Melukote Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple is a temple located in Melukote in Mandya district of Karnataka state. The temple is built on rocky hills overlooking the Kaveri valley. This temple is one of the temples in Vaishnava tradition. The magnificent main temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is called Yoganarasimha Swamy and was built by the Wodeyar of the Mysore royal family and is patronized by the kings.
The Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple at Melukote is about 136 km from Bangalore and 52 km from Mysore. Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple is about 38 km from Mandya city and 32 km from Srirangapatna and 22 km from Pandavapur.
The temple is open from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM on Friday and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Dedicated to Yoga Narasimha, Melukote Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple stands on a hill with about 300 steps at an altitude of 1777 meters above sea level.
Melukoteya Yoga Narasimha is a hilltop temple. The temple has an idol of Narasimha in a sitting posture with a yoga mat. Many more temples and ponds are located in this town.
The temple has impressive architecture. The intricate carvings on the pillars and the overall structure of the temple give a glimpse of the architectural style of the earlier era. The top of the temple looks beautiful from a distance due to its height but the full glory of the detailed work of the artisans is visible only when one reaches near the entrance.
The temple is considered to be one of the seven holy centers dedicated to the worship of Lord Narasimha. Apart from the regular pujas held daily, the temple conducts special pujas to celebrate the Narasimha Jayanti festival every year.
The history of the temple dates back to ancient times. The beauty and religious significance of the temple has always attracted common people and royalty alike. It has a beautiful bell donated by Parakala Matt of Mysore.
This temple has several legends. One of the most popular beliefs about the temple is that the idol of Lord Narasimha was installed by Hiranyakasapu’s son Prahlada. It is believed that the temple finds reference in Vedic literature dating back thousands of years.
