Sri Swamiji visits Thirumakoodalu Narasipura
On 15th November 2000, Sri Swamiji visited the historical Thirumakoodalu Narasipura, a sacred and pilgrimage place near Mysore. Located about 90 minutes away from Mysore on the banks of river Cauvery, it is also the place of confluence of River Kapila and Sphatika Sarovara, a under ground water lake with river Cauvery. The small town has a Shiva temple called "AGASTYESHWARA" and a Narasimha Swamy shrine called "Gunja Narasimha". After worshipping in the shrine there Sri Swamiji was aghast to find the appalling conditions of the historical temple. The Flag post was rotten and the rood was leaky and the floor was giving in. Sri Swamiji promised to help in improving the conditions of the temple which was beyond the scope of the villagers of the village.
The Shiva Lingam has a hold in the center of the Lingam where water keeps coming and the same is collected in a small cup and is given as Teertham. There are numerous small shrines of other gods and goddesses in the temple precincts. The legend of the temple is hidden in the traditions of hoary past and is not very clear.
Then Sri Swamiji crossed the river and visited the Gunjam Narasimha Swamiji shrine where the deity of Narasimha Swamy is very famous in the area around. The Lord Narasimha Swamy has a seed in his hand. The legend goes that a washerman had a dream in which Lord Narasimha Swamy came in the dream and ordered him to build a temple for the idol of Narasimha which was to be found in a snake pit. The bewildered washerman queries the God in the same dream as to where the poor man can find so much money needed for the temple building activity. The Lord replies that he would find a pot of gold under the very stone on which the washerman was washing the clothes for the last thirty years. Thus the washerman fulfills his instructions and the temple comes up. The Lord holds a Gula Ganji" in his right hand which denotes that the Thirumakoodalu Shiva Temple (Agastyeshwara temple) is a grain extra sacred than the Shiva temple in the famous town Banares.
Sri Swamiji returned to Mysore the same evening.
Sri Guru Datta
Glimpses of the visit....
Sri Swamiji offers Arati to Agastyeshwara Shiva Lingam
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Sitting in the
Temple courtyard, Sri Swamiji speaks to devotees to improve the conditions
of the deteriorating Gopuram above the Shiva Lingam. The Gopuram can be seen
in the background
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A thoughtful Sri Swamiji wondering about the temple.
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The Shrine of Agastyeshwara and the Gopuram above it.
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The
Kannada board which proclaims "The Shrine of Narasimha Swamy"
which is a grain more sacred than Kashi or Banares.
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Sri Swamiji prays in the shrine 0f Lord Narasimha Swamy.
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Sri Swamiji sits in the courtyard of Narasimha Swamy Temple.
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