Melkote Yoga Narasimhar Swamy Temple Visit on Dec 8, 2017

From Bangalore we took a Tavera and went for temple visit on the way to Mysore. Melkote is the first place we visited. Melkote has two major temples - Yoga Narasimhar in the up hill and Cheluva Narayanan temple which is Swamy Ramanuja's favorite temple where his own Atma is still there people say.

First we went to Yoga Narasimhar temple. It was amazing to see a group of 3rd grade students there guided by their teachers. When they climb up they were chanting Ranga Ranga Ranga Ranga to forget the strain of climbing. Scenery from top of the hill around was amazing. 

Yoga Narasimha Temple – Legends

The temple has numerous legends associated with it. One of the most famous beliefs about the temple is that the idol of the deity Narasimha was installed by Prahalada, son of Hiranyakashapu himself. It is also believed that the temple finds reference in the Vedic literature that dates back to thousands of years.

History

The history of the temple dates back to the ancient times. The temple was built during the Hoysala kingdom. The beauty and religious significance of the temple has always fascinated the common people and the royalty alike. The temple has a huge drum that was donated by Tipu Sultan. It has a beautiful bell that was donated by the Mysore Parakalamatha. During the rule of the erstwhile Wodeyar Kings of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III had donated a gold crown to the temple deity.

There are 300 steps to the Temple.