Nambi Narayana Temple is located at Thonnoor (Thondanur) near the famous Melukota in Pandavapur Taluk of Mandya District, Karnataka. Thonnur was once the provincial capital of the Hoysalas. This temple is the first and oldest of the Pancha Narayana Kshetra, a group of five Vishnu temples founded by Ramanujacharya. The temple was built in the 11th century by the Hoysala kings and follows the Chola architectural (ಚೋಳರ ವಾಸ್ತುಶಿಲ್ಪ) style.
Nambi Narayana Temple is about 148 km from Bangalore. It is about 36 km from Mandya city and 35 km from Mysore city. Pandavapur is the nearest railway station which is just 13 km away.
The temple is open from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
Magnificent Nambi Narayana idol in “Samashrayana” posture with the God standing 8 feet tall, with Sridevi and Bhudevi in standing posture. All are carved from the same stone. Typically holding a conch in his right hand and a wheel in his left, he holds a mace and a flower in his upper hands. This is against the traditional arrangement in Vishnu temples.
The temple faces east and has two wells on either side of the walkway. A small step well before Garuda pond. The entrance to the temple is in the eastern direction with the mandapam. A pada is installed at the place where Sri Ramanuja used to sit and give sermons next to the mandapam wall.
The Maharanga Mandapam is adorned with 50 pillars and the Patalankan has 40 octagonal pillars. A 45 feet tall garuda pillar with an altar in front of the temple adds to the grandeur of the temple. The special feature of Garudakambha is that when you look at it from outside it seems to be exactly at the top of the temple. When you see it from inside the temple it looks like it is in the middle of the temple. Gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya are at the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum.
Ramanujacharya’s contribution to the history and architecture of this Nambi Narayana Temple is significant. Ramanujacharya fled to Karnataka to escape the persecution of the Chola kings. Sri Ramanujacharya (Vaishnava saint) came to this place from Sriranga and was welcomed by his disciple Nambi. He played an important role in renovating and consecrating this temple. Ramanujacharya’s padukas are situated in Ardhamantapa.
History of Nambi Narayana Temple Thondanur (Keretonnur)
There is a legend about the construction of Vishnu temples during the Hoysala period. The daughter of the Jain king Bittideva was possessed by a ghost when the great saint Ramanjucharya visited this palace. Ramanujacharya prayed to Lord Vishnu and cured his daughter. The king was happy that his daughter was cured and he embraced Vaishnavism and built Vishnu temples at Tannur, Gadag, Talakadu, Melukote and Belur. Sri Ramanuja used to sit in that place and give sermons. At the time of Sri Ramanuja’s visit, the temple was said to be in a dilapidated condition. Sri Ramanuja rebuilt this temple through the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhan along with Nambi of Tondanur.
Apart from Nambi Narayana Temple, Thonnoor is home to two other temples: Gopalakrishna Temple and Yoga Narasimha Temple, both of which are located nearby. Opposite the Nambi Narayana temple is the Venugopalaswamy temple, which is older than this temple and has basadi-like towers and inscriptions. Devotees believe that visiting all the five kshetras of the Pancha Narayana Kshetras will grant them Vaikuntha Moksha.
Pancha Narayana Kshetras are:
- Cheluva Narayana (Thirunarayana) Temple, Melukote
- Kirti Narayan Temple, Talakadu
- Veera Narayana Temple, Gadag
- Soumya Narayana (Chenna Keshav) Temple, Belur
- Nambi Narayana Temple, Thonnur
