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| Yoga Narasimha Temple at Melukote, Karnataka. www.tripmondo.com |
Yoga Narasimha Temple at Melukote, Pandavpura Taluk in Mandhya District of Karnataka is one of the centers of pilgrimage in this state and there is a popular Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Yoga Narasimha - one of the forms of Lord Vishnu. The majestic temple is atop the Yadugiri rock and is being visited by lots of devout Hindus who are drawn here because of its religious significance beefed-up by the serene surrounding and temple architecture. This temple is one of the seven holy centers devoted to the worship of Narasimha- half human and half lion form of Lord Vishu who took the avatar to kill the unruly, arrogant and inhuman ruler Heranyakashyapu. The temple overlooks the town of Melukote.
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| Yoga Narasimha Temple at Melukote,www.karnataka.com |
Here the main deity - an idol of Narasimha is in a seated position with the Yogapatta or Yogamudra Normal puja protocol is being followed here as in other Vishnu temples. Every year the Narasimha Jayanthi festival is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor.
The temple was built during the Hoysala period. One fact that can't help attracting our attention is the presence of a huge drum donated by none other than Tipu Sultan, the then ruler of Mysore. In 1785 he also presented elephants to the temple. The temple bell was donated by the Mysore Parakalamatha. The temple is richly endowed and the rulers of Mysore, the Wodeyar family made immense contributions by way of donating gold and gems-studded jewels. In 1614, the Mysore Maharajah Raja Wodeyar (1578–1617) adopted the Srivaishnava faith and handed over to the temple and the Brahmins at Melkote, the estate granted to him by Vijaynagar king Venkatapati Raya. He presented the gold crown to the temple.The erstwhile ruler of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III had donated a gold crown to the temple deity besides Vairamudi, another gold-diamond -studded crown to the deity.
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| Drum donated by Tipu Sultan.Yoga Narashimha temple,Melukote, www.kamat.com |
The temple has several legends associated with it. One of the significant beliefs regarding the idol of Yoga Narasimhar is that it was installed by Prahalada himself, son of Hiranyakashapu whom the lord killed.
Melkote is an important pilgrimage center for the Srivaishnava sect. because early in the 12th century, the famous Advaita philosopher and Srivaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya, who hailed from Tamil Nadu, stayed at Melukote for about 12 years. Melukote is the birthplace of Jayalalithaa, who has again formed the new ministry in consecutive terms in the state of Tamil Nadu after winning the recent Assembly election held in May, 2016.
Ref:
http://www.holidayiq.com/Yoga-Narasimha-Swamy-Temple-Melukote-Sightseeing-1281-14574.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melukote
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