Temple Visits of Parantharami Mani

Vittala Temple  Hampi ================       Vittala Temple is the largest and most famous structure of Hampi situated on the banks of Tungabadra River. The temple was built during the reign of Devnaraya II ( 1422-1446) of the Vijayanagar kingdom. The Vijayanagar kingdom was established in the year 1336 by Harihara and Bukka to stop the onslaught of Delhi sultanates . Had it not been there south India would have been like Bangladesh now.       Several portions of the Temple were expanded during the reign of Krishnadevaraya  (1509-1529).  The temple also known as Vijaya Vittala temple is dedicated to Lord Vittala an incarnation of Vishnu. The temple exemplifies the creativity and architectural excellence possessed by the sculptors of that era showing the pinnacle South Indian temple architecture. The Ranga Mandapam of the temple is rich in artistic beauty with musical Pillars.  There are three towering gateways and unfortunately all the t...

      Mata Vaishnavi Devi Temple, Gulbarga. This temple built on artificial concrete rocks is situated on the outskirts of Gulbarga (Kalaburagi)  city. The sanctum here is a replica of the cave at Vaishnavi Devi, Jammu. You have to climb 125 steps to reach the top. There is a lift for those who cannot climb for a payment.

 Kalyana Varadaraja  Perumal temple,  Kaladipet.     Had the chance to visit the temple today. The temple is situated in Kaladipet near Thiruvotriyur. It is five minutes walking distance from Kaladipet Metro station. There is a story behind the origin of this temple. In the 18th century there was a President/ Governor of  East India Company by name  Joseph Collett at Madras   between 1717-1720. He developed a weavers  colony near Thiruvotriyur  which was called Collettpet.  It had a population of 489 people inhabiting 105 houses. Over a period  of centuries it became  Kaladipet.        Collett had an Assistant by name Veeraraghava  who used to visit Kancheepuram Varadaraja Perumal temple  at least twice a week. This affected  his official work and Collett  was unhappy. So he gave  a grant to him to build  a temple  for Varadaraja in Collettpet. Veeraragh...

      This temple is situated at Begur near electronic city on the southern suburbs of Bangalore . It is more than 1200 years old constructed during the reign of Ganga king Ereganga Neetimarga ( 843-870).  The temple was expanded extensively during the Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara dynasty. An old kannada inscription dated 890 AD mentioing about " Bengaluru war" was discovered in this temple complex. It shows the antiquity of the name Bengaluru. This place is pre historic site  with fields containing bone and  pottery remains. The temple  has shrines of five lingas Nageswara, Nagareshwar, Choleswara, Kalikamtèswara and Karaneshwara. It has big Raja gouram on four sides. Amman here is called Parvathi facing south. There is also a granite Deepasthamba facing the sanctum. 

            This temple situated at Melukote in Mandhya District of Karnataka. The temple is situated at a height of 1777 metres from the  sea level  and one has to climb around 350 steps to  reach the temple.  It was constructed during Hoysala rule around  900 years ago.  The presiding  deity  Yoga Narasimha is in a sitting  posture with the  Yogapatta. It is considered  to be one of the seven  holy centres devoted to the worship of Narasimha. The Mysore king Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in early 19th century  had donated a gold crown to the temple. The temple on the hill is visible at a distance from it. There is a beautiful temple tank on the foothills of the temple. 

 Cheluvanarayana Swami Temple, Melukote =============================== Thirunarayanapuram ===============       Visited this temple yesterday in Mandhya District of Karnataka. It is 158 kms away from Bangalore with a fine motorable road. This temple was constructed in the early years of 12th century by Saint Ramanujar of Vaishnavite order. In the 11th century the Chola King Kulottunga I was ruling and there was a great ideological fight between followers of Saivism and Vaishnavism. Kulothunga was a fanatic Saivite and the atrocities committed by him forced Ramanujar to exile in Melukote around 1099 AD when he was in his 82nd year. He along with his thousands of followers migrated to Melukote. He lived in Melkote for 12 years and constructed this temple. The Moolavar here Cheluvanarayana Swamy  was identified by Ramanujar from the bushes of Yadavadri hills. The auspicious day in the month of January ( Makara) is celebrated every year with enthusiasm. The temple ...