31st July 2023, 11:52
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| BHPian Join Date: May 2022 Location: Chennai
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| Day Trip to Gunja Narasimha Swamy Temple (160 km from Bengaluru) This temple is situated at Thirumakudalu Narasipura, popularly referred as T.Narasipura or T N Pura. It is about 160 kms from Bengaluru, 56 kms from Madduru and 34 kms from Mysuru. So the route from Bengaluru would be exit at Madduru and then via Malavalli to T N Pura. Good to excellent roads throughout. In and around Bharati Nagara we encountered sugarcanes transported by hordes of bullock carts and other means. Chamundeswari Sugar Mills is nearby after all. One of the bullock cart almost T boned us at an inter section. Sthala Puranam A washer man in the area had a dream in which Swamy Narasimha directs him to a place in the Kavery shores where an idol is located. The washer man promptly finds it. As it is huge he is unable to keep the same in his house for an extended period of time. While wondering on future course of action, he gets another dream wherein he is asked to build a shrine for the idol. While claiming lack of funds for the same he is also directed to dig up the place where he washes the clothes daily. Lo and behold, he finds a pot of gold there. As a thanks giving the Swamy is ready to bestow a boon to the washer man. As is wont with such humble souls he doesn’t ask for any material riches, but, rather asks that he wants a holy dip in Kashi so that moksha to his soul is guaranteed. The Swamy in HIS munificence grants him much more. HE says that no need to go all the way to Kashi, but here itself in the Kavery basin, he would get the same benefits, in fact an iota more (kundu mani, in local lingo). For the un initiated, kundu mani or kundri mani is a pea sized rosary bead and has lot of spiritual significance. The Swamy in the sanctum here can be found to have these beads in HIS right hand. The Place This happens to be the meeting place for three rivers namely, Kavery, Kapila (Kabini ?) and Spatika, which is “antar vahini”. The confluence spot is marked by a Nandi that is in a worn-out state.   The main shrine here is the Gunja Narasimha Swamy temple. On the day we were here, despite being a weekend and Ekadashi it was not crowded. There was a steady stream of visitors. The darshan was peaceful, however.  No eateries or other shops in the periphery, which is good. Basic facilities are existing but non-operational. Parking facility is available. On another shore across there is a temple for Sri Bhiksheshwara (Shiva). A lingam is consecrated here.  Here again formal pujas are not performed. There is no fulltime dedicated priest present. The temple itself is latched from outside, however, any visitor can go up the flight of stairs from the shore, open it and have darshan. If the mind is set right before entering the sanctum one can feel a gush of spiritual energy inside here. This place too looks for better maintenance. In addition, there is also an Agastheswara temple on another shore. This is in a very dilapidated state. The renovation work started but has stopped for now, so it seems. We found some devotees offering pujas and performing havan in the “balalayam” nearby. We also met a group of pilgrims from North India, probably Gujarat or Rajasthan, most of them females, who were offering pujas and prayers here on the shore. Obviously, this place’s folklore has spread far and wide. I was reminded of the saying. Nectar in the lotus is recognized by a bee that is faraway, but not by the frog that lives in the same pond.  A ride on the coracle to all the three places is an awesome experience. One coracle can accommodate 3 to 4 persons. A circular ride costs Rs.500 and is totally worth it. Locals using the place for their daily wash is an eye sore. But look beyond that and one can take in the raw and pristine beauty of the place.   Visit soon before it becomes the go-to place for the true seekers. |
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