Sri Mukkanna Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

Sri Mukkanna Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

Sri Yoga Narasimha Temple at 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 Sri Vaishnavas.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.

Temple Architecture

Yoga Narasimha Temple 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 900 years old.

Devotees can have darshan of two Narasimha Deities in Yoga Narasimha Temple. 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.

Story of Sri Ramanujacharya visit to Yoga Narasimha Temple

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 Narasimha Temple.

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. Mudaliandan being the disciple of Ramanujacharya 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.