Around Bangalore - Part 4 - Ambegalu Krishna Temple

This time I am going to write about ‘Ambegalu Sri Krishna’ temple. It is situated in Mallur or Doddamallur. There is a very interesting story behind the name of this place itself. I will brief about that, before talking about this temple.

Legend has it that, once there was a king called Saarangadaara, who had his limbs cut in a war by his enemies and was thrown into Nirmala river, that flows through this region. He somehow has reached this temple, inspite of his agony and has chanted lord name intermittently. Pleased with his devotion, the lord gave him a Jyothy Dharshan and thus his limbs grew back again. Hence, based on the Tamil word “Mulaithadu” which means grew back, this sacred place got its name Mulaithoor, which with time changed to “Mallur”.

This skethram is also addressed with different names to signify various occurrences in different puranas:

Since Lord Rama stayed here during his exile (this place is situated in the south of Vindhya Mountain), it is called as “Dakshina Ayodhya”

Since educated people of all four vedas lived here it is called “Chatur Veda Mangala Pura”

Anyone who has a thirst to learn veda was blessed with knowledge of all the ancient scriptures here and hence is also called as “Gyaana Mantapa Kshetram”

This place was established as the capital of the vast empire, once great king Rajendra Simha Chozhan ruled and hence is called as “Rajendra Simha Nagari”

It is said that, great sages like Kapila and Sage Kanva (who lived in Tretha Yuga) are still here in some form or other, worshipping lord Aprameya. Even today, after the artha jaama pooja, once the temple is locked, sound of garbha graha door opening and pooja happening and toll of temple bells can be heard from outside, clearly indicating the higher energy source, offering prayers to the lord.

The Main Attraction

It is the idol of Baby Krishna in Crawling posture with the right arm raised in open posture carrying butter, It is called as Ambegal (Kannada) or Tavazhara (Tamil) or crawling Krishna. The Navaneetha Krishna statue is one of its kinds, made of black stone and is said to have been installed by Veda Vyasar. The statue is carved with the ornaments also…. It can be seen with chains, kangan/bracelets in hands, anklets and amulets. The prominent one is a tiger claw like pendant. The priest told us that, it is to keep away the bad ‘dhristi’ of all those who watch him, owing to his immense beauty. The statue of the lord is on a Garuda Peedam.

The complex in which Navaneetha Krishnan adobe resides is called the ‘Purandaradasa Mandapam’ that is facing the Rajagopuram of the temple. The famous kannada classical song ‘Jagadodhaaranaa adisidalu Yashodhaa’ was written by Sri Purandaradasa, in this temple after seeing the beauty of the baby Krishna. (Enjoy the song and its meaning in the end of the article)

The Wodeyar Episode

We were also told of a incident that happened around 130 years ago, when the then Wodeyar king visited this temple.

The king, taken aback by the beauty of Navaneetha Krishna, ordered that such beauty should adorne his palace and took it along with him and installed it in his Mysore Palace. From the very same night, he started getting dreams in which, the lord Krishna ordered him to be returned to the temple and warned him of consequences otherwise.

It is said that, the king did not heed the warnings and there was a massive fire accident in the palace which destroyed part of the then wooden palace. He was then forced to return the idol to the temple with all due respects.

Below are the Janmastami Pictures (credit for these 3 photos to the orignial owners)

The Presiding Deity

Lord Aprameya Swamy (Maha Vishnu) is the main presiding deity of the temple and the idol is made of Salagrama stone found in river Gandaki. The lord has Abhaya Hasta posture ( The upper two arms holding the Counch (Sankam) and the disc (Sudharshana Chakram) and one of the lower arm show his hasta and other holding the Mace (Gadha) )

The utsavar is placed in Shukanasika Mantapam, made of sandalwood. The lord is also called ‘Ramaprameya’, as legend has it that, when Lord Rama was here, he prayed this idol. The remnants of the structures where Lord Rama is said to have conducted yagnyas and homas are still available.

The presiding goddess is Aravindavalli.

The temple is in Channapatna Taluk. 60 Kms from Bangalore, 3 Kms from Channapatna, 80 Kms from Mysore.

JAGADHODHARANA (Song with Lyrics & Meaning)

P: jagadOddhArana ADisidaLeshOde 

Yashoda plays with the Savior of the World

A: jagadOddhArana maganendu tiLiyuta

Deeming him to be nothing more than a mere boy and her son

SuguNa anthaRangana AadisidaLeyshodha

Yashodha plays with that embodiment, who is complete with all the virtues

C1: nigamakE silukada agaNita mahimana

He whose greatness cannot be caught even by vedas and who is beyond count / infinity (a-ganitha is countless)

magugaLa mANikyana ADisidaLeshOde

and he who is a gem among all the children -- Yashoda plays with him

2: aNOraNIyana mahatO mahiyana

Much smaller than atoms, bigger than the biggest

apramEyana ADisidaLeshOde

He who is beyond limit or im-measurable, Yashoda plays with Him

3: parama puruSana paravAsudEvana

With the Greatest among beings, Para Vaasaudeva,

purandara viTTalana ADisidaLeshOde

With Purandhara Vitthala, Yashoda plays with him

Around Bangalore - Part 2 - Melkote Yoga Narashimar Temple

Yoga Narashima Temple:

The hill starts a little away from thirunarayana temple and has around 400 steep steps (completely filled with beggers on either sides). So, in case you are taking elders, please ensure that you hold them when climbing up the stairs, as most of the time the grill on the sides will be unusable because of some occupant.

A View of Narashimhar Temple from the Kalyani Pond ( This photo was taken from internet )

The temple is very old is one of the 4 important narashimha sketrams. A the name suggests, narashimhar here is in a yoga mudra posture. Legend has it, that, after the killing of his father, Hiranyakasibu, Prahladha came here and did penance in a cave in this hill for many years and the lord, graced his prayers by self manifesting himself on a salgramam rock right above where Prahlada was penancing.

The cave is called Bilaswarga and was open for public till Jan 08, when temple jewellery worth some 1.5 crores were looted. Now it is completely blocked for public access. It is said the tiger skin on which Prahladha sat and did penance is also still kept safe.

The Temple has been built in Hoysala style in later years.

The sides of the temple has magnificient panaromic view of the surrounding places. The gopuram has a lot of beautiful sculptures.

Main Gopuram

Gopuram above the inner entrance

The Gopuram above the main deity

There are beautiful images on the mail dopuram doors and ceilings also.

Om Namo Narayana Namah

Around Bangalore - Part 1 - Melkote Cheluve Narayana

Been to small weekend getaway to Melkote and few other temples recently.

We started from Bangalore early on Saturday morning and the first destination was Melkote.

Melkote:

Thirunarayanapuram, as it is also called, is around 133 KMs from Bangalore, in Mandhya District and is built on Yadavagiri. The route after you take a right turn from the Mysore Highway is extremely beautiful with all trees and field, resembling the route between Thanjore and Kumbakonam.....So beautiful and so nostalgic.

There are two beautiful temples here. One is Cheluva Narayana Temple and on the top of the hill is 'Yoga Narashimhar Temple'. Before I go into the history of these temples... let me introduce you to the deities of the temple and shall gradually move into its history.

The presiding deity or 'Moolavar' of the temple is 'Thiru Narayana' and Processional deity or 'Utsavar' is call 'Selva Pillai' or 'Sampath Kumara' and is housed in Rangamandapa. Legend has it that, the moolavar was held in workship by Bhrahma and the Utsavar was workshipped by Lord Sri Rama and then by his son 'Kusha', in Ayodhya. Hence the utsavar is also called 'Ramapriya'. It is also to be noted that, this utsavar was brought and installed in Melkote by none other than Lord Sri Krishna.

Taken from internet

Taken from internet

During one of the early mughal raid in the region, the earlier yadavagiri temple was almost demolished and the mughal king took the Utsavar to Delhi. The moolavar was displaced and eventually went missing (actually was covered by sand and eventually engulfed by a snake house (paambu puthu).

During the early 12 century conflict between Saivaite and Vaishnavites, Ramanujar fled from Srirangam to escape the threat and possible arrest by the Chola king (quite possibly, 2nd kulothunga chozhan) who had turned into a fanatic Saivaite to Mysore and is said to have lived around here and Thonnur for approx. 14 years making it a very important vaishnavite pilgrimage site.

When Ramanujar was living in Thonnur or thondanur, it was mainly a Jain prominent area and was ruled by H.H. Sri Vittala Devarayan. It is said that the princess was suffering from a uncurable Delusion (siddha bramai), Ramanujar cured her. The most pleased king became a follower of Ramanujar and was eventually embraced vaishnavism. He got renamed as Vishnuvardhan.

It is also said that, the 12,000 jains living there wanted to test Ramanujar and he morphed himself into the 10,000 adhisesha from behind a curtain near the narashimhar sannidhi in thonnur temple and answer everyones questions and won them all. All 12,000 of them embrased vaishnavism. Due to the sudden formation of the community, they lacked 'Sriman' for everyone. Lord appreared in Ramanujar's dream and asked him to go to a nearby village called 'Yadavagiri' or 'Yadhugiri', as Sriman is available there in abundance.

Note: Even today, after almost 1000 years, sriman is still available in Melkote.

When Ramanujar and all his disciples did milk abhisekham to the snake house there, the moolavar thirunarayanar idol exposed itself from inside and with the help of King Vishnuvardhan, Ramanujar has the temple rebuilt. The lord came in Ramanujar's dream again and asked him to retrieve his utsavar 'Ramapriya' from the Mughal king in Delhi. Ramanujar went to Delhi, won over the king and the king showed him his entire collection of idol he had confiscated, but Ramanujar was not able to find Ramapriya idol.

The lord again came in the upset Ramanujar's dream and asked him to check the palace of the princess. When Ramanujar indicated that to the king, the much surprised king took him to his daughter's palace and there she was worshiping the Ramapriya idol. When Ramanujar brought it back, the princess also came along and became one with the lord. Hence there is a sannidhi for Bibi Nachiyar in the temple.

Taken from internet

That is the story of the Cheluve Narayana Temple.

The Vairamudi Sevai in the month of March-April is very famous here. The image of Selvappillai is adorned with a beautiful diamond crown and taken out in procession.

The traditional belief is that, this crown is not to be looked at, when it is not worn by perumal; Hence, before the sevai, the chief/ represented priest is blindfolded before he picks up the crown from its chest till placing it upon the head of the image of Selvappillai. Thousands congregate to celebrate this grand occasion each year and the beauty of perumal is magnified multitude times with the crown on his head.

Taken from internet

History of Vairamudi

Legend has it that, this Vairamudi was worn by Sriman Narayanan himself in Paar Kadal (Sheera Sagara or Milky Ocean). During early dwapara yuga, Prahlada's son, Virochana, who was a demon, like his grandfather, stole it and to it to the paadala loka.

Lord summoned Garuda to retrieve it from Virochana. Garuda fought Virochana and returned with the crown. When he was flying above Thanjavur, a big blue gem fell from the crown near Nachiar Koil and turned into a stream. The stream even flows today in Thanjavur and is called 'Mani Muthaaru'.

When Garuda was flying over Brindavan, saw Baala Krishnan playing with his friends in mid day sun. To protect him from the sun he spread his wing over him and placed the crown on his head, before returning to Sheera Sagara.

Lord Krishna, in the later years, took the Utsavar, Chella Pillai from Ayodhya and installed it in Melkote. He adorned the Chella pillai image with that diamond crown which Garuda gave him.

It is celebrated as a huge Bhramhotsava for almost 13 days. It is also said that the vaira mudi should not be exposed to daylight, so the same is brought under extreme tight security in a palenquin and is fitted on lord by the chief priest, who covers his eyes with a silk cloth till he places it on perumal's head.

Taken from internet

Taken from internet

I will follow this with the other related temples & places like, Narashimha temple, Thonnur, etc.....

Om Namo Narayanaya!!!!!

Disclaimer Note: I have indicated those photos taken from internet just below the photo. The credit for such photos goes only to the actual owners. Thanks a lot for allowing me to share it here. Incase you have any issue me using in any of the images that I took from net, please write to me seperately with reason and I will consider the same.