Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama

Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama is a unique and serene temple which was first visited by Ramanujacharya on his sojourn to Karnataka. Saligrama is a small village in Krishnaraja Nagar taluk in Mysuru district of Karnataka and is situated on the north bank of the river Kaveri. This place is so sacred that Sri Ramanujacharya made his residence here for a few years. Eventually it acquired a prominent position in the hearts of Srivaishnavas.

Saligrama in Karnataka was known as Shalapuri. Shali means a variety of paddy, which is little longer in size compared to the normal paddy. This variety was grown in this region hence giving it the name Shalapuri.

Architecture of Sri Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama

Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama is one of the most ancient temples in Mysuru district. It was built during the Chola period, but has a Hoysala style of architecture, and it is constructed using big stone slabs. These stone slabs on the ceiling of the temple keeps the interiors of temple cool. The temple has been renovated couple of years back with the help of Archaeological Society of India (ASI). The current structure of Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama dates to nine hundred years old.

Deities of Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama

One can have darshan of two Narasimha Deities in Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama. The ancient Deity of Lord Yoga Narasimha which is around 4800 years old and which was originally worshiped by Ramanujacharya is being worshiped in the pradakshina prakara now. In the main garbha-griha one can have darshan of the newly installed Deity of Yoga Narasimha.

There are other Deities in the temple like that of Alwars, Ramanujacharya and Thayar who are worshiped as per the Vaikhanasa Tradition.

Why Ramanujacharya visited Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama

When the Chola King had planned to kill Ramanujacharya, he travelled to Karnataka through the Satyagala forest. The first village which he came across in Karnataka was Saligrama. He was very much attracted to the Deity of Lord Narasimha and named the place as Mithilapuri Saligrama. Ramanujacharya had stayed here for few years before proceeding towards Melkote. It is also believed that Nammalwar had appeared in the dreams of Ramanujacharya directing to visit this kshetra.

More prominently this holy place is known as Saligrama because of the sacred water which washed the lotus feet of Mudaliandan. Anyone who drank this water attained bhakti to Ramanujacharya. Just like the charanamrita of saligrama shila can wash off one’s sins.

When Ramanujacharya had come to Saligrama, no one knew about him and none of them came for his darshan. He asked Mudaliandan Swamy from Tamilnadu to visit him. When Mudaliandan came, Ramanujacharya asked him to keep his feet in the kaliyani opposite to Sri Yoga Narsimha Temple Saligrama.

The villagers would fetch drinking water from the same kalyani. After the villagers drank that sanctified water from the lotus feet of Mudaliandan, they got God realization and immediately surrendered to Ramanujacharya. Ramanujacharya gave them shelter and blessed them with transcendental knowledge. Even today one can have darshan of this kalyani right opposite to the temple. It is known as Mudaliandan Tirtha.

Mudaliandan was an incarnation of Lord Ramachandra. He was so pleased by the service of Lakshmana, that He wanted to be of service to Him in the future avataras. One such service was that of Krishna being younger to Balarama and then Mudaliandan being the disciple of Ramanujacharya. He is also considered as the lotus feet of Ramanujacharya.

All the villagers requested Ramanujacharya to build the temple for Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy, which he did.

Sri Mukkanna Yoga Narasimha Swamy

The ancient Deity of Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy was installed by Gautama Rishi around 4800 years back. The Deity of Lord Narasimha was believed to be in the Ugra Swarupa. It was Ramanujacharya who had requested the Lord to assume peaceful mood. Many devotees believe that the anger of Lord Narasimha was transferred to His third eye and thus the Lord has three eyes here. Because of which He is also known as Mukkanna Yoga Narasimha Swamy. Muru in Kannada means three. Kannu means eyes.

Ramanujacharya had installed the Deity of Aravinda Nayaki Thayar next to the garbha griha of Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy.

Sri Pada Tirtha

The village’s head who is known as Palegara had a daughter suffering from an incurable disease. No doctor was able to treat her. When the Palegara heard about the advent of Ramanujacharya in Saligrama, he rushed to him seeking a cure for his daughter.

Immediately Ramanujacharya set his feet in the ground from which a stream of water gushed out. This water had medicinal properties. When the daughter of Palegara drank it, she immediately got cured. The Palegara built the wall around that tirtha to preserve it for the future generations.

This tirtha came to be known as Sri Pada Tirtha. One can have darshan of the impression of Ramanujacharya’s lotus feet here. This is the only place where one can have this darshan of the original impression of the lotus feet of Ramanujacharya. Sri Pada of Sri Ramanujacharya was worshipped by Sri Vadagalambi Swami who was the then pujari of the Yoga Narasimha Temple, who accepted Srivaishnavism after meeting Ramanujacharya.

Festivals Celebrated in Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama

The annual festival of Yoga Narasimha temple Saligrama is held around May month every year. Every year, 9 days of Brahmotsavam is celebrated with grandeur. Vaikuntha Ekadashi too is celebrated grandly in the temple.

Temple Timings of Sri Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama

Sri Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama is open throughout the year, everyday, morning from 6:00 AM – 12:30 PM and evening from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

How to reach Sri Yoga Narasimha Temple Saligrama

The best way to reach temple is to join Tirtha Yatra and get your tour organized.

By Road: Sri Yoga Narasimha temple Saligrama is 198 kms from Bengaluru, 60 kms from Mysuru and 60 kms from Hassan. Taxis are available from these locations.

By Rail: Saligrama railway station is the nearest railway station, but frequency of train is quite less. Mysuru railway station is also the nearest railway station, it is well-connected by important towns of India.

By Air: The nearest airport is at Bengaluru or Mysuru. Private taxies are available from these airport location