It is said that she briefly massaged Ramanujar's feet, while Ramanuja was bedridden with a high fever. Following day, Ramanuja's health recovered to normalcy, while She fell ill and passed away. Before her last breath, she confessed to Vadagalai Nambi about her apacharams to Ramanujar.

 It is said that Sri Pada Theertham cures all ailments and the Theertham carried in your bottle will not get spoilt .

               

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 9.00 Am to 12.30 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.
The contact Details are:

Sri S R YADAGIRI IYENGAR or Srinivas Iyengar ( Sri Yadagiri Iyengars son)
Archakar,
Sri Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple,
K R Nagar Taluk
Saligrama : 571604
Mysore District,
Tel:08223 - 283631,9964517490

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How to reach : Go to Hassan then go to Arakalgud, then Hulikal and then you reach Saligrama

Chun Chun Katte

Sri Rama Swamy Temple 

Sriman Narayan Bhattar was kind enough to tell the Sthala Purana , He told in Kannada and I have tired my level best to translate it , if any mistakes pray excuse. This place is known as DhandakaAranya Kshetra . In this  DhandakaAranya Forest .Here lots of sages did penance in this forest , Rama came here and stayed here for three days. The Cauvery which is flowing now did not come in into existence, Cauvery was  Gupthavahini at that time. Sita Matha wanted to take bath, she asks her brother-in-law Lakshmana that no water is in trace here , Then our Lakshmana imimmediately puts a Bhana  in a big stone bund and lo behold the water flows like a fountain and then like a big sarovara. Then when Matha went to take bath there was proper facilities for  ladies to take bath ,then when Matha was little hesitant, then a big stone bund cracks into two pieces and comes near the place she stands and this is place is known as Sita Madilu , then our Sita Pirati took bath. Then she took oil bath. , From that day it is considered as auspicious to take oil bath here. Then the place where Lakshmana put the Bhana came to be known as Dhanushkoti. After three days stay here they continued the journey and short distance from this place a Sage named Rhinabhina MahA Rishi was doing penance, then Rama gives him the Moksha . Rhinabhina MahA Rishi  did the Prathistai. Here there is no Anjaneya, because the meeting between Lord Sri Rama and Anjaneya had not taken place. So Rama instructs before coming to this place on the banks of Cauvery there is Anjaneya Idol and people should have his darshan first and then come here. Even thought the Cauvery is flowing close by there is no noise of River flowing. Every where the Sita Mata will be in Left side of Rama but here you can find her in right side of Rama because  Rhinabhina MahA Rishi told Rama that i had darshan of Pirati on your left side everywhere , So i want to have the darshan of Sita Pirati on your Right side.

Contact details:

Timings : Morning 8 Am - 1 Pm and evening 5 Pm -8 Pm

Sri Narayan Iyengar,
Archakar
Sri Rama Temple,
Chunchunkatte:571617
Mysore District
Tel:+91 08223 - 281256

Route : It is very near to Saligrama and also Mysore.

Hemmige

Sri Varadharaja Swamy Temple 

Here lot of sages and siddha Purushas did Tapasya, The famous sages were Ruchika Muni and Mrigashinga Muni. If the Ruchika Muni's ashrama was in left bank of Cauvery, then on left bank Mrigashinga Muni's ashram was in right bank that is Hemmige ( Gajaranya Kshetram also known as Siddha Ashrama Kshetram) Mrigashinga did severe penance to Goddess Bhramrambhika , appeased with  sages penance appeared before him and asked what he wants. Sage Mrigashinga asked for Moksha , for that devi told that her brother  Sriman Narayana alone can give Moksha , then she told that Her brother Lord Varadharaja is there in a anthill on banks of Cauvery , Please do the Prathistai , do Pooja to him and through him you can attain Moksha. Then Sage Mrigashinga went found the anthill in the banks of river Cauvery , He dug the Ant hill and behold he found our Lord Varadharaja with Shanku, Chakra and Gada and with Abhaya Hastha pose .with his Consorts Sri and Bhoo Devi in Garuda Peetam. The Moorthy was very beautiful. Then Bhramrambhika gave a golden Vigraham of Hemambika with Shanku , Chakra, and Abhaya Hastha in left hand held Hemadri Hills , because of this it was known as Hemambika Agrahara and in later days it became Hemmige. There is a interesting Story How The Perun Devi thayar came to Hemmige. There lived a lady named Modesinghamma , Our Perundevi thayar appeared in her  dream and told that she is in a small place in Mysore Devaraja Market. Then Modesinghamma  traveled to Mysore and met the Mysore Maharaja and Explained her dream to Raja and raja told her if the moorthy is there she can take it to Hemmige. Behold there was a Perun devi Thayar in Padma Peetam.

Hemmige also has connection with all great Acharyas including Acharya Sarva Bhowma Our Udayavar. Our Ramanuja Charya stayed her for ten days on his way to Talakad.

Swamy Desikan Also stayed here for months together and then proceeded to Sathyagalam.

Andavan Ashram has a connection with Hemmige  Right from Periya Andavan, China Andavan , KaTAndethi Andavan (Srinivasa Ramanuja Maha Desikan) , Nam Andavan, Thembarai Andavan, Akkur Andavan, ThiruKudanthai Andavan all have come and stayed in Hemmige for some time and did the Mangala Sasnam of Varadharajar.

   

The Archakar ,
Sri Varadharaja Swamy Temple,
Hemmige :
Tel # of Archakar : 08227-271102 PP

How to reach Hemmige: First Reach Mysore then travel to T.Narsipur which is 32 Kms, then travel 12 Kms further you will reach Hemmige.  

T.Narsipur

Sri Gunja Narasimha Swamy Temple 

The Parapethagar  of the temple Sri Narayan Iyengar told the Stala puranam .Gunja Narasimha Swamy is Udbhava murthy . In  those days there was no temple , He says temple is more than 1000 years old. It was a jungle. The river Cauvery , Kapila and  gupta vahini flows. Hence it is  It is known as Thirumalakoodu Narasipur (in short T.Narsipur). A washer man had a dream and Lord Lakshminnarasimhan appeared in dream and told that he is in a Ant hill and asked the washer man to take him out and build a temple for him. Then our washer man tells Lord that  He is poor man who  washes everybody's clothes and leads a contended life, and for building the temple he requires a huge amount of money. How he will construct the temple,  For that our Karuna murthy tells that please go and look beneath the washing stone you will find the large amount of treasure. Then our washer man goes and lifts the stone and behold he gets a Hidden treasure. Then with that money as instructed by the perumal he builds a temple Garbhagudi, Then Swami asks what he wants in return for having built the temples. Then our Washer man tells in those days after taking birth as human being it is one life time ambition to visit Kashi. Then Swami tells this Kshetram will be known as Daskshina Kashi and the Puniya will be one Gunji ( a measurement in olden days) more than Uttara Kashi ( Since Swami told this Kshetram is having Puniya of One Gunji More hence he got the name GUNJA NARASIMHA SWAMI). How Ganga Yamuna And Saraswathi flows in North here in south at Thirumalakoodu Narasipur Kaveri Kapila and Spatika Sarovara flows and like Saraswathi in north Spatika Sarovara is Gupta Gamini the River which is in flowing in front of temple is Kapila it comes from Kerala, Then on the other side is Kaveri which  comes from Tala Kaveri  in the middle is Spatika Sarovara and since the river bed is closed the Idekam is Spatika Sarovara flows beneath  and all the three river join here hence this is known as Thirumalakoodu. Then the Washer man asked for Moksha Pradhana , and since Lord Maha Vishnu is only giver of Moksha , the washer man get it. In the Nelapadi of Main Sacred Santorum the figure of Washer man and his wife is carved because  he prayed Sriman Narayana that all the Bhaktha s legs dust should fall on him. Then later on the Mogur Pallegara did Perumal Kainkaryam. Then Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar built Praharam etc.

    

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 9.00 Am to 12.30 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.
The contact Details are:

Sri Sampath Kumar Bhattar - Archakar,
Sri Gunja Narasimha Swamy Temple,
T.Narsipur :571124
Mysore District,
Tel: V Narayana Iyengar - Parapethagar +91 08227 - 260509.
Sri Sampath Kumar - 0 9448479838

PS: This temple can be reached from Mysore city and it is 32 Kms from Mysore.

Tumkur

1. Bhoga & Bhoga Narasimha Swamy Temple - Devarayana Durg
2. Sri Chenna Keshava Temple - Kaidala
3. Sri Betarayana Swami Temple - Turuvekere.
4. Sri Yoga Madhava Temple - Settikere.
5. Sri Srinivasa Temple - Sampige.
6. Sri Rama Lakshmi Janardhana Temple - Kadabha.
7. Sri Narasimha Temple -  Sibi
8. Sri Lakshmi Temple - Goravanahalli

Devarayana Durg

Sri  Lakshmi Bhoga And Lakshmi Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

A hillock is situated 10 miles from Tumkur District . In Krita Yuga it was known as Ukeladri, In Thretha Yuga it was known as Simhadri, In Dwapara Yuga it was known as Sidhagiri and in Kali Yuga it is known as Kari Giri. There is an interesting story how it got the name Kari Giri , In Deva Loka there were two Gandharva brothers named Devadutta and Dhananjaya. They were specialist in Music . Once they were singing and all were mesmerised by their songs, and all appreciated their singing. But Brighu Muni did not like their song and he commented that they did not have any knowledge of any Music. After hearing this comment  they insulted the Brighu Muni , but Brighu Muni in turn cursed them that they will become a Mountain in Bhoo Loka .Then they begged the Brighu Muni for forgiveness and Rishi was kind enough and he modified the curse and told one will become Kari (Elephant ) and other  will become Giri(Elephant)  and in due course they will get Shapa Vimochana. Hence this place came to be known as KARIGIRI.

It is place blessed by Sadhu and sants, Sages like Agastya, Parashara, Durvasar,etc did penance here. It said that Sri Rama , Sita and Lakshmana stayed here for some time, to be precise the Sthala Purana says that Sri Ramachandra used to sit on a particular stone and apply Tilakam and one day he struck with with the sharp edge of his arrow and pierced the rock he was sitting and immediately Ganga come out in the form of Jala Dara and Srirama applied Tilakam using the water and the place is known as Namada Chilume Even now you can see a spring where Srirama sat and pierced the stone.

In the hillock which is known as kumbibetta sri Yoga Narasimha temple was established by Bramadeva. In front of the temple there is a Pushkarani known as Narasimha Theertham. below the Narasimha temple there is one more Pushkarani by name Guhantara Pushkarani, sunlight will not enter to this place and A Sudarshana Chakra sculptor can also be seen in this place. Brahma did padapuja to sri Narasimha in this place so, people do prokshanai of this holy water when they visit the hillock. The water used to seep from rocks and it used to look like rain is falling, Now the Sanithaym is not much there so the flow of water is also less.

It is said that Chaturmukha Brahma did Penance for Ten Thousand years then MahA Vishnu gave darshan in the form of Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha. Along with Brahma 19 other MahA Rishi's also did Pooja in the Bank of Narasimha thirtha .Even today you can see the sannidhanam of the swamy there during car festival dhwajarohana will take place at the same Spot.

Parashara MahA Rishi prayed to Lord Narasimha for Santana Prapthi here , and Lord himself was born as Parashara Maha Rishi's son. The Sostra is as follows.

" Nrusimhaya Namasthubyam , Vajra Dhamshtraya THe Namaha I
Vasudevaya Shanthaya Govindaya Namo Namaha II "

Sri KARIGIRI Hill is also known as Kusumadri, Sri Maha Vishnu Vanquished a Rakshasa named Pundrika, All Devatha's showered the Pushpa hence is also known as Kusumadri .
 

There is Sannidhi for Garuda Alwar and Madapalli Nachiyar
 

There is a beautiful image of Periya and Seriya Thiruvadi fighting a battle and Lord Rama is witnessing his two ardent devotee fighting in front of Maha Dwara of Kumbi Beta ( Beta means hill in Kannada) The sculptor cum picture is 9-10 feet height.

Below the Kumbi beta at the lower hill Bhoga Narasimha Temple. Lakshmi is having a separate Sannidhi.

They do Pooja in accordance to Pacharathra and Tantrasara Agama which is a specialty here.

In the Poobha Nakshtram in Phalnguna Month a grand Jathra takes place.

One specialty is At the time of puling the Ratha Garuda comes and hovers around the ratha

.

Festival : Narasimha Jayanthi is celebrated in grand manner. Special Pooja is done on every Saturday during Shravana Month. They also celebrate Ustava on Ugadi , Karthik Pournami , Ratha Sapthami , Utra and Dhakshinayana Puniya kala

There is provision of distribution of Prasad on every Saturday by Lakshmi Narasimha Charitable Trust between 12.30 Pm to 1.30 Pm .

It will not be out of place to mention that The famous TVS Electronic Factory is situated in Tumkur District and as usual they have extended the Kainkaryam in Jeernodharanam of this two famous temple and and Bhattar's were full of praise for Sriman Gopal and Venu Srinivasan and told they often visit the temple . Bhattar's also informed that they are taking care of Kainkaryaparas salary every month and also on every Sunday T V S company distributes Prasadam to all the Bhakta's between 12.30 Pm to 1.30 Pm

                             

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 6.00 Pm In Yoga Narasimha (Hill) Temple  and  till 8.30 Pm in Bhoga Narasimha  Temple

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

Sri T Narasimha  Bhattar ( Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple ) 0816 - 2265456, Varadharaja  Bhattar ( Bhoga Narasimha Swamy Temple) 0816 - 2265452 or Executive Officer ( Common for both the temple) 0816 - 2265455

Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple & Sri Bhoga Narasimha Swamy Temple
Devarayana Durg, Tumkur District,
Karnataka India

 Sri T Narasimha  Bhattar or Varadharaja  Bhattar or Executive Officer  may be contacted here. If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

Kaidala

Sri  Chenna Keshava Swamy Temple

At Kaidala near Tumkur Our friendly Parthasarthi Bhattar welcomes you and he takes you around the temple for a good darshan of Sri , Bhoo Devi Sametha ChennaKeshava Keshava Perumal. His Talks takes you back to Hoysala Period, the Modern day Kaidala was known as Krida Nagara. This was build after Somnathpura, Belur and Halebedu. This was known as Krida Nagara because Here Mal Yudha, TagriKalaga, Gunjaskaliga used to take place in the Playground. Then he informed that this place is the Birth Place of famous Sculptor and illustrious Son of Karnataka Jakanachari. It was Jakanachari who sculptured the famous Somnathpura, Belur and Halebedu temples. Jakanachari’s life story speaks of romance, love and dedication to art. The master craftsman’s career began during the reign of Nripa Haya, a local chieftain ruling Kaidala or Kridapura. Jakanachari, a young sculptor, leaves his wife behind at Kaidala and travels far and wide, seeking to perfect his art and attain fame. During the course of his travels, he built several elegant temples including Belur and Halebedu. Working and travelling, Jakanachari becomes so engrossed in sculpting new and beautiful temples that he forgets his wife. Then back home at Kaidala, a son is born to him and his wife names him Dankanachari. The young boy grows up to become a sculptor too , it is quite natural, Puliku Porandadu Poonai Aguma. Attaining adulthood, Dankanachari sets out in search of his father. Traveling and traveling he reaches Belur, he notices that a ChennaKeshava temple is being built and goes to see the same. At the site, he points out a blemish in one of the main images and says that the flaw makes the idol unworthy of worship. The sculptors at Belur and disciples of Jakanachari chide him saying that it is not possible at all, After all great Sculptor Jakanachari is Sculpturing the same. He pleads with everyone. One day somehow he manages to meet the King; He intimates the same information to the King. King is in dilemma, neither he can support Jakanachari nor he can ignore the citizen’s plea. King should be just, so he calls Jakanachari and informs him of boy’s information. Jakanachari takes the challenge of the boy very seriously and declares hastily to cut off his right hand if any defect could be found in the image he had carved. Then king gives a date for the test. How will you test the Idol? Raja asks his assistants to grind the Sandal paste from sandal wood, and then they grind huge quantity of Sandal paste. Then the idol is covered with sandal paste, They allow the sandal paste to dry. Sandal Paste all over the idol dries except around the navel. Then young Dankanachari goes on to examine the idol along with Jakanachari With the Chisel, Dankanachari gives a gentle tap , behold out comes first water, then some sand and finally the a type of frog ( Therai in Tamil). Jakanachari Accepts defeat ,King asks the young lad his Poorvika ( His family details etc) Then Jakanachari gets a shock of his life in knowing that the young lad is none other than his own son ( Jakanachari’s wife was pregnant when he left Kaidala) , Then Dankanachari tells his father that since he is his own father , he need not cut his hand, but inspite of his son’s pleas Jakanachari cuts off his right hand as promised. Subsequently, Jakanachari gets a vision directing him to dedicate a temple to lord ChennaKeshava in his native place, Kridapura present day Kaidala. Then both father and Son take leave of the King, and he gets the Correct stone from Belur itself ( Each type of Idol require different type of stones ) Accordingly, he returns to that place and with his blunt hand and his sons help he builds the ChennaKeshava temple and sculptors a beautiful moorthy of ChennaKeshava and legend says that no sooner was the temple completed than his right hand was restored. They say Kai Kotida Dala (Place where his hands got back is the name Kaidala in Kannada) In commemoration of this incident, the place has ever since been called Kaidala.

Now let us go around the ChennaKeshava temple 

The sprawling ChennaKeshava temple complex is completely surrounded by a tall fort-like wall. The temple is a fine blend of Hoysala, Dravidian and Vijayanagara styles of architecture. The Mahadwara or outer gate is surmounted by a massive Gopura and has a large doorway flanked by beautifully anointed pillars. On the right pillar is a figure of ChennaKeshava, similar to the one inside the temple, with consorts on the side panels. The left pillar has a fine figure, about 11 ft tall, standing with folded hands, wearing an uttariya (upper cloth) and a dagger, which is said to represent the celebrated sculptor Jakanachari. Another school of thought states that this figure represents the chief who sanctioned the construction of the temple or the Mahadwara. 

Enter through the main gate and the vastness and beauty of the temple complex strikes you. The large courtyard with its shady trees and lush green lawn provides a serene and harmonious ambiance ideal for spiritual thought and deliberation. 

Two hero-stones are also placed to the right of the main entrance inside the temple courtyard. A short walk through the courtyard leads to the Navaranga which is supported by several artistically carved pillars. 

The pillars and walls of the temple are adorned with carved relief images of dancing girls, sages, lions, elephants and demy-gods and incidents from Ramayana and Mahabharata.

The west-facing monolithic black-granite image of Lord ChennaKeshava is about 5½ ft tall and is installed on a 2½ feet high pedestal. The ten incarnations of Vishnu are carved on the prabhavali (representation of aura). Strikingly beautiful images of Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi – two consorts of Lord ChennaKeshava – flank the main image in the sanctum.

Now Rajagopuram is being built with Dharmasthala Veerendra Hegde.

 

For latest Photos please log on to  http://www.pbase.com/svami/kaidala

Photos below are few years old.

            

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.30 Am to 12.30 Pm and Evening 6.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm. On Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays Morning 10.30 Am  - 2.30 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

The Contact Details are.
K V Parthasarthi, Pradhana Archakar or His son K P Jai Simha,
ChennaKeshava Temple, Gulur P O , Kaidala taluk, Tumkur District, Karnataka,
Cell: 9741328088 / 9880783397, Land Line:0816 – 2246553 ,2246459.
 

Sri Parthasarathy Bhattar or his K P Jai Simha   may be contacted here. If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

Turuvekere 

Sri  Betarayana Swamy Temple

   

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 9.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm.

For Abhishekam / Thirumanjanam & Neyvedhanam : Get in touch with Bhattar

Sri Srinivas Prasad
Agmikar & Archakar
Sri Betarayana Swamy Temple.
Turuvekere
Tumkur District,
Pin: 572227
Call:9448855116 or 08139 - 288139

Settikere 

Sri Yoga Madhava Swamy Temple

How it got the name Settikere. Once a rich Shetty (In Kannada){Chettiar} from Shravanabelagola came and settle in this place reason best known to him. It is said he only established the Pond and also Kala Bhairaveshwara temple. It is said when Shetty reached this place long long ago there was a small pond and it was full of blooming Lotus. He settled in the banks of pond and started cooking .In normal Hoysala Temple the carving in the exterior is given importance, but here the exterior is very simple and elegant. In Hoysala Style of Temple , it is mainly in three type , it is Ekutachala, Dwikutachala and Thrikootachala, In Ekutachala only one Idol will be there , In Dwikutachala one will be Pradhana Devatha and one Upadevatha, In Thrikootachala One will be Main deity , and two Sannidhi for Upadevatha will be there. So in Settikere It is the Thrikootachala type of temple. The Pradhana Devatha is Yoga Madhava, on the right side the Rukmini Sathyabama Sahitha Venugopala, and on the left side is the Lakshmi Narayana. A separate shrine for Madhavi Thayar (Lakshmi) . It is the sculptured in Hoysala Style. And latter on a Idol of Ramanuja and Namalwar is added and it belongs to Vijayanagar Style. It is very precious to see the Yoga Madhava as the Pradhana Moorthy. it is very rare to find a Vishnu in Yoga Posture and if you find also it will be in North India in the form Badri Narayana, where you can find Maha Vishnu Sitting in Yoga Posture. So this temple in Settikere is a real visual treat for the eyes.

It is said once the Local Hoysala Kings old mother heard about the Lord Badri Narayan of North , she wanted to see but due to old age and poor eye sight she abandoned the plan, but when her son King came to know about it he was also sad that his mother could not visit the Badri, In those days the transportation was very bad and moreover the distance from South to North. So his wise minister suggested that why not he build a temple for Badri Narayana in his Kingdom itself. See in those days Kings were very clever, Why they use to build temples etc you know? Once the temple is being built lot of Employment Generation will be there (Like artisan, and other will be employed), the subjects will prosper . So the king got the Thrikootachala Type temple constructed. Then he concerted the temple, he brought his old mother , it is said she regained her vision and she was able to see the Yoga Madhava nicely. Yes you will not feel like coming out of the temple, you will feel like staying there and looking at him only. each part is sculptured nicely, you can see the finger nails, the carvings of Pithambara carved nicely, he is adorned by all ornaments etc, look at his Kireetam, look at his eyes , it looks as if he has just got up from his Yoga nidra and he is looking at his children with Karuna Karunya. If anybody having Nethra Rogam they can pray to Yoga Madhava 

In Siddhartha Sahitha, Chathurvarga Chinthamani etc there is a description as Yogeshwara Vishnu ( An avathara of Vishnu) , He is sitting in Padmaasana, with four arms, he is sitting on Garuda Petta in back right hand he is holding Chakra and left hand he is holding Shanku, and the fore arms he is sitting in Yoga Posture with placement of left palm over the right palm , this is Yoga Mudhra. The Speciallity is he is armed as well as sitting in Yoga Posture. His eyes are fully open and not according to yoga sastra , it appears to us as if lord has just got awoken from his Yoga Nidra and blissfully graceing us with his merciful eyes. Observe his lips it throws a radiant smile. Please observe the carving of the idol he is seen wearing Pithambara and He is swethambra. The height of the idol is 9 feet exclusive of Garuda Peeta. He is the Gyanathi Devatha and aradhanai moorthy of all Yogis. This sacred place for all yogis Sadhaks who want to attain Siddhi and Moksha. Now let us come to moorthy on the left side it is Lakshminarayana. Maha Vishnu is sitting with Pirati sitting in his left thy in Swamis left hand is holding her hips ( Alingana Mudhra) He is holding Shanku, Chakra, gada & Padma , He is in Bhogaasna. Again this is rare moorthy. Next moorthy is Venu Gopala; he is playing Flute, under the Honge tree, One side he is flanked by Gopikas and one side by Rishis. Then by Sathyabama and Rukmini. Remember the sloka Rukmini, Sathyagabhama Sahitham Krishnam Namasharayanthe. Now we come out and it may be a latter addition, there is separate shrine for Separate Thayar known as Madhavi and she is none other than maha Lakshmi Holding Lotus in Upper arms and then Abhaya and Dhana Mudhra. Then you can find the Ramanuja and Namalwar Vigraham. 

Five years back it was in shambles, now the villagers have slowly realized the importance of temple and slowly they are celebrating the village festivals in a small manner , when we went it was NavarAtri period and priest Sri Umesh was very co-operative in giving the Sthala Purana and also allowing us to take photograph etc. Still the people should visit these ancient treasures which our fore fathers have left us and it should not be left languishing , people will visit Belur , Halebedu etc, but they don’t know about the ancient treasures lying unattended in remote place. Settikere is surrounded by lot of temples in and around Settikere, Towards the east there is a temple dedicated to Srikantha Katte Malleshwara, towards the south of Settikere there is a temple dedicated to one of the Dasaavathara of Vishnu the Koorma avathara ( The temple dedicated to Koorma Avathara is is very very rare) it is known as Katte Rangaswamy Temple. How to reach Settikere?. From Bangalore take Tumkur road, Then travel till Tumkur, before that you will find a deviation you can take that road and see Kaidala first and then again travel towards Gubbi, Then Chikkanayakanhalli and then on reaching Chikkanayakanhalli take left turn and take Aralgupe road, travel six Kilometer you will reach this great place. Please support Sri Umesh to maintain this temple. You will be surprised to know that Sri Umesh draws a Salary of Rs.250/- Per month and he is looking after all the 6 temples situated in village ( Including the Yoga Madhava Temple Complex) ,. He can be reached at Sri Umesh, Settikere, Chikkanayakanhalli Taluk, and Mobile: 9902607520

 

Below Photos are condition of deities few years back for latest see the link below

      

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http://www.pbase.com/svami/settikere

Above Photos are the Courtesy of my dear friend Sri K S Elangovan, Official Photographer of Tamil Magazine "Kumudham Jothidam".

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm.

For Abhishekam / Thirumanjanam & Neyvedhanam : Get in touch with Bhattar

Sri Umesh
Archakar
Sri Yoga Madhava Temple.
Settikere, Chikkanayakanahalli Taluk,
Tumkur District,
Pin: 572226. Call : 9902607520
 

Sampige 

Sri  Srinivasa Swamy Temple

Champakapuri Kshetram popularly known as Sampige is a small village in TuruvekereTaluk of Tumkur District in Karnataka. It is nearly 104 Kms from Bangalore. The name of the place is related to Champaka Pushpa trees which were found in this place in the ancient times.

Here an ancient Temple of Sri Srinivasa Perumal is situated which according to the Sthala puranam dates back to Dwapara yuga. This place was the capital of King Sudhanva and he worshippedLord Srinivasa. After his rule the place was under ruins. The idol of Lord Srinivasa washidden in a Valmika and Narada accompanied by the Gandharvas used to worship the deity every night.

A villager noticed a bright light in the Valmika and to their astonishment found the Idol of Srinivasa Perumal in it. They built a temple as it is now in that place.

Please find the close-up shots of Champakapuri Srinivasa Perumal and Mahalakshmi Thayar Sri. Srinivasa Perumal is in the form of Shanka, Chakra, Gadhadari with Sharanagathi Hastha.

Sri Champakapuri Srinivasa is the Haath Perumal of many Hebbar Srivaishnavas

Every year 10 day Brahmotsavam festivities are held according to the Srivaishnava tradition during May month and on the Vaishaka Shukla Trayodashi Chitra Nakshtram day the Grand Car Festival and Jatra is held during which many of the Srivaishnavas from Bangalore, Tumkur, Mysore come and worship the lord
and a huge gathering of people from the villages around shows the world Popularity of the Lord.

The route to the temple from Bangalore is as below.

Travel Towards Tumkur on the National Highway 4. When you reach Tumkur take  deviation towards the road leading to Shimoga and proceed further. You get Gubbi Town and if you still proceed further for some kilometers you get  Nittur Cross a junction where you need to take Left turn. After proceeding for a few furlong you have to take right turn to Sampige which is around 12 kilometers from there. You find many Coconut and Areca nut plantations on the Way to Sampige.

Saturdays and Sundays there will Abhishekam for the lord, but perumal has abhishekam almost everyday.

      

There is also a small Temple dedicated to Keshava which is half kilometer from Srinivasa Temple.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm.

For Abhishekam / Thirumanjanam & Neyvedhanam : Get in touch with Bhattar

Srinivasa Prabhu or Srinivasa Iyengar

Archakar
Sri Sampige Srinivasa Perumal Temple.
Sampige,
Tumkur District,
Pin: 572225.
Call : Srinivasa Prabhu - 08139 - 279744 or Srinivasa Iyengar - 08139 - 279572

Sampige 

Sri  Srinivasa Swamy Temple

Champakapuri Kshetram popularly known as Sampige is a small village in TuruvekereTaluk of Tumkur District in Karnataka. It is nearly 104 Kms from Bangalore. The name of the place is related to Champaka Pushpa trees which were found in this place in the ancient times.

Here an ancient Temple of Sri Srinivasa Perumal is situated which according to the Sthala puranam dates back to Dwapara yuga. This place was the capital of King Sudhanva and he worshippedLord Srinivasa. After his rule the place was under ruins. The idol of Lord Srinivasa washidden in a Valmika and Narada accompanied by the Gandharvas used to worship the deity every night.

A villager noticed a bright light in the Valmika and to their astonishment found the Idol of Srinivasa Perumal in it. They built a temple as it is now in that place.

Please find the close-up shots of Champakapuri Srinivasa Perumal and Mahalakshmi Thayar Sri. Srinivasa Perumal is in the form of Shanka, Chakra, Gadhadari with Sharanagathi Hastha.

Sri Champakapuri Srinivasa is the Haath Perumal of many Hebbar Srivaishnavas

Every year 10 day Brahmotsavam festivities are held according to the Srivaishnava tradition during May month and on the Vaishaka Shukla Trayodashi Chitra Nakshtram day the Grand Car Festival and Jatra is held during which many of the Srivaishnavas from Bangalore, Tumkur, Mysore come and worship the lord
and a huge gathering of people from the villages around shows the world Popularity of the Lord.

The route to the temple from Bangalore is as below.

Travel Towards Tumkur on the National Highway 4. When you reach Tumkur take  deviation towards the road leading to Shimoga and proceed further. You get Gubbi Town and if you still proceed further for some kilometers you get  Nittur Cross a junction where you need to take Left turn. After proceeding for a few furlong you have to take right turn to Sampige which is around 12 kilometers from there. You find many Coconut and Areca nut plantations on the Way to Sampige.

Saturdays and Sundays there will Abhishekam for the lord, but perumal has abhishekam almost everyday.

      

There is also a small Temple dedicated to Keshava which is half kilometer from Srinivasa Temple.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm.

For Abhishekam / Thirumanjanam & Neyvedhanam : Get in touch with Bhattar

Srinivasa Prabhu or Srinivasa Iyengar
Archakar
Sri Sampige Srinivasa Perumal Temple.
Sampige,
Tumkur District,
Pin: 572225.
Call : Srinivasa Prabhu - 08139 - 279744 or Srinivasa Iyengar - 08139 - 279572

 Kadabha 

Sri  Rama Lakshmi Janardhana Swamy Temple

     

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm.

For Abhishekam / Thirumanjanam & Neyvedhanam : Get in touch with Bhattar

Sri Anantharam Bhattar
Pradhana Archakar
Sri Rama Lakshmi Janardhana Temple.
Kadabha
Tumkur District,
Pin: 572219
Call:958131-231550
 

Sibi

Situated on the Tumkur Sira Road at distance of 30 kms from Tumkur, this village contains a beautiful temple of Narasimha.  The terrakota and frescoes of this temple are of 18th century.

How to reach?

Tumkur is the nearest railway station from where buses are available to Sibi.

Sibi (Seebi) is a small village located 20 kilometres north of the Tumkur district in Karnataka. Known in ancient times as Sibburu, this village is home to the Sibi Narasimhaswamy Temple, built in the 18th Century. According to temple legend, Lord Narasimha appeared in Nallappa's dream and asked him to build a temple. But there was already an old temple at the place, built by a merchant. The merchant is said to have set a pot of rice boiling on a small rock. The water turned to blood, causing the merchant to faint. While he was unconscious, the Lord appeared in his dream and asked him to build a temple.

Sibi Narasimhaswamy Temple

The construction of the temple was begun by brothers Nalappa Fauzdar Karnik, Lakshminarasimhaiya and Puttanaiya in 1795 A.D., and was completed in 1798. Nalappa, the son of diwan Kacheri Krishnappa, was an officer under Haider Ali, who was a Sultan of the Mysore Dynasty. The current temple priest is the eighth generation descendant of Nalappa.

The village of Sibi, or Sibikshetra was once known as a jungle populated by meditating ascetics. There is an temple ancient tank in Sibi, and a Parijat tree throwing beautiful blossoms to the ground. There is a copper plate inscribed in the 15th Century that mentions the village of Sibur, and a handramouleshwara temple residing there. It says the village was renamed Harihara, after the Vijaynagar king who had given the plate.

Sibi Narasimhaswamy Temple
[ Photo: Rang-thecoloursoflife @ Blogspot ]

The temple itself is known for the beautiful murals and friezes that decorate it, with scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. The walls and ceilings are covered in these beautiful paintings, which are similar to the Daria Daulat Bagh paintings at Srirangapatna. Inside the gateway entrance there is a ceiling frieze depicting past rulers of Mysore, and there are other historic scenes, along with the devotional images.

Sibi Narasimhaswamy Temple
[ Photo© Robin Walsh 1999 ]

The style of art at Sibi is not done in the strict classical style found at Hampi or Shravanabelagola, but is a more relaxed and done in with a folk-style mood. Some of the paintings have been damaged by time and the elements, and some have undergone repair and renovation. Those on the ceiling are in the best state of repair, for obvious reasons. There is one long temple inscription that's now half obliterated.

Temple Tank
[ Photo: Rang-thecoloursoflife @ Blogspot ]

The paintings in this temple are thought to have done at an important point in Karnataka's history. Rule of the region had shifted from Hindu to Muslim control. Islamic intruders like Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan were storming across South India, and many temples were falling in their wake. In that environment, it's quite unusual that a temple like Sibi Narasimhaswamy was constructed and adored with such a rich collection of Vaisnava imagery.

The temple construction is done in Vijaynagar style, with kalyana mantapas and vaikunta mandapas. Beautiful stucco sculptures on the parapet wall depict more than 100 divine personalities.

Sibi Temple Gopuram 

     

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 6.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm.

For Abhishekam / Thirumanjanam & Neyvedhanam : Get in touch with Bhattar

Sri Anantharam Bhattar
Pradhana Archakar
Sri Rama Lakshmi Janardhana Temple.
Kadabha
Tumkur District,
Pin: 572219
Call:958131-231550

sri Mahalakshmi Temple, Goravanahalli
 

Goravanahalli is one of the popular pilgrim centers located in the Koratagere taluk of Tumkur district. Goravanahalli is situated at about 80 Kms from Bangalore and 30 Kms from Tumkur (District headquarters).

The temple here is dedicated to goddess Mahalakshmi. It is believed that the idol of Shri Mahalakshmi is self originated. This unique and ancient temple attracts many a pilgrims. Special pooja's will be performed on Fridays. Free lunch is provided daily for the devotees.

History

      Temple Goravanahalli is located in Koratagere Taluk of Tumkur district. It is said that Abbayya, a poor man was blessed to get the idol of Mahalakshmi. After worshipping Mahalakshmi at his home, Abbayya became rich. He started doing charity work and his home earned the tag ‘Lakshmi Nivasa’. Later Abbayya’s brother Thotadappa joined Abbayya in his charity work. After the death of Abbayya, Thotadappa was performing poojas to the Goddess. One day in his dreams, Mahalakshmi asked him to build a shrine for Her. So, Thotadappa built a shrine for Mahalakshmi. After Thotadappa, Chowdayya was performing poojas. But from the year 1910 the temple was in a neglected state.

      Goravanahalli Shree Mahalakshmi Temple Main Entrance, In the year 1925,Kamalamma on arriving at Goravanahalli, saw the neglected state of the temple. She started performing the poojas for the Goddess. Then again after a year temple was in a neglected state, when she left the place. But then in 1952, Kamalamma was back in Goravanahalli and settled there. After this regular poojas were performed by Kamalamma. People wait in queue for the darshana of Shree Mahalakshmi. In due time, temple attained fame by word of mouth. Tuesdays and Fridays are considered very auspicious here and lot of people visit the temple in these days of the week. Lakshadeepotsava is one of the revered religious programmes here in Karthika maasa.

    Apart from Mahalakshmi, there are also shrines of Goddess Marikamba and Manchala Nagappa, the snake god in Goravanahalli. Goravanahalli temple is all surrounded by greenery and Theetha reservoir is nearby. People after visiting the temple, go for walk around Theetha reservoir. Theetha resevervoir is built for Suvarnamukhi river and it is also one of the attractions of the place

Other Temples at Goravanahalli:
1. Oni Nagappa
2. Renukamba Temple

Distances from Goravanahalli:
Bangalore: 80 Kms
Koratagere: 10 kms
Tumkur: 30 kms

How to reach Goravanahalli:
Goravanahalli is well connected by roads; KSRTC Buses (from Bus station) & Private Buses (from Kalasipalyam) ply daily to Goravanahalli from Bangalore.

One should take turn towards Goravanahalli at Dabaspet on Bangalore - Tumkur road (highway).

Nearest Railway station: Tumkur and Bangalore

Nearest Airport: Bangalore

Other places near Goravanahalli:
1. Devarayanadurga
2. Siddaganga
3. Shivaganga
4. Siddara betta

Address:
Sri Mahalakshmi Temple
Goravanahalli,
Koratagere Taluk,
Tumkur District 

Thondanur Parthasarathy Perumal Temple

Dwapara Yuga Idol installed by Yudhistra

Popularly referred to as ‘Veetrirundha Perumal’, Lord Parthasarathy is seen in a handsome Sitting Posture here at this temple

The Hoysala Style Chariot makes its way around the streets of Thondanur during the Brahmotsavam in Maasi

In the 11^th Century AD, an endowment of money was made by Udaya Pillai to God Veetrirundha Perumal, one of the three ancient Vishnu temples of Thondanur. From the interest received from this endowment, copper and silver vessels and other worship objects like Thaligai utensils, Tiruvadi, Kendi, Mani (bell) and Cup (Vettil) were made to the handsome Lord Parthasarathy seen in a grand sitting posture along with Sri and Bhoo Devi.

Gopalakrishnan Temple is located East of the Nambi Narayana Perumal temple in Thondanur. The moolavar idol of Lord Parthasarathy is believed to date back to the Dwapara Yuga and was installed by the Pandava King Yudhistra.

Consecrated by Ramanuja

Parthasarathy temple is one of the three ancient Vishnu temples of Thondanur that were consecrated during Ramanuja’s stay here at Thondanur before he made his way North to Melkote.

Out of the three Perumal temples of Thondanur, Lord Parthasarathy is rich in inscriptions dating back to early 11^th Century AD that gives us an indication of the name of this place, the kings ruling this place at that time, the way this Lord was referred to and the posture of this Lord. All the three Vishnu temples of Thondanur have been designated as a heritage monument and comes under the control of ASI.

Hoysala Rulers

In 1177AD, during the rule of Vira Ballaala Deva, a grant of Bhoganahalli Village along with its hamlet was made. In addition, the income from taxes on loom and houses was directed to the service of Veetrirundha Perumal. Another Hoysala ruler, Narasimha, granted villages of Bottahalli, Sirimakkanahalli and Maarurumhalli along with income from taxes – Olavaaru, Horavaaru and Hole-Sunka to Veetrirundha Perumal of Yadava Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam.

Panguni Festival

In the 13^th Century AD, the people of Yadava Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam gifted 20 Pons to organise festivals in Panguni here at the temple of Veetrirundha Perumal.

 

During the rule of Hoysala King, Jagadakomalla Narasimha Deva who ruled from Dorasamudra, there was construction and consecration of the temple of Veetrirundha Perumal and Goddess Lakshmi in 1157AD through a grant of Villages.

Names of the Lord

In the 11^th and 12^th Century AD, Lord Parthasarathy here at Thondanur was referred to as ‘Veetrirundha Perumal’ indicating his grand sitting posture.

In 1191AD, Hoysala Vira Ballala II made a gift to Lord Gopinathan, another name for Veetrirundha Perumal in those days. This Lord who was also referred to as ‘God Vennai Kutta’ was gifted 10Pon for supply of 2Naali of rice for food offerings. In the 13^th Century AD, this temple was referred to as the Krishna temple of Yadava Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam. During this period, this temple was also referred to as Ainnurruva Vinnagaram.

Regular Thaligai for Lord Parthasarathy

One comes to know that there was regular early morning service of food offerings to Lord Parthasarathy through a gift made to the temple of 20Gadyaanas.  Ramanuja’s disciple gifted a village to Veetrirundha Perumal to ensure the daily food offerings to the Lord at this temple. In the 12^th Century AD, Kodai Andal Ammai gifted a share for maintaining lamp at this temple.

When at Thondanur, visit the Thonnur Kere ( the huge dam) built by Thondanur Nambi, the disciple of Ramanuja.

Festivals

5day Maasi Brahmotsavam including Chariot Festival

Gokulashtami

Thirumanjanam every Rohini

Quick Facts

Moolavar        : Lord Parthasarathy with Sri and Bhoo Devi

Utsavar           : Gopalakrishnan with Rukmini and Satyabhama

Time                :  830am-1 pm and 3pm-530pm

Contact           : Raghurama Bhattar @ 08236 251795 / 94493 72453

How to reach

Pandavapura is about 100kms from Bangalore on the Mandya- Srirangapatna- Mysore Highway. From Pandavapura, buses every one hour to Thondanur (Thonnur Kere) – take the Narayanapura bound bus.

Auto from Pandavapura bus stand will cost Rs. 100/-

Number of Share autos ply between Pandavapura and Thonnur – they will charge Rs. 7.  

Thiru Narayanapuram, Melkote is just around 20kms from here 

 Abhimana Sthalam, Non Divya Desams in Karnataka

Yoga Narasimha Thondanur

Ramanuja seen in a one of its kind Sesha Roopam at this temple

The Magical Dhanda used to liberate Hoysala King Bitta Deva’s daughter can be seen to this day inside the Yoga Narasimha Sannidhi

Located 20kms North of Srirangapatna and just North of the Nambi Narayana Temple is the Yoga Narasimha Perumal temple in Thondanur, one whose idol is believed to have been installed by Prahalada in the Kretha Yuga. Hence, the idol here is said to date back about 5500years. One has to climb about 15steps to reach the temple. This temple is seen as a special Abhimana Sthalam of Ramanuja.

Ramanuja’s debate at this temple

After his exile from Srirangam, Ramanuja came first, here to Thondanur, before proceeding to Melkote.  

Here at Thondanur, Ramanuja’s disciple Thondanur Nambi, who also built the famous Thonnur kere (the huge dam North of this temple) brought the Hoysala King Bitta Deva and his daughter to Ramanuja.

The King’s daughter had been afflicted with Brahma Rakshasha and was not in a proper state of mind. Ramanuja directed the king to take his daughter to the huge Eri (Sarovar) known as ‘Pancha Apsara Thataka’. He asked the king’s daughter to bathe there and then invoke the blessings of Yoga Narasimha at the temple South of the dam. At the temple, the Archaka placed the Narasimha Dhanda on the daughter and to the king’s surprise she was instantly liberated from the illness. To this day, one sees Yoga Narasimha holding this magical Dhanda in his right hand.

Belief is that Lord Yoga Narasimha fulfils all the prayers of the devotees here at this temple. Once fulfilled, the devotees present a 10x6 Veshti to Yoga Narasimha and an Orange Veshti to Ramanuja at this temple as a thanks giving gesture. 

 

Spreading Vishishtaadvaitha in this region

When asked what he wanted, Ramanuja informed the king that he was here to propagate Vishistaadvaitha and that he would like the King to convert to a Vaishnavite.

Bitta Deva, much against the wishes of his people, became a Vaishnavite and changed his name to Vishnu Vardhan reasoning out to his people that in this Kali Yuga, Ramanuja was the avathara of Sesha (similar to how Lakshmana was in the Tretha Yuga).

An unhappy lot, the 1000 Jains of Thondanur wanted to confront Ramanuja in a debate. Outside the Yoga Narasimha Temple, after Ramanuja invoked the blessings of the Lord, he was thrown 1000 questions by the people of the kingdom. And in one go Ramanuja hit back at them with 1000 answers much to the delight of the people. Pleased with his answers, the Jains converted to Vaishnavism.

Moving from Thondanur, he later built/renovated the temples at Melkote, Gadag, Belur and Thalakkad. He also renovated the Amara Narayana temple at Eka Chakra Puram in Kaivara, a temple that relates to the legend of Hidumba Samhara.

Ramanuja in Sarpa Roopam

When the time had come for him to leave for Srirangam, the people of Thondanur, who had become fond of him, asked him to stay back here.

He told them that he would have to leave but would leave his powers here and installed his own idol here at Yoga Narasimha temple with Vaikanasa Agama Sastras and is seen even today in the Sarpa Roopa form. While in Melkote, he has an Abhimana status, in Srirangam he is seen in ‘Shareeram’ (body form) and in a Sthoola Roopam (Athma form) at Sriperambadur. Here in Thondanur at the Yoga Narasimha temple on the banks of the Thonnur Eri, Ramanuja is seen in a Sookshma Roopam (Atom) with conch and chakra.

A box used by Ramanuja in the 12th Century AD is still seen inside the temple. 

This temple too like the Lakshmi Narayana temple in Thondanur has a Chola Style Architecture but was built / renovated by Hoysala Kings. Hence there is no Raja Gopuram at the entrance.

Inscriptions

A couple of 12^th Century AD inscriptions at the temple refer to the assignment of 7ma of 30Kuli of taxable land to Lakshmi Narayana by the priests of Yoga Narasimha temple of Yadava Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam.

A 2^nd inscription refers to the gift of 6Pon from out of interest for conducting festivals/ceremonies in the temple of Singa Perumal built by Chokkandai Pergadi.

Festivals

Narasimha Jayanthi

Ramanuja Utsavam

Swathi Thirumanjanam

Moolavar :  Yoga Narasimha East facing Sitting Posture

Time         : 930am-530pm

Contact    : R Raghurama Bhattar @ 08236 251795

How to reach

Direct buses from Pandavapura Bus Stand (bus bound for Narayanapura) every one hour- will take 30minutes from Pandavapura. Auto from Pandavapura to Yoga Narasimha temple will cost Rs. 125.

Posted by PRabhu S at 4:19 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Labels: Abhimana Sthalam

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Thondanur Lakshmi Narayana Temple

The first and the oldest of the Pancha Narayana Temples in the region

Hoysala rulers made significant contribution to this ancient temple 

Inscriptions refer to this place as Yadava Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam

Located 15kms from Pandavapura off the Melkote Highway in a serene location in the Mandya District is the 1000years old Lakshmi Narayana (Nambi Narayana) Temple in Thondanur, where the lord is seen in a handsome tall standing posture. This is one of the Pancha Narayana temples in this region. This place is now referred to as Thonnur (and Thonnur Kere- reference to the huge dam 1km North of the temple built by Thondanur Nambi).

While the temple was renovated by Ramanuja during his exile from Srirangam, the idol and the sanctum is said to be over 5500years old and dates back to the Dwapara Yuga. Ramanuja built new mandapas outside the sanctum and renovated and consecrated the temple. 

While the architecture design is said to have come from the Chozhas, the temple was built by Hoysala Kings. There is no Raja Gopuram at the entrance as was the style of the Hoysalas. But the entire inner prakara and the outside walls have a strong Granite base structure and has a solid look to this day.

This is one of the three temples in Thonnur, the other two being Gopalakrishnan temple ( opposite the Nambi Narayana temple) and Yoga Narasimha temple.
 

The Story

At the end of the Dwapara Yuga, in the Sura Sura war, Indra was afflicted with Brahmma Hathi Dosham. To liberate himself from this, he undertook penance and invoked the blessings for Lord Vishnu.

He was directed to install 5 Narayana Idols in this region to liberate himself from his dosham. Thondanur is the first and the oldest of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams. The others in this region being – Cheluva Narayana at Melkote, Keerthi Narayana at Thalakkad, Veera Narayana at Gadag and Sowmya Narayana at Belur.

Belief is that one will attain Vaikunta Moksham if he visited the Pancha Narayana Kshetram.

Inscriptions

There are several inscriptions dating back to the 11^th Century AD that describe the contributions made by different rulers of that period to the upkeep and maintenance of the temple and the conduct of various festivals during the year.

A 12^th Century AD inscription in Tamil with Grantha Characters refers to a gift of 5Gadyanas of gold paid into treasury by Kunraara Deva Perumal Bhattar for maintaining a perpetual lamp at Lakshmi Narayana from out of the interest accrued upon the endowment.

Old Name

Centuries ago, this place was referred to as Yadava Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam. Inscriptions refer to Veera Narasimha, the Hoysala ruler leading his kingdom with Dorasamudram as his capital and granting 64 gadayaanas to the people of Thondanur Agrahara for undertaking any repairs to the temple.

Vahana Mandapa in the 12-13^th Century AD

A Vahana Mandapa  was erected in the 12-13th Century AD by Mahapradhana Srikaranada Heggade Naganna.

Hoysala Kings and Contribution

In 1174AD, Ballala II granted an income towards service of Lakshmi Narayana Perumal. The king also granted income from an oil mill towards monthly oil for Lakshmi Narayana. Hoysala King Bitta Deva constructed a new Mandapa at this temple. During the rule of Hoysala King Narasimha III, there was a gift of 4Pon annually for the maintenance of the huge Nandavanam at the Lakshmi Narayana temple. Narasimha who ruled the kingdom from Kodala also granted lands for the temple.

Inscriptions in Kannada and Sanskrit on 15copper plates refer to Krishna Raja II, the King of Mysore directing the conversion of two villages – Yadavapura and Attikuppam to Agraharam so that the daily rites and festivals can be performed at the Lakshmi Narayana temple. The Agrahara lands were divided into 112 vrittis and distributed among Brahmana families who were invited from different parts of the country to come and reside here permanently at Thondanur.

Regular Recital of Thiruvoimozhi

An 1175AD inscription refers to a gift of gold to Viravallalan Mandapa at Lakshmi Narayana temple by a staunch devotee who used to recite Thiruvoimozhi regularly at this temple. In  1286AD, there was a grant of 10 Salagai of Kalani lands for food offerings to Lord Lakshmi Narayana on the occasion of Thiruvoimozhi festival and for Prayischitam Ceremony at the temple as well as for the consecration of images at this temple. There was regular recital of Thiruvoimozhi inside the temple here.

Food Offering for Lakshmi Narayana

In 1214AD, the people of Thondanur came together and presented a gift of 100kuli to Lakshmi Narayana for food offerings.

White Washing of the Temple

There was a grant of 50Gadyanas made in the 13th Century for white washing the Viravallalan Mandapa at the Lakshmi Narayana Temple by Thirunaraiyur Dasan.

Festivals

5 day Brahmotsavam in Mesham (Chitrai/Vaikasi)

Quick Facts

Moolavar: Lakshmi Narayana/ Nambi Narayana East Facing Standing Posture

Goddess : Aravinda Nayaki Thaayar

Utsavar  : Lakshmi Narayana with Sri and Bhoo Devi

Time       : 930am-530pm

Contact   : Seshadri Bhattar @ 97418 19202

How to reach

From Chennai, take Mysore Express to get down at Pandavapura station (630am). From Pandavapura railway station, auto to the temple will cost Rs. 110/- (it will take about 20minutes)

Also, one can take a share auto from railway station (Rs. 5) to Pandavapura bus stand and then take a Narayanapura / Kamakana Halli bound bus to get down at Thondanur (buses every one hour). It will take 30minutes from Pandavapura bus stand to reach Thondanur.

When at Thondanur, also visit Gopalakrishna Temple and Yoga Narasimha Temple. Also, visit Thiru Narayana Temple at Melkote, about 20kms from here. 

 

Located in Maddur, a stopover between Bangalore and Mysore, the Ugra Narasimha Swamy Temple holds a special significance. It is believed that Arjuna wanted to see Lord Krishna in the “Narsimha” avatar during the Dwapara Yuga and was turned down by him. That’s when Lord Brahma took the charge of doing the same.

The idol in this temple is quite unique with eight hands and three eyes; it depicts the killing of Asura Hiranyakashyap by Lord Narsimha. You can even locate here paintings and idols of Soumya Nayaki, Narasimha Nayaki and other gods including Lord Hanuma, Krishna and Ram.

he Ugra Narasimha Swamy Temple situated in Maddur a place in between Bangalore and Mysore has a Special significance.

The Sthala Puranams says that In Dwapara Yuga Arjuna asked Lord Sri Krishna the he wished to see the Narasimha Avatara , for that Lord Sri Krishna  told that it is not possible but he can arrange for a darshan of Ugra Narasimha and he asked him to proceed to the present day Maddur. The old timers say the Maddur was known as Arjunapuri also  . Purans says that Sri Kadamba Rishi lived here and worshipped the Lord  due to this it  is also know as Kadamba Kshetra and Nadi which is flowing here is also know as Kadamba Nadi.

Now we enter the Small and compact temple of Lord Ugra Narasimha Swamy of Maddur. And here Swamy gives you darshan with eight hands and Three eyes which is  a very rare sight.  With two hands he is tearing the Asura Hiranya Kasipu who is lying in his lap, with other two hands he is wearing the Hiranya Kasipu's Intestine as Mala, then in the other two hands he is holding Pasha and Ankusha and in other two hands as usual he is holding the Shanku and Chakara. At the feet of lord our Garuthaman stands on left side and  on the right Bhaktha Prahalada is standing in  Posture doing Namskaram.

It is said that Swamis third eye came when he was doing the Hiranya Kasipu's Samhara. It is very rare to see a Thinetra Dari Narasimha  ( Here we can recollect the the Narasimha Sostra which describes the lord Narasimha as Jwala Kesham , Tri Netram)

Now we have the darshan of our Lord Ugra Narasimha and come out. Then we see a Sannidhi for Lord Srinivasa, Then next Sannidhi is of Matha Yashode breast  feeding Our Lord Kuti Krishnan It is also a rare

Murthy , then we step into praharam and on the left side corner we find Goddess Sowmiya Nayakiand then after having her darshan we move to right side corner and we see Goddess Narasimha Nayaki. Then we walk further we come across Sannidhi of Patabhishekam Ramar then once we come out of praharam we immediately find the Sannidhi for Udayavar, Namalwar and Swami Desikan.

It is said these temples were reconstructed during the period of Hoysala Kings regime. It is said if you pray sincerely and say that you will do Thirumanjanam to Lord  your wishes will be fulfilled . It is also said that if childless couple do Thirumanjanam and then after manjalkappu of perumal is taken out and put in a vessel and with that the childless couple is given a bath and then the couple will be blessed with a child. One more thing is also done, If you land up without notice and somebody else is doing the Thirumanjanam then you can pay some token amount to the person who is getting the Thirumanjanam done and then you can undergo the same ritual as mentioned above.

Hassan district.

1.     Sri Lakshmi Janardhana Swamy Temple - Bylahalli

2.     Sri Sowmiya Keshava Swamy & Sri Varadha Yoga Bhoga

3.      Narasimha Swamy Temple - Shanthigrama.

4.     Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple - Nuggehalli

5.     Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple - Holalu

6.     Sri Chenna Keshava Temple - Belur

7.     Sri Para Vasudevar & Yoga Narasimha Temple - Gorur

8.     Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple - Arakalgud

9.     Sri Srinivasa Temple – Hulikal

MahA Lakshmi Temple - Doddagadavalli

 Sri Lakshmi  Janardhana Swamy Temple

Bylahalli is synonymous Iyengar bakery. Come Dhannur masa end All the Iyengar Bakery Owners and workers assemble at Bylahalli a small village  situated in beautiful  Hassan district which is lush with greenery all around. Yes Two days before the Shankaranthi   the annual Ratho Ustavam is held in a grand manner All are welcome and grand feast is held in the village irrespective Poor or rich mingle and pull the Ratham. Once you enter the Bylahalli and   get down from the bus a Majestic Rajagopuram ,Now let us go deep into the Sthala Purana of this Divya Kshetram : It was the time when Gargeya Rishi was doing penance at Bylahalli , then he had a dream one day Lord Vardharaja of Kanchi telling that he Archa Moorthy is there in Putthu near the place where he does his anushtanam.. Near Bylahalli there is a Nadi known as Eguchi and it is also known as Kala Nadi (Thirutu Nadi) , because river will be silent and all of sudden there will be flood and then within no time the river will be back to normal. Then Mysore Maharaja wanted to gift some land to the deserving personal , so he formed a committee and asked them to tour throughout the state and let him known who is the eligible person to receive the sanmanam of Land which he wanted to gift. The team reached Bylahalli then heavy flood came but where Gargeya Rishi was doing penance nothing happened there . Then team member were struck up there, but they noticed Gargeya was doing penance without any disturbance. Then the team decided the person who should receive the sanmanam is none other than Gargeya Rishi So Maharaja gifted Bylahalli and other places to Gargeya . Gargeya went near the Putthu ( Snake Pit) and He discovered the Idol of Lord Vardharaja , He installed his idol there and he raised a temple there .  The Putthu is there in Garbha Graham even now. Then over the days People called Vardharaja as Lord Lakshmi Janardhana Swami. There is no Thayar Sannidhi , The MahA Lakshmi is in Vrashasthalam of Lord Janardhana. A beautiful Uthsavar of Janardhana  with Sri &  Bhoo Devi is there. Vigraham of Namalwar, Ramanuja  etc. are also there. It is would not be out of place to mention all the Iyengar bakeries Owners hail from Bylahalli and it surrounding Ashta Grama.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

The Address of the Temple

Sri B V Jagannatha, Telephone + 91 8172 226042  ( He is my wifes Maternal Uncle )

Sri Lakshmi Janardhana  Swamy Temple, Bylahalli ,Hassan,Karnataka,Pin:581173,

sri Sowmiya Keshava Swamy Temple  & Sri Vardha Yoga Bhoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

First let us find out how the name Shanthigrama came into existence? You will be aware that King Vishnu Vardhan's Queen was Shanthala Devi. They were Jains and later on our Bhagavath Ramanuja converted they into Vaishnavism . King Vishnu Vardhan gifted this place to Queen Shanthala Devi, She was admirer of Jainism even though Ramanuja turned them to Vaishnavism you can find lot of Jain Vihara in Shanthigrama. Then came change in her she got this temple renovated as it was constructed during Chola Period and you can still find Chola style pillar inside the temple.Yes now Shanthigrama houses two beautiful temple of Sri Sowmiya Keshava Swamy   & Sri Vardha Yoga Bhoga Narasimha Swamy .

As soon as you enter Shanthigrama you will find a small GOPURA Greeting you it is Our Sowmiya Narayana Swami's Temple. You climb few 15 steps then you enter the temple , you will find Garuda Gamba Then you enter on left side you will find the MahA Lakshmi Moola Vigraham, Then after praying to her you find our Lord Sowmiya Keshavan Standing majestically, O what a beauty he is really Sowmiya Swarupam, With Shanku and Chakra in two upper hands and then left hand in his Gadha and Right lower hands blessing us. Then once you have his darshan you find equally matching Uthsavar of Sowmiya Keshavan along with his consort Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi.

Then after you have his darshan you can come out walk few steps you will find our Sowmiya Keshavan's beautiful Ther ( Car) , then please turn to left side walk 50 feet then turn right walk 50 feet and turn left immediately you will find a another beautiful Gopuram greeting it is the temple of Sri Vardha Yoga Bhoga Narasimha Swamy ,Now you enter the temple you will cross the Garuda Gamba and enter the temple. Then as soon as you please raise your head and look up , you will  all the Nava Narasimha in circle then you have to bow and enter the sacred Santorum of our Narasimha this is because it is because you are your entering into your Swami's place and when you enter masters place you have to show your reverence. and you find our Swami Majestically sitting in Yoga Posture.  Then  you should watch the Bhattar doing the Thirumanjanam to swami it is a magnificent treat to eyes and the last item of Thirumanjanam is Majal Kappu , oh what a beauty our lord looks like a real Simham majestically sitting. It is said if you pray something and in advance you do 48 Pradhashinai at a stretch your desire will be fulfilled. I my self have enjoyed the fruit of the Pradhashinai.

At present our Sowmiya Keshavan Temple is under renovation, Asthikas and abhimanis are  requested  to contribute their mite towards this good cause.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

For Thirumanjanam of Lord Narasimha the charges are Rs.250/= .

 For Neyvedhanam for one ser the cost is  : Puliyodarai  =Rs.125/ per Kg, Chakarai Pongal = Rs.450/ per Kg-  ,Any other Ogre = Rs.125/ per Kg and Dhadhiyona=Rs100/ per Kg                         

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

Sri G S Dwaraki,
Sri Sowmiya Keshava Swamy Temple  & Sri Vardha Yoga Bhoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, SHANTIGRAMA,HASSAN,KARNATAKA,Pin:573220,Telephone + 91 8172 258649 /9449124155

Sri Dwaraki  may be contacted here. If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

Shanthigrama

Sri Sowmiya Keshava Swamy Temple  & Sri Vardha Yoga Bhoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

First let us find out how the name Shanthigrama came into existence? You will be aware that King Vishnu Vardhan's Queen was Shanthala Devi. They were Jains and later on our Bhagavath Ramanuja converted they into Vaishnavism . King Vishnu Vardhan gifted this place to Queen Shanthala Devi, She was admirer of Jainism even though Ramanuja turned them to Vaishnavism you can find lot of Jain Vihara in Shanthigrama. Then came change in her she got this temple renovated as it was constructed during Chola Period and you can still find Chola style pillar inside the temple.Yes now Shanthigrama houses two beautiful temple of Sri Sowmiya Keshava Swamy   & Sri Vardha Yoga Bhoga Narasimha Swamy .

As soon as you enter Shanthigrama you will find a small GOPURA Greeting you it is Our Sowmiya Narayana Swami's Temple. You climb few 15 steps then you enter the temple , you will find Garuda Gamba Then you enter on left side you will find the MahA Lakshmi Moola Vigraham, Then after praying to her you find our Lord Sowmiya Keshavan Standing majestically, O what a beauty he is really Sowmiya Swarupam, With Shanku and Chakra in two upper hands and then left hand in his Gadha and Right lower hands blessing us. Then once you have his darshan you find equally matching Uthsavar of Sowmiya Keshavan along with his consort Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi.

Then after you have his darshan you can come out walk few steps you will find our Sowmiya Keshavan's beautiful Ther ( Car) , then please turn to left side walk 50 feet then turn right walk 50 feet and turn left immediately you will find a another beautiful Gopuram greeting it is the temple of Sri Vardha Yoga Bhoga Narasimha Swamy ,Now you enter the temple you will cross the Garuda Gamba and enter the temple. Then as soon as you please raise your head and look up , you will  all the Nava Narasimha in circle then you have to bow and enter the sacred Santorum of our Narasimha this is because it is because you are your entering into your Swami's place and when you enter masters place you have to show your reverence. and you find our Swami Majestically sitting in Yoga Posture.  Then  you should watch the Bhattar doing the Thirumanjanam to swami it is a magnificent treat to eyes and the last item of Thirumanjanam is Majal Kappu , oh what a beauty our lord looks like a real Simham majestically sitting. It is said if you pray something and in advance you do 48 Pradhashinai at a stretch your desire will be fulfilled. I my self have enjoyed the fruit of the Pradhashinai.

At present our Sowmiya Keshavan Temple is under renovation, Asthikas and abhimanis are  requested  to contribute their mite towards this good cause.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

For Thirumanjanam of Lord Narasimha the charges are Rs.250/= .

 For Neyvedhanam for one ser the cost is  : Puliyodarai  =Rs.125/ per Kg, Chakarai Pongal = Rs.450/ per Kg-  ,Any other Ogre = Rs.125/ per Kg and Dhadhiyona=Rs100/ per Kg                         

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

Sri G S Dwaraki,
Sri Sowmiya Keshava Swamy Temple  & Sri Vardha Yoga Bhoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, SHANTIGRAMA,HASSAN,KARNATAKA,Pin:573220,Telephone + 91 8172 258649 /9449124155

Sri Dwaraki  may be contacted here. If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

For photos log on to http://www.pbase.com/svami/shanthigrama

Nuggehalli

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

Nuggehalli is a village 18 Kms. North-East of Channarayapatna.  It was once a flourishing town as seen from the inscription. Ch.238. The record states that in the reign of Someshwara Hoysala Bommanna Dannayaka made Nuggehalli into an Agrahara under the name Somanathapura and got installed in Saka 1168 Parabhava and Vijayaor 1246 A.D. the Gods Keshava, Narasimha and Gopala and in 1249 A.D.  It will thus be seen that the original temple was a Hoysala structure built about 20 years before that of Somanathapura in Mysore District.  At a later date very probably during the Vijaya Nagar period, the present Navaranga with its square granite pillars was constructed in front of the ;original porch which has lathe turned soap-stoned pillars.   The Hajara in front and the Patalankana with 18 sided high fleeted pillars are possibly still later constructions belonging to somewhere about 1700 A.D.   The South and North towers are also about the same date and are of brick and mortar.  The temple is generally known as the Laxminarasimha Temple though the main God is Keshava. it is in Thrikutachala Style.

At the time of our visit the temple was under going Chemical wash done by Archeological Survey of India We could only take Pictures of Outer peripheral of temple and we will update the page once we get the pictures of Pradhana deity Lakshminarasimhan, Venugopala and Keshava, there is also a Srinivasar Temple and it is being renovated now

To reach this place you have to go to  Hiresave then at Hiresave you have to take left and travel about 15 Kms you can reach this place named Nuggehalli 

Yoga Narasimha Temple Hassan

 

Holalu

Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

This is temple dedicated to Sri Yoga Narasimha Perumal, The temple is in depilated condition and Sthala Purana is also not available. But the Murthy is nice After finishing  your Darshan at Bindinganavile and Nuggehalli when you travel towards the Hassan Just 2 kms before Shanthigrama you have to turn to left side cross the new under bridge of Hassan Bangalore railway line and if you travel 5  kms you can reach the temple but this temple is in very bad shape and i think with great difficulty they do Pooja

Protected Monument

Protected under	Not covered under any act, but this is a site of archaeological importance as it contains beautiful
Conserved & Maintained by	Currently Not Protected by any Department.

Historical Details

Period	11th Century	Style	Hoysala
Facing	East Direction	No of Kutas	Ekakuta
Pedastal	No	Ground Plan and Elevation

How to reach Holalu

From Bangalore TBD

From DHQ Hassan TBD

Belur

Sri Chenna Keshava  Swamy Temple

 All know about the Architectural importance of Bellur., the mythological aspect of Belur very few people know, Suta Purana says that Prama Purusha came in the form of Adhi Keshava and taught Chaturmukha Brahma about the Shristi karya, Upon Brahma's request he stayed in Sathya Loka for six manmantras. Thereafter he was worshipped Indra Drumna Maharaja of Bhoo Loka.

 In the 28th Krutha Yuga , in Vaynaspatha Manmantra Indra Drumna Maharaja brought the Archa Moorthy of Adhi Keshva also known as Soumiya Keshava in Special Chariot to Chandra Drona Hills, which is the present Baba Budhangiri and did the Prathistai, And lefty back to Vaikunta. All Devas did Pooja to Keshasva till the Kaliyuga.

King Vishnuvardhan once went for hunting near Vishnu samudra., then one of his attendant who was suffering from Leprosy got cured while taking bath in Vishnu Samudra, Seeing this King thought this should be a Puniya Kshetra , and decided that this place deserves a Temple. Then in the night our Lord Keshava appeared in the form of a Brahmin and instructed to build a temple for Keshva, and the Archa Moorthy is lying in Chadra Drona parvatha.. At the same time Bhagvan Ramanuja also got the same dream. Then he went and discussed the dream with Lord Ramanuja , Then King proceeded along with Brahmins and Army to Chandra Drona Parvatha as per Udayavars Instruction. As per original instruction in dream Lord first told to take Mahalakshmi' s Idol first which they will get on the way to Chandra Drona  Hills, and then take Keshva Idol,. Due to excitement as soon soon as they saw the some figure they assumed it a s Maha Lakshmi and loaded it in the chariot, for this Mahalakshmi became angry and told she will not come . Then King proceed to Chandra Drona Parvatha and with help of All holy men they did Pooja to Soumiya Keshva and brought the Archa Moorthy to Naraynapura. From Naraynapura they saw a subha Muhurtha and brought it into Mellapuri ( (Present day  Bellur). Then one architect who was the amsa of Vishwakarma built a beautiful temple in seven day and nights and the bimbam of Soumiya Keshva was concerted. Then Established a Town around the temple which is present day Bellur.

This Prathistai took place in Shalivahana 1021 Heyvilambhi Year Chaitra Shuddha Panchami Sthiravara Then to keep the activities of temple going he settled 52 Sri Vaishnava Families and many Brahmins in the Mellapuri. It is said that Bhagavath Ramanuja stayed here here for 30 days and did Kalakshepam and taught all Bhagavath Grantham to the Bhagavathas.

 There is belief In Krutha Yuga people did Tapasya and attained Moksha, In Thretha Yuga People did Homa and attained Moksha , In Dwapara yuga they did Pooja and attained Moksha , but in Kali Yuga if you do Keshava Dhayanam  you will get Moksha.

Story of Kappe Chanagiri Raya:

 It is said that Kappe Chanagiri Raya Idol  was sculptured on the instruction of  Queen Shanthala Devi wife of King Vishnuvardhan There is interesting story about this Kappe Changiri Raya Idol. Once upon time there lived a famous sculptor named Amara Shilpi Jakkanachari . He lived in Kridapuri in Tumkur District. He left his home in search of lively hood. He left behind his pregnant wife in Kridapuri itself. then She gave birth to a boy and named him Dhankanchari. Years rolled and there was no news of Jakkanachari and his family was worried. Then Dhankanchari took leave from his mother and he went in search of his father . Meanwhile Jakkanachari was busy in constructing the temple in Belur. Then Dhankanchari also reached Belur, But  he did not know his father was the chief Sculptor. He entered the Temple. Saw the Chanagiri Raya Idol and  immediately told that there is a Kappe( frog ) inside the Idol. Then Jakkanachari told if it is true he would cut of his right hand. When the Vigraham was inspected near the the Navel there was little sand and Water and there was a small frog. So as Promised Jakkanachari cut of his hand ,this idol was named as Kappe Changi Raya and no Pooja is offered. , Then father and son came to know each others relation  ,Then they together sculptured the new one and did Prathistai. After that they returned to their Native Kridapuri and present day Kaidala. Then they together sculptured a Keshava temple in Kaidala and Jakkanchari regained his hand after doing the Prathissthapanai.( Detailed story you can find it in Kaildala Sthalapurana)

 Vishnu Vardhan Built Pancha Narayana Kshetram in Karnataka at the Following Places, Belur, ,Talakad, Melkote, Thondanur and Gundulpet.

Not only Brahmins people of other religion are also devotees of Keshva, Even Muslims are also Devotees of Soumiya Keshava, They do  lot of Sevas. During Rathousthava Kaji Saheb the Representative of Muslims gets Koil Mariyada and then he prays to lord , this tradition is followed even today. Even King Hyder Ali was staunch Bhakta of Keshava of Belur.

Now we go for virtual tour of temple. First we enter the Mahadwaram , Straight we got he Chenna  Keshava's Sannidhi, Then we come out then turn to right you will find find Kappe Chanagiri Raya's Sannidhi,  Then  a separate Sannidhi for Soumiya Nayaki,  then next to it Veera narayana Perumal then in the Other corner You will find the Ranga Nayaki Thayar Sannidhi, then once you complete a Pradhashinai , then you will find a Gigantic Idol of Lord Udayavar in Upadesa Mudrai which is rare Moorthy. then next to it , Sannidhi for Lakshmi Narasimha , Then Rama etc.                    

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

For Abhishekam / Thirumanjanam & Neyvedhanam : Get in touch with Bhattar or Executive Officer.

The temple's address is:

Sri Chenna Keshava Temple.

Bellur,

Hassan District,

Pin: 573115

Executive Office : Sri M.Nagraj : Call 08177 -722218

Pradhana Archakar's : Sri S.Krishnaswamy Bhattar : Call: + 91 9448621438 or 08177 - 722689, Sri Srinivas:9964717388, Sri Murali :9448401310

Sthanikar : Y R Srinivas Call 08177 - 230418

Ps : Belur is 36 Kms from hassan.

For Photos please log on to

http://www.pbase.com/svami/belur

Gorur

Sri Para Vasudevar and Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

This is known as Gokarna Kshetra , It is very old temple. There are two temples . One is Paravasudevar Temple and little further is Yoga Narasimhatemple. It is Udbhavam Moorthy. The moorthy of Narasimha is Facing West, because the Gokarna MahA Rishi did penance facing East. Because of Gokarna MahA Rishi this is known as Gokarna Kshetra. Hemavathi river is flowing near by. There is a beautiful Hemavathi Dam. There is a rare Paravasudevar temple. It is Vijaya Nagar period Temple. The main Festival is rathotsavam and also Narasimha Jayanthi. Almost everyday our Lord has Thirumanjanam, people from far and near flock to see this moorthy. The statue is also gigantic it is 8 feet in height.

              

The cost of Thirumanjanam is Rs.150/- only and thaligai as you wish.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 9.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

 

The Address of the Temple
Sri Srikanth Bhattar,
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple,
Gorur,Hassan,Karnataka,Pin:537 120,
Tel:9448897223 or 08172-225631

Sri Vijayasarathi is the Convenor for the committee which oversees the rituals of temples and he can be reached on mobile# 9845671495

Ps: The Archakar  stays next to Paravasudevar temple. In case you land up in odd hours he may help you for good darshan since he stays very close.

For Photos please log on to http://www.pbase.com/svami/gorur

Arakalgud

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

This temple is of Chola Period . It is  more than 1000 years old. It houses our Lord Lakshminarasimhan . It is said that it was the family deity of the then Pallegara It got most of grants during of the pellagra Sri Krishnaappana Nayaka . There is some details in Stone. Not much details are are there.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

The Address of the Temple
Sri A G Krishnamurthy ,
Archakar,
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Arakalgud,Hassan,Karnataka,Pin:537 102,

Ps: The Archakar stays next to temple. In case you land up in odd hours he may help you for good darshan since he stays very close.

Hulikal

Sri Srinivasa Swamy Temple

                                

Hulikal is a small village in Hassan District which has a Oldest Srinivasar Temple, It is more than 1000 years old and Original Srinivasar Idol is very small Idol, and  later on the they renovated the temple few years ago . A new  Cute Srinivasar Idol along withPadmavathi  Thayar in adjoining Sannidhi was concerted then a separate Alwar Sannidhi is there. , Then  a Lakshmi Bhoo Varaha Moorthy  and Anjaneya Sannidhi  was built . Every year in the month of April - May they celebrate a grand Rathousthava. More of the Sthala Purana is awaited and it will be updated once we get the detail.

                                     

There is committee headed by Sri H R Kasturirangan  a highly decorated and  respected Inspector General of Police who served in Karnataka Government , Hulikal has produced lot of Lawyers , teachers , Officers and lot of people are abroad

The Archakar ,
Srinivasa Perumal Temple,
Hulikal
Hassan District.
Tel:

How to reach Hulikal : After you finish your darshan at Gorur , and Arakalgud ask for Mysore road, then after traveling 20 Kms from Arakalgud then You have to turn Right side and travel another 3 / 4 kms you can see a small and compact Rajagopuram greeting you, It is the Srinivasa Perumal Temple. After Finishing the darshan you can travel to Ramanathpura , Saligrama , Chunchunkatte and then Mysore.

Doddagadavalli

MahA Lakshmi Temple

As you drive down from Hassan enroute Belur & Halebedu, you will find a small village called Doddagaddavalli, situated it is just 16 kms away from the Hassan town. The MahA Lakshmi temple at Doddagaddavalli is considered to be one of the earliest temples built in the Hoysala style.

It is said that a merchant called Kullahana Rahuta and his wife Sahaja Devi in 1114 AD constructed this temple. The MahA Lakshmi temple here is situated in a courtyard, enclosed by a seven-feet-high stonewall. The temple has two main entrances - one facing east and the other facing west. Some of the main attractions of the temple here are the four small shrines surmounted by stone towers and the Hoysala crests found at the corners of the enclosure. The groups of stone towers are constructed on the lines of Kadamba Naagara style, resembling pyramids from one end, and 18 carved pillars support the mantapa in the front.

Although this temple is not built on a star-shaped, three feet platform, which is usually the case with the Hoysala style of construction, it is resplendent in the unique architectural style of the Hoysala period. The main garbagriha of this temple has the presiding goddess Lakshmi Devi, beautifully sculptured, measuring about 3 feet high, with an attendant on either side. The four hands of the goddess are finely done, with a conch in the upper right hand, a discuss (Chakra) in the upper left hand, a rosary in the lower right hand and a mace in the lower left hand. 

This rare quadruple-shaped temple consists of four garbagrihas facing north, south, east and west, with idols of Kali, Vishnu, Lakshmi and Bootha-natha , respectively. The square-shaped Navaranga has seven artistically executed ceilings, projecting circular panels. The central ceiling has a circular panel in the middle with the beautiful Tandaveshwara.

The other ceilings have floral designs in the middle besides circular panels carved with the figures of regents of the eight directions (Ashta Dhikbalakas). These carvings represent a workmanship of high order. While the sculptures of Gajalakshmi, Thandaveshwara and Yoganarasimha on the garbagriha doorway are fascinating, the doors of the east MahA Dwara are highly decorated. 

One of the main attractions of the temple is the elegantly carved goblins or betalas, situated in the vestibule (sukanasi) of the eight-handed Kali shrine.

The main temple is for MahA Lakshmi and other are Aniya Devatha's. You can see the beauty of the Temple. A Vaishnava Priest only does the Pooja.

    

Mangalore district.

Sri Krishna Temple - Udup

Udupi

Sri  Krishna Temple

   

Shree Krishna Temple Udipi is first among the seven places of pilgrimages. Thousands of pious devotees throng the Udupi Krishna temple all round the year to catch a glimpse of Lord Krishna. The unique feature of Shree Krishna Mutt temple is that the Lord is worshipped only through a window with nine holes called the Navagraha Kitiki. The window is exquisitely carved and silver - plated. It has been a tradition in this temple to worship the Lord only through this window. Read on to know more about the temple, the legends, the pujas & rituals and the festivals celebrated.

Raichur

Koppar

Sri  Vruksharoopi  Narasimha Swamy Temple

You will remember when Hiranya Kasipu asked Bhaktha Prahalada where is your Sriman Narayana , Instantly without even battering an eyelid Prahalada told GOD is Present everywhere. then Hiranya Kasipu asked whether he is there in this pillar, Prahalada told yes. To protect his  Bhakta's word Our Lord emerged from the pillar in Narasimha Avatara and did Samhara of Hiranya Kasipu Now after drawing a parallel instance now we are taking to a Kshetra where Lord Narasimha is present in the tree , yes God is omni present, Yes this Sacred place is KOPPAR in Raichur district of Karnataka. In Karnataka itself lot of Narasimha temples are there but the one at Koppar is rare  and one and only of its kind . This temple is situated in in picturesque serene atmosphere amidst of river Krishna . Koppar is 64.5 Kms from Raichur a Railway Junction on South Western Railways.

Sthala Purana:

The scene is 5th century , spot is thick jungle on Banks of river Krishna a descendent of sage Brighu Maha Rishi ( Due to him only we got Lord Srinivasa amongst us in Thirupathi). Sage Karpara is doing Agora Tapasya. Our Karuna Moorthy Lord Lakshmi Narasimha appeared before him and showered his blessings of supreme Knowledge and and also granted him lots of boon. Then also told him henceforth this place will be known as Karpara Sri Narasimha Kshetram and it will attract lot of Devotees.

Now we take you still further to 9th century

Bidar Dt

Narasimha Zharna (Lord Narasimha Temple) :

This is an old Hindu cave temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha. It is excavated in a tunnel, A legend says that Vishnu after Killing Hiranyakashyap, slew

another giant named Jharasura. While breathing his last, Jharasura beseeched Vishnu to reside in the cave in which he was living and to grant boons to

devotees. Granting last wish of his, Narasimha came to live in the cave. There is a roughly carved image of Narasimha on a stone wall at the end of the

cave. For seeing the deity, the visitor has to wade through a canal of 91 meter. The flow of water in the channel is continuous. The depth of the water in the

channel is generally 1.37 meters. A good number of devotees visit this temple.

Narasimha Cave Temple in Bidar

Bidar Narasimha Swamy

Narasimha Zarana Cave Temple - It is also known as Narasimha Zarna Cave temple, and Jharani Narasimha Temple. The famous cave temple enshrines the powerful deity Lord Narasimha on the wall at the end of a cave,and it is an architectural wonder. It is believed that the shrine at Narasimha Jheera Cave Temple is a swayambu (self-manifested) roopam. A perennial stream of water is said to be flowing continuously for hundreds of years in this place. It is a thrilling experience to walk through waist deep water for 300 meters through a cave-like tunnel, to seek a view of Lord Narasimha. It is one of the main attractions of Bidar. 

Cave having natural spring water which leads to the deity Narasimha Swamy .

The legend goes that, Lord Narasimha after killing Hiranyakashpu, proceeded to kill a demon named Jalasura. Jalasura was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. After he was killed by Lord Narasimha, Jalasura turns into water starts flowing from Lord's feet. And to this day water keeps flowing from lord’s feet and fills the cave.
So, to reach the lord we will have to wade through a 300 feet long cave, with water about 4 feet deep. Bats hanging from the cave's ceiling add to the thrill. Lighting and ventilation have been recently installed. The water is a little muddy, since it is flowing water it is not uncomfortable to walk thorugh it.

There is a water fountain outside the temple, in which people bath before entering the cave.

At the end of the cave we have Lord Narasimha and also the Shiva linga which Jalasura was worshiping. There is very less place to stand, around 8 people can see the lord at once. If there are more people they have to wait in water.

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport is Begumpet international airport (Hyderabad)(just 120km)
By Rail: Bidar is connected by well maintained rail network running to Hyderabad and Bangalore.
One can also travel to Gulbarga city from where take a bus to reach Bidar within one and half hours.
By Road: Regular luxury buses run from Bangalore via Hyderabad on NH 7 and NH9; the journey takes nearly 16 hours.