Amaragiri Shri Guddada Ranganathaswamy Temple Karnataka

The Amaragiri Shri Guddada Ranganathaswamy Temple, located in Chikkonahalli, Channarayapatna Taluk, Hassan District of Karnataka, is known for its historical and religious importance. Built in the 12th century, this temple is closely linked to Shri Ramanujacharya, who settled in Melukote after being exiled from Tamil Nadu. During one of his journeys with his followers, he is said to have rested in Chikkonahalli.

That night, Ramanujacharya had a special spiritual experience. The next morning, he gathered the villagers and shared the unique importance of the place, predicting it would become a sacred site for Lord Vishnu. He advised them to install an idol of Vishnu and to conduct daily worship and rituals. Following his guidance, the villagers installed an idol of Lord Rama holding a bow and arrow and began regular worship.

To protect the temple from foreign invaders, the villagers started calling it the Ranganathaswamy Temple, as invaders respected the name and worship of Ranganatha. The chief priest, Parthasarathy, explains that this tactic helped save many temples from destruction over time.

In February 2016, the reclining idol of Ranganathaswamy was reinstalled with special ceremonies and a five-day festival.

A unique feature of the temple is a small stone connected to Ramanujacharya. It is believed that he once used this stone as a pillow, and now it is said to fulfill the wishes of devotees. If someone sits on the stone with a wish, the stone is believed to tilt to the right if the wish will come true, surprising those who witness it. The temple is also thought to be protected by a guardian deity named “Donnappa,” according to priest Parthasarathy.

Today, as Ramanujacharya predicted, the temple has become widely known as the Ranganathaswamy Temple. Every Saturday, a community meal (Dasoha) is held here. During Rama Navami, a chariot festival is celebrated, and daily rituals follow the Pancharatra Agama tradition.