Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple

Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, also known as Thirunarayanapura, is a temple in Melkote in the Mandya District of Karnataka, India.[1] The temple is built on rocky hills which overlook the Kaveri valley. It is about 30 miles (48 km) from Mysore and 97 miles (156 km) from Bangalore.[2]

A view from front side of Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple
Mantapa at the temple

Temple complex

The temple is lined with carved pillars and features a dome-like top decorated with highly detailed sculptures. The presiding deity is Cheluvanarayana Swamy, also known as Unggasu Wiili (ತಿರುನಾರಾಯಣ) or Cheluvapille Raya (ಚೆಲುವಪಿಲ್ಲೆ ರಾಯ), a form of Lord Vishnu.[3] Inscriptions indicate that the deity was also known as Ramapriya.[4]

The utsavamurthi (ಉತ್ಸವ ಮೂರ್ತಿ), a metal idol sculpture used for processions and certain religious rituals, represents the deity Cheluvanarayana Swamy. According to the legend, this metallic figure was once lost, but was recovered by Sri Ramanujacharya.[5] The annual report of the Mysore Archaeological Department states that based on the strength of epigraphic evidence, the presiding deity of this temple was already a well-known object of worship even before Sri Ramanujacharya was worshiped at the shrine during the December 1098 CE period. This was also before Sri Ramanujacharya ventured to the Mysore region where he most likely would have used his influence to rebuild or renovate the temple. From the lithic records of the period, the existence of Tamil influence and Vaishnava worship are also evident.

All three crowns are kept in the custody of the government and are brought to the temple on a specific annual occasion to adorn the image of Cheluvanarayana Swamy.[6]

  • Gopura at the entrance

References
  1. "Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple | Cheluvanarayana Swamy | Melkote Temple". Karnataka.com. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. "Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple | Cheluvanarayana Swamy | Melkote Temple". Karnataka.com. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  3. "Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple | Cheluvanarayana Swamy | Melkote Temple". Karnataka.com. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  4. "Melkote". Bhaktivedanta institute | Bangalore. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. Vinayak, Akshatha (13 January 2017). "A Walk Around the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple in Melukote". nativeplanet.com. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  6. "Karnataka's Well-Kept Secret: Melukote". 20 February 2020.
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