Saligrama Sri Guru Narasimha Temple, Karnataka

Address

Saligrama Sri Guru Narasimha Temple, Karnataka

P.O. Saligrama – 576255
Udupi Dist, Karnataka State, India
Phone: +91-820-2564544
+91-820-3204544

Moolavar

Guru Narasimha

Introduction

The Guru Narasimha Temple, Saligrama is dedicated to Narasimha, the lion-headed form of Vishnu. Srimad Yogananda Guru Narasimha is the chief deity of the town of Saligrama, Udupi, Karnataka, India. The main image of Narashima, lion-faced and two-handed, is dated to the 8th century.

Puranic Significance

Location: Udupi district, between Sita River and Kumbha Kashi kshetra, known for several important holy places and Thirta Sarovaras.
Narada Muni’s Visit: Narada Maharshi visited the area where many sages, known as Koota Muni Pungavas, were performing penance.
Divine Event: During Narada’s visit, an unexpected event occurred:
- Earth shook, thunder sounded, animals were scared, and birds circled the sky.
- A strong wind blew, causing the sages to seek Narada’s protection.
- A Divya Vani (Divine Message) was heard, revealing details about Lord Narasimha.
Divya Vani’s Message:
- The Divine Message spoke of an idol of Lord Narasimha, holding Shanka (conch) and Chakra (discus) in both hands, seated in the Yogananda posture, worshiped by Brahma and Lord Shiva.
- The idol was located between Shanka Theertha and Chakra Theertha, in the middle of an Ashwatta (Peepal) tree.
- Narada Maharshi followed the instructions and discovered the idol at the mentioned location.
Saligrama:
- The place, where the Saligrama idol of Lord Narasimha was found, is known as Saligrama.
- Worshipping this Saligrama idol helps devotees fulfill their desires.
- Taking a holy dip in Chakra Theertha eliminates diseases and the fear of enemies.
- A dip in Shanka Theertha purifies one of all sins.
- A holy dip in both the Theerthas and worshipping Narasimha leads to prosperity.
Nirvairya Sthala:
- Bhattacharya named the place Nirvairya Sthala (“Enemy-less Abode”) after seeing elephants and lions living peacefully together—an experience he had during meditation.
- This peaceful coexistence symbolizes the absence of enmity, represented by:
  - Lord Ganapathi as the elephant.
  - Lord Narasimha as the lion.
Lord Narasimha’s Idol:
- The idol of Narasimha faces west and holds the Chakra in the right hand and the Shankha in the left hand.

Importance of Theerthas

Chakra Theertha: Taking a dip in this theertha rids one of all diseases and fear of enemies.
Shanka Theertha: A dip in this theertha purifies one from all sins.
Both Theerthas: Taking a dip in both Shanka and Chakra Theertha and worshipping Guru Narasimha leads to prosperity.

Other Deities at Guru Narasimha Temple, Saligrama

Sri Anjaneya Swamy: Located facing the Narasimha idol, Anjaneya’s idol is installed in the recently renovated granite stone temple.
Sri Maha Ganapathi: A Ganapathi idol is installed at the northern side (North West) of the temple and is worshipped daily.
Goddess Durga Parameshwari: Durga Parameshwari’s idol is installed at the southern side (South West) and is worshipped daily.

Special Features

The ‘Sri Saligrama Kshetra Mahatmyam’ of the Pushkara khanda of the Padma Purana, the Sahyadri khanda of the Skanda Purana and the Lokadityapaddati provide the details of the significance of this temple.

According to the Padma Purana, the deity of Guru Narasimha appeared at the bottom of a pipal tree holding Shankha(conch) and Chakra(disc) in its hands. Narada muni who had heard this through an akashavani (celestial message) installed the deity of Guru Narasimha. The akashavani described the deity as ‘Yogananda Nrusimhakyam’.
According to the Sahyadri khanda of the Skanda Purana, Lokaditya, the son of Mayura Varma of the Kadamba Dynasty came along with his army and a group of Brahmins headed by a great man called Bhattacharya. The priests performed mahayagas like Poundra, Atiratra etc. on the request of the king. The blessings of Mahaganapati had been invoked at the start of the yagnas. Ganapathi appeared in the dreams of Bhattacharya with 10 hands and told him to re-install the deity of Lord Yogananda Narasimha and from henceforth Narasimha himself shall be the Guru and god for the Brahmins of the 14 villages surrounding the temple. To this day, the Brahmins of these 14 villages, known as Kota Brahmins follow Guru Narasimha as their sole Guru.
The Deity of Guru Narasimha is entirely made of the sacred Saligrama stone. The Deity itself was never carved by anyone, but is “Swayambhu”. The name of the place “Saligrama” owns to this legend.
The Deity has a Shankha(conch) in one hand and a Chakra(disc) in another. It is seated in a yogic posture attributing to the name “Yogananda Guru Narasimha”.
The Deity is seated on a Mahaganapati yantra. The reason for this is that, Bhattacharya witnessed that in this place lions and elephants lived in harmony, which is quite contradictory to their nature. As a result, he called this place as “Nirvairya sthala” meaning “the place of no enmity”.
The Deity faces west and 2 ponds are located on either sides of its hands, namely, the Shanka Teertha and the Chakra Teertha.
There is a crack in the top portion of the Deity. The story behind this is that-

Earlier, the deity of Guru Narasimha was facing east. Because of the “Ugra” nature of Narasimha, the crops facing the direction of the eyesight of the deity used to get burned to ashes. An angry Brahmin once struck the Lord with a plough, and hence a scar was formed on the deity. It is deemed that the person who struck the deity faced a lot of problems later on in his life. Several citations from the Shilpa Shastra can be used to prove that the deity was once facing east.