Mysore and around Part 15- Melkote Cheluvanarayana Perumal Temple

Date of Visit :  Feb-2011

Melkote is at about 50kms from Mysore. There are two ancient temples in this sacred village (town?).
The first one is Cheluvanarayanaswamy temple. This post is about this temple. There is another for Narasimhaswamy on a hill about which I will write a separate Post.

Melkote aka Thirunarayanapuram is one of the most famouse Vaishnavite pilgrim centers in Karnataka.

Early in 12th century, the great Srivaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya took up his residence and lived here for about 14 years . It thus became a prominent centre of the Srivaishnava sect of Brahmins, who obtained from the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, who had become a follower of the Acharya, an assignment of the fertile tracts of land in the neighbourhood, especially of the Ashta Gramas, on either bank of the Cauvery.

More about this place can be read from Wikipedia.

This electric Drum-cum-Bell makes such a beautiful music..and adds to the grandeur..

Come let's get into the temple...

Inner Praharam(Walk-about)

The walls ..need repainting..

Exquisite sculpting on the pillars

God Idol will be carried on this during festivities

Pillar - carvings

It feels great to take a walk around inside in this pathway

A Well placed Well inside the temple

This awesome temple is surrounded by beautiful and treditional houses and buildings..!

Some mutt .. I guess

Broken hands .. all over here as well....Handwork of Invaders..!

During festivals..Fully painted..this chariot will be a sight on the streets..!

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