MELUKOTE, a serene & divine destination
Melukote, a serene, divine destination in Mandya District of Karnataka is worth a visit, for the various Srivaishnavite temples that surround it. Also called Thirunarayanapuram (named after the main deity Cheuvanarayana), it houses the astounding Cheluvanarayana temple, besides the Yoga Narasimhar temple atop a rocky hill around 500 ft above (both Aavataras of one of the Trinities of Hinduism, Lord Vishnu.
It is said that the popular Srivaishnavite saint Ramanujar stayed here for 12 long years in exile, when Chola king forced him to adopt Shaivism putting his life in danger. This is one of the Pancha Narayana khsetrams that Ramanujar established, with the patronage of Bittideva, the Jain ruler of the time who became his staunch supporter and converted to Srivaishnavism.
Other places not to miss here, are
- 2 step-well ponds called Akka-Thangi kola behind the Cheluvanaraya temple.
- Few feet away, is the 2 stone pillared, now discarded Mantap where many film shootings are done often (Tamil film Padeyappa starring Rajnikanth is one to name.
- A big Sanskrit Library with a history of more than a century is also situated here.
- Nambi Narayana temple in Thondanur, few kilometres away (near Pandavapura)
- A local eatery, to taste the Puliyogare & sweet Pongal the place is famous for.
Wodeyars, the erstwhile rulers of Mysore, were the patrons of this temple, who have donated a diamond crown, which adorns the procession idol of the presiding deity during the night-long festival here that comes during March/April each year. Around a lakh devotees throng the place to witness this grandeur.
It is said that the daughter of a Muslim invader from north India, fascinated by the idol of Lord Cheluvaraya, forcibly took it away and subsequently when the locals approached Lord Ramanujar to get the idol back, convinced the invader & his daughter and brought it back. But not willing to part with it, the girl accompanied the idol to Melkote and settled here. In fact, one can find her statue in an enclosure within the temple premises, called Nachiyar sannadhi. There is also a belief that the local backward community people were not allowed entry inside the temple of Cheluvanarayana as was the custom prevailing then, but as they helped Ramanujar in many ways, the saint got them entry on a specified day of each year.
How to reach: Melukote is around 51 kms from Mysuru and 133 kms from the state capital Bengaluru. Can be reached by road easily, as KSRTC buses ply frequently from Mysore and the nearby district headquarter Mandya. Nearby railway station is Pandavapura, (27 kms). Nearst Airport Is Bengaluru.
N.DEVARAJAN, Mysore