Gunja Narasimha Swamy Temple

Overview

Commonly known as T. Narasipura or T.N. Pura, Tirumakudalu Narasipura, the temple city of Karnataka is a panchayat city in Mysore district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The first name cites to the land at the convergence of the Kaveri, Kabini and Spatika Sarovara (a mythical lake or spring, also named Gupta Gamini). This is the place in South India where Kumbhamela is held every three years and finds a mention in the Skanda Purana as one of the Trimakuta Kshetras (holy places at the convergence of three rivers). The word 'Narasipura' is the name of the city, which is derived from the famous Gunja Narasimhaswamy temple that is located on the right bank of the Kabini river and is considered as sacred as Prayag (convergence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswati at Prayag – Varanasi - Kashi in North India), it is also known as Dakshina Kashi. The city finds mention in tourism guides, both as a tourist place and a pilgrimage centre.

About The Temple

The Gunja Narasima Swamy Temple is situated in Tirumakudal Narasipura, a city in the Mysore district, Karnataka state, India. The city is located 20 miles south east of city of Mysore. The temple dates back to about the 16th rule of the Vijayanagara Empire and is built in typical dravidian and Hoysala style with an imposing tower (gopura) over the entrance gate (mahadwara) and a four pillared hall ("mantapa ") in front of the sanctum. The threshold of the door is carved with images of a washer man and his wife. The later Vijaynagar Kings and Nalwadi Krishnaraja Udayar expanded the temple. Another shrine has the idol of the main goddess, Andal.
As mentioned earlier, the temple is located at the convergence of the Kaveri River and the Kabini River and gets its name from the Gunja tree (Abrus precatorious) that is in the front of the main entrance. Sculptures in the temple include those of the Hindu god Narasimha and the demon King Hiranyakashipu. The temple is often compared to Kashi, a sacred city for Hindus in northern India, by virtue of its sanctity.
The temple was in the funding of the Dalavoy of Mysore ("feudal lord") with an annual maintenance, according to the eminent British Raj era historian and epigraphist, B. Lewis Rice. The temple underwent repairs and embellishments during this time and now is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India. Another temple close by, called the "Agastyeshwara" temple, is the venue of a religious fair (Jatra) that is held annually attracting large number of people.

About The Deity

The main deity Lord Narasimha idol is seen holding a weighing balance with a twig of Gunja plant giving the name Gunja Narasimha Swamy. This tells the importance of T.Narasipura compared with Kashi by a Gunja seed. Gunja is known as Gulaganji in kannada.

Legend and Stories

The legend states that a washer man had a dream in which Lord Narasimha told him to remove his idol below an ant hill and construct a temple for him to which the washer man asked from where he will get the money. The Lord asks him to look under the washing stone for money; the washer man finds the money and constructs the sanctum sanctorum for the Lord. The Lord offers the washer man a boon for having built the temple. The washer wanted to visit the pilgrimage centre of Kashi. To this the Lord replied that from now on the virtue received by people who visit Gunja Narasimha Swamy temple will be a Gunja twig more than Kashi, declaring T.Narasipura as Dakshina Kashi.
Like the convergence of Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathi, in Kashi, here it is the convergence of Kaveri, Kapila and Spatika Sarovara Rivers. The washer man asks for salvation (moksha) and the Lord grants him his wish.

Festivals

Every year the temple car festival is celebrated with great pomp and show.

Accessibility

Airport

Nearest airport is Mysore Airport.

Railways

Mysore Junction Railway Station and Nanjangud City Railway Station are the nearest railway stations.

Road

Tirumakudalu Narasipura is 29 km south-east of Mysore, the district headquarters and 130 km from Bangalore, the state capital and is well connected with roads. It is reachable by buses very easily; every 5 minutes private buses depart from Mysuru RMC bus stand and hourly bus from Bengaluru Kalasipalya bus stand.

Temple Address

Sri Gunja Narasimha Swamy Temple,
Tirumakudalu Narasipura, Mysore District,
Karnataka, Pin – 571124.