Thondanur Sri Nambinarayana Perumal Temple, Karnataka

Address

Thondanur Sri Nambinarayana Perumal Temple, Thondanur, Pandavapura, Mandya, Karnataka 571434

Diety

Nambi Narayana Perumal Amman: Aravindha Nayaki

Introduction

Nambi Narayana Temple of Thonnur or Tondanuru near the famous Melukote is the first and the oldest of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams. Thonnur was a provincial capital of the Hoysalas and is on the southern slopes of a small hillock locally called Yadugiri. This is one of the Pancha Narayana temples and is now referred to as Thonnur. Ramanuja built new mandapas outside the sanctum and renovated and consecrated the temple. The architecture design came from the Chozhas. The temple was built by Hoysala Kings (11th century). There is no Raja Gopuram at the entrance as was the style of the Hoysalas. But the entire inner prakara and the outside walls have a strong Granite base structure and have a solid look to this day. This is one of the three temples in Thonnur, the other two being Gopalakrishnan temple (opposite the Nambi Narayana temple) and Yoga Narasimha temple.

Puranic Significance

At the end of the Dwapara Yuga, in the Sura Sura war, Indra was afflicted with Brahmma Hathi Dosham. To liberate himself from this, he undertook penance and invoked the blessings for Lord Vishnu. He was directed to install 5 Narayana Idols in this region to liberate himself from his dosham. Thondanur is the first and the oldest of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams. The others in this region being – Cheluva Narayana at Melkote, Keerthi Narayana at Thalakkad, Veera Narayana at Gadag and Sowmya Narayana at Belur. To the right of Narayanaswamy, there is an image of Lakshmi. Gadha (Mace) and Padma are found on the upper hands. Sridevi and Bhudevi flank the nine-foot high main deity on the right and left sides respectively. The images of Narayanaswamy, Sridevi and Bhudevi are carved out of a single stone. In Navaranga, among other pillars, four are in soft stone. The remaining is in granite. Ornate designs of flowers and beads are carved on these pillars. According to experts, the four similar soft stone pillars were forerunners to the pillars found in Belur and Halebeedu temples. The images of astadikpaalakaas are also found here. The Ardhamantapa has the padukaas of Ramanujacharya. The Vimana of the shrine is in Dravidian style and built of mortar. Fifty pillars adorn the Maharanga Mantapa. The Paataalankana has 40 octagonal-faced pillars. 45 feet high Garudagamba lies in front of this shrine. Some scholars are of the opinion that the Paataalankana and the Maharangamantapa are subsequent additions. The Venugopalaswamy Shrine, located opposite to the Nambi Narayanaswamy Temple, has a basadi-like Gopuram. The temple has a Shukanaasi, a Navaranga, a Mukhamantapa and a Garbha Griha. Parthasarathy is the main deity here. Sridevi and Bhudevi idols are found to the left and right of the main image. There are Tamil and Kannada inscriptions in the Mukhamantapa. An idol of Aravinda Nayaki lies in the second praakara with lotuses in two upper arms. The other two, show abhaya and varada mudras. In front of this idol lies the Kalyana Mantapa, where Kalyanotsava is held. A big pillar, used for swinging idols during important occasions, is seen outside the temple. Historians opine that this shrine is older than the Nambi Narayanaswamy Temple. It is also said that four generals carried out extension work in this temple. Mandya district has many temples built in Hoysala style. But shrines in Thonnur are special, as they are built in Chola style.

Special Features

The deity is 18 feet tall and appears majestically holding the conch in the right hand and the discus in the left. The idol of Sri Ramanuja, as Adisesha is in the Lord Narasimha temple. Lord Nambi Narayana Perumal is holding conch and discuss in His right and left hands, while it is vice versa traditionally in Perumal temples. Pancha Narayana Kshetrams: As per legend, Ramanujacharya moved to Karnataka to escape persecution from the Chola King. During his journey to Karnataka, he established five Vishnu temples known as Pancha Narayana Kshetrams. Thondanur is the first and the oldest of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams. Belief is that one will attain Vaikunta Moksham if he visited the Pancha Narayana Kshetram.