Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple

Getting there

• By train

  From Chennai, take the Mysore Kaveri Express to Pandavapura, then a Tumkur-bound bus to Jakkanahalli junction.

• By road

  Melukote is about 48 km from Mysore. From Bangalore it is about two hours by road, about 135 km, via Mandya and Jakkanahalli.

Why devotees come here

Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple stands in Melukote, in Mandya district of Karnataka. It is dedicated to Vishnu as Cheluvanarayana Swamy and is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams of the Vaishnava tradition.

The presiding deity is Cheluvanarayana Swamy, also known as Tirunarayana. Thiru Narayanapuram is one of four famous Swayambu Kshetrams, alongside Srirangam, Kanchipuram and Tirupati. Ramanuja's arrival in the town is commemorated at the Thai Punarvasu festival. A legend says Ramanujacharya went to Delhi to bring back the utsava idol that had been taken there from the temple.

The temple was completed in 1104 CE, after King Vishnuvardhana sanctioned 5000 Gadyanas for its construction. The temple in its current form dates from the 11th century and is linked with Ramanuja. The complex has a square plan, and the image of Cheluvanarayana sits in the sanctum. The temple is lined with carved pillars, and its dome-like top is covered in detailed sculptures.

The Mysore king Wodeyar (1578 to 1617 CE) presented the Rajamudi, a crown studded with stones, to the temple.

Festivals

• KarthigaiRaja Mudi Brahmotsavam

  The Ashta Theertotsavam is held during this festival.

• Date not given; ask the templeVaira Mudi utsavam

  The diamond crown is placed on Selva Pillai. Reports say thousands of devotees came from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Tips for your visit

• The temple is on the banks of the Cauvery, and Srirangapatna lies about 35 km to the south.
• By Shatabdi express to Mysore, the last stretch to the temple is by road via Srirangapatna and Pandavapura.

Questions people ask