Located 20kms North of Srirangapatna and just North of the Nambi Narayana Temple is the Yoga Narasimha Perumal temple in Thondanur, one whose idol is believed to have been installed by Prahalada in the Kretha Yuga. Hence, the idol here is said to date back about 5500years. One has to climb about 15steps to reach the temple. This temple is seen as a special Abhimana Sthalam of Ramanuja.
Ramanuja is seen in a one of its kind Sesha Roopam at this temple.
The Magical Dhanda used to liberate Hoysala King Bitta Deva’s daughter can be seen to this day inside the Yoga Narasimha Sannidhi.
Our great Acharya Sri Ramanujacharya took refuge here in the 11th Century when he fled from the evil King, Krimikanta Raja. It is from here that Sri Yathiraja continued propagating Sri Vishista Advaitha Siddantha. This place is very close to Melkote (Thirunarayanapura), where Lord Sri Thirunarayana (one of the Pancha Narayanas) was reinstalled and worshipped by Sri Ramanuja himself. The other four Narayanas established by Sri Ramanuja are Sri Nambi Narayana at Thondanur, Sri Keerthi Narayana at Talakadu, Sri Vijayanarayana (Chenna Keshava) at Belur and Sri Veera Narayana at Gadag – all in Karnataka. Sri Nambi Narayana is adorning Chakra and Shanka in the left and right hands opposite to the normal right and left hands. This is to show that he is in MUDRADHARANA posture to initiate people to the SRIVAISHNAVA family.He was said to have done Samasryanam to Thondanur Nambigal. Thondanur Nambi is one of the Great Acharya who offered shelter to our Ramanujacharya.
After his exile from Srirangam, Ramanuja came first, here to Thondanur, before proceeding to Melkote.
Here at Thondanur, Ramanuja’s disciple Thondanur Nambi, who also built the famous Thonnur kere (the huge dam North of this temple) brought the Hoysala King Bitta Deva and his daughter to Ramanuja.
The King’s daughter had been afflicted with Brahma Rakshasha and was not in a proper state of mind. Ramanuja directed the king to take his daughter to the huge Eri (Sarovar) known as ‘Pancha Apsara Thataka’. He asked the king’s daughter to bathe there and then invoke the blessings of Yoga Narasimha at the temple South of the dam. At the temple, the Archaka placed the Narasimha Dhanda on the daughter and to the king’s surprise she was instantly liberated from the illness. To this day, one sees Yoga Narasimha holding this magical Dhanda/Scepter in his right hand. The archakar places the dhastamam/dhanda on the visitors head.
Belief is that Lord Yoga Narasimha fulfills all the prayers of the devotees here at this temple. Once fulfilled, the devotees present a Veshti (Dhoti) to Yoga Narasimha and an Orange Veshti to Ramanuja at this temple as a thanks giving gesture.
When asked what he wanted, Ramanuja informed the king that he was here to propagate Vishistaadvaitha and that he would like the King to convert to a Vaishnavite. Bitta Deva, much against the wishes of his people, became a Vaishnavite and changed his name to Vishnu Vardhan reasoning out to his people that in this Kali Yuga, Ramanuja was the avathara of Sesha (similar to how Lakshmana was in the Tretha Yuga).
An unhappy lot, the 1000 Jains of Thondanur wanted to confront Ramanuja in a debate. Outside the Yoga Narasimha Temple, after Ramanuja invoked the blessings of the Lord, he was thrown 1000 questions by the people of the kingdom. And in one go Ramanuja hit back at them with 1000 answers much to the delight of the people. Pleased with his answers, the Jains converted to Vaishnavism. It is said that Sri Ramanujacharya addressed a gathering of 1000 sarmans (jain pundits) and answered all their questions simultaneously by taking the form of Adishesha from behind a curtain. The amazed pundits were awe struck by his versatility. This is the Avathar found in the temple.
When the time had come for him to leave for Srirangam, the people of Thondanur, who had become fond of him, asked him to stay back here. He told them that he would have to leave but would leave his powers here and installed his own idol here at Yoga Narasimha temple with Vaikanasa Agama Sastras and is seen even today in the Sarpa Roopa form. While in Melkote, he has an Abhimana status, in Srirangam he is seen in ‘Shareeram’ (body form) and in a Sthoola Roopam (Athma form) at Sriperambadur. Here in Thondanur at the Yoga Narasimha temple on the banks of the Thonnur Kere, Ramanuja is seen in a Sookshma Roopam (Atom) with conch and chakra.
Another interesting feature is here Swamy Ramanujar seated in Padmasana shows Jnana mudhra and does not have Tridandam. (While leaving Srirangam he left the tridandam (holy staff) with Kooratazhwan)
The basket used by Ramanuja in the 12th Century AD is still seen inside the temple.
How to reach: Direct buses from Pandavapura Bus Stand (bus bound for Narayanapura) every one hour. Will take 30 minutes from Pandavapura. Autos are available from Pandavapura to Yoga Narasimha temple. 130 Kms from Bangalore, 30 Kms from Mysore, 8 Kms from Padavapura; 20 kms from Melkote on SriRangapatna highway.
Timings: 09:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Contact: R Raghurama Bhattar @ 08236-251795 ; 9449372453.
Sheshadri Bhattar @ 9741819202 & 08236-215285.
Watch the below video on the temple, explained by Sri U. Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan Swami:
Watch the below video on the temple, explained by Temple Priest:
Ramanuja is seen in a one of its kind Sesha Roopam at this temple.
The Magical Dhanda used to liberate Hoysala King Bitta Deva’s daughter can be seen to this day inside the Yoga Narasimha Sannidhi.
Our great Acharya Sri Ramanujacharya took refuge here in the 11th Century when he fled from the evil King, Krimikanta Raja. It is from here that Sri Yathiraja continued propagating Sri Vishista Advaitha Siddantha. This place is very close to Melkote (Thirunarayanapura), where Lord Sri Thirunarayana (one of the Pancha Narayanas) was reinstalled and worshipped by Sri Ramanuja himself. The other four Narayanas established by Sri Ramanuja are Sri Nambi Narayana at Thondanur, Sri Keerthi Narayana at Talakadu, Sri Vijayanarayana (Chenna Keshava) at Belur and Sri Veera Narayana at Gadag – all in Karnataka. Sri Nambi Narayana is adorning Chakra and Shanka in the left and right hands opposite to the normal right and left hands. This is to show that he is in MUDRADHARANA posture to initiate people to the SRIVAISHNAVA family.He was said to have done Samasryanam to Thondanur Nambigal. Thondanur Nambi is one of the Great Acharya who offered shelter to our Ramanujacharya.
After his exile from Srirangam, Ramanuja came first, here to Thondanur, before proceeding to Melkote.
Here at Thondanur, Ramanuja’s disciple Thondanur Nambi, who also built the famous Thonnur kere (the huge dam North of this temple) brought the Hoysala King Bitta Deva and his daughter to Ramanuja.
The King’s daughter had been afflicted with Brahma Rakshasha and was not in a proper state of mind. Ramanuja directed the king to take his daughter to the huge Eri (Sarovar) known as ‘Pancha Apsara Thataka’. He asked the king’s daughter to bathe there and then invoke the blessings of Yoga Narasimha at the temple South of the dam. At the temple, the Archaka placed the Narasimha Dhanda on the daughter and to the king’s surprise she was instantly liberated from the illness. To this day, one sees Yoga Narasimha holding this magical Dhanda/Scepter in his right hand. The archakar places the dhastamam/dhanda on the visitors head.
Belief is that Lord Yoga Narasimha fulfills all the prayers of the devotees here at this temple. Once fulfilled, the devotees present a Veshti (Dhoti) to Yoga Narasimha and an Orange Veshti to Ramanuja at this temple as a thanks giving gesture.
When asked what he wanted, Ramanuja informed the king that he was here to propagate Vishistaadvaitha and that he would like the King to convert to a Vaishnavite. Bitta Deva, much against the wishes of his people, became a Vaishnavite and changed his name to Vishnu Vardhan reasoning out to his people that in this Kali Yuga, Ramanuja was the avathara of Sesha (similar to how Lakshmana was in the Tretha Yuga).
An unhappy lot, the 1000 Jains of Thondanur wanted to confront Ramanuja in a debate. Outside the Yoga Narasimha Temple, after Ramanuja invoked the blessings of the Lord, he was thrown 1000 questions by the people of the kingdom. And in one go Ramanuja hit back at them with 1000 answers much to the delight of the people. Pleased with his answers, the Jains converted to Vaishnavism. It is said that Sri Ramanujacharya addressed a gathering of 1000 sarmans (jain pundits) and answered all their questions simultaneously by taking the form of Adishesha from behind a curtain. The amazed pundits were awe struck by his versatility. This is the Avathar found in the temple.
When the time had come for him to leave for Srirangam, the people of Thondanur, who had become fond of him, asked him to stay back here. He told them that he would have to leave but would leave his powers here and installed his own idol here at Yoga Narasimha temple with Vaikanasa Agama Sastras and is seen even today in the Sarpa Roopa form. While in Melkote, he has an Abhimana status, in Srirangam he is seen in ‘Shareeram’ (body form) and in a Sthoola Roopam (Athma form) at Sriperambadur. Here in Thondanur at the Yoga Narasimha temple on the banks of the Thonnur Kere, Ramanuja is seen in a Sookshma Roopam (Atom) with conch and chakra.
Another interesting feature is here Swamy Ramanujar seated in Padmasana shows Jnana mudhra and does not have Tridandam. (While leaving Srirangam he left the tridandam (holy staff) with Kooratazhwan)
The basket used by Ramanuja in the 12th Century AD is still seen inside the temple.
How to reach: Direct buses from Pandavapura Bus Stand (bus bound for Narayanapura) every one hour. Will take 30 minutes from Pandavapura. Autos are available from Pandavapura to Yoga Narasimha temple. 130 Kms from Bangalore, 30 Kms from Mysore, 8 Kms from Padavapura; 20 kms from Melkote on SriRangapatna highway.
Timings: 09:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Contact: R Raghurama Bhattar @ 08236-251795 ; 9449372453.
Sheshadri Bhattar @ 9741819202 & 08236-215285.
Watch the below video on the temple, explained by Sri U. Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan Swami:
Watch the below video on the temple, explained by Temple Priest:
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