Sri Nadhi Narasimha Swamy Temple

Lord Narasimha Swamy

Man naturally faces anxiety, fear, pain, sadness, and many other emotional distresss in life at times. When all attempts to free himself of ailments fail, man seeks help from the higher power as a last resort. Lord Narasimha Swami, one of the ten Avataras of Lord Narayana, is THAT HIGHER power who can move him out of the rot.

However, help can only come if he seeks god’s grace with the utmost faith and a devotion-filled heart. “Faith can move mountains” is the adage that is always true.  One should have a deep “Faith” in god and “Hope” to keep his life going.

By sheer listening to the above stuti, we can feel blessed. It can fill us with confidence and courage that all our problems will finally be solved with the lord’s grace.  Such is the power and vibes the lord exuberates. So, regular visits to any Narasimha swami temple are a must to bring peace and tranquility to life. 

A thousand years old temple complex

The Nadhi Narasimha Swamy temple faces the river, indicating its proximity to the water. Besides the Gunja Narasimha Swamy Temple in Tirumkudal Narasipura, this is the only other Narasimha Swamy shrine situated on a riverbank. The temple is beautifully flanked by agricultural fields on both sides, creating a serene atmosphere.

This ancient shrine is a protected monument, maintained by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Karnataka. According to available records, the shrine dates back to the 11th century, thus making it 1000 years-old temple. Renovations were carried out about 100 years ago, with only the outer walls and, the mantapa around the shrine being new additions.

Temple History

Legend has it that the river was originally known as Nirmala. When Sage Kanva engaged in severe penance here, it came to be called the Kanva River. According to legend, millennia ago, King Saraangadaara ruled this region. He wanted to witness the special prayers conducted by Sage Kanva on the night of Swathi nakshatra.

The sage forbade the king from coming to the temple on that special night, but the king disobeyed and appeared before the sage during the prayers. The sage was furious to see the king during the spiritual ceremony. Out of anger, he cursed the king, leading to the destruction of the village. 

Lord Narasimha Swamy’s intervention

The village residents prayed to Lord Narasimha Swami to intervene and show the way forward. In response to the prayers of the local people, Lord Narasimha Swamy directed Sage Kanva to build the shrine on this riverbank, so that people can regularly pray and get Lord’s blessings. Millennia later, it is believed that the Maharaja of Mysore, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, patronized this shrine and granted 12 acres of land for its maintenance.

Temple Architecture

The shrine is a single-dome structure in the Dravidian style, facing east. The small temple complex is enclosed by a prakara (compound) with a side entrance and the mahadwara (main door) through the gopuram in front, facing the river.

The Gopuram and the Shikhara are adorned with beautiful statues and sculptures of Lord Vishnu in various forms. There are idols of other deities. The vimana over the sanctum features a central dome surrounded by intricate statues of gods, demons, humans, and animals.

Lord Narasimha Swamy moola vigraha

The magnificent idol of Lord Narasimha Swamy, crafted from black stone, is in a seated position. His eternal consort, Lakshmi Devi, looks to be on his lap. Local belief suggests that there are remains of an underground tunnel (Suranga Marga) extending from the temple’s main entrance to Abbur, a small village located on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway. It is said that King Saraangadaara, whose palace was in Abbur, used this underground pathway to visit the temple.

Narasimha Swami moola mantra

Devotees chant the Narasimha moola mantra while performing pradakshina (circumambulation) and tie unhusked coconuts to two iron rods inside the temple. They also place lemons near the sanctum as offerings to fulfill their wishes.

During the pradakshina, one can observe small idols of Lord Vishnu in various forms of the Dasavathara adorning the inner walls of the shrine. Additionally, there is a beautiful idol of Hanuman in a meditative posture, enhancing the temple’s spiritual ambiance.

How do I get there?

From Bengaluru

• By Bus: KSRTC and private busses frequently plying between Bengaluru and Chennapatna. Alight at Chennapatna town bus stop, take an Auto rickshaw, and head towards Nadhi Narasimha Swamy temple.
• By Train: The Shuttle trains that go to Mysuru stop at Chennapatna. Alight there and take an Auto rickshaw to go to the temple.

Operating hours

Hours: 

• Friday 8 am–12:30 pm, 3–6 pm
• Saturday 8 am–12:30 pm, 3–6 pm
• Sunday 8 am–12:30 pm, 3–6 pm
  • Monday 8 am–12:30 pm, 3–6 pm
• Tuesday 8 am–12:30 pm, 3–6 pm
• Wednesday 8 am–12:30 pm, 3–6 pm
• Thursday 8 am–12:30 pm, 3–6 pm

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