Aprameya Swamy Temple-Mallur Channapatna

 

Aprameya Swamy Temple

On my way back from Coorg to Bangalore, Our travel guide suggested to stop over at Sri Aprameya Swamy temple. 

 

Just a short deviation from the highway, stood this amazingly beautiful temple with an entrance covered with pink flowers. It is one of those temples that is popular among the locals but not so famous outside the area. As I have been visiting various temples in India and learning about the history and architecture, I decided to spend some time exploring the beauty.

One of such temple is the Aprameya Swami Temple or Mallur Krishna Temple. Located in Mallur which is 60 kms away from Bangalore and around 3 kms from Channapatna, this village is situated on the banks of river Kanva. This temple is an ideal example of exemplary carvings, sculptures and architecturally excellence. This place is also believed to be a Divya Kshetram meaning a holy place. Many tourists are attracted to this place especially as it’s conveniently situated on the Mysore-Bangalore Highway.

Meaning of Apremeya:

The Deity of Sri Aprameya Swamy is made from Saligrama Shila. ‘Prameya’ means measurable. ‘Apremaya’ means one who is immeasurable. Since the Supreme Lord Narayana cannot be measured by our material senses and the senses of those like Brahma and Shiva, He is known as Aprameya.

History

The temple is said to have its origin in very ancient times, i.e. somewhere around 3000 years ago. One of the very interesting things about this temple is a written document that is preserved till date which specifies that about lighting lamps to Lord Aprameya in the 980 A.Ds. This proves that this temple existed since that long. The expansion and reconstruction was done by Chola King Rajendra Simha.

Structure of Sri Aprameya Swamy temple

The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Sri Aprameya who is a form of Lord Krishna and the idol is made of pure Saligram stone. The posture in which the idol stands is known as the Abhayhastham Mudra, i.e. the two upper arms are holding a chakra(disc) and Shankha (shell) and the two lower arms holding the gadha and Padma(lotus). 

 

One can have darshan of utsavar in the Sukhanasi leading to garbha griha.  Priest showed utsavar.One of the most amazing things about Mallur Krishna Temple is that it does not stand on any solid foundation but rather on sand. Beautifully built in Dravidian architectural style has exceptionally sculpted Vishnu Dashavatars on the walls. The main door of the temple is a magnificent and almost 30 feet tall.

There is a thirty feet tall Deepa Stambha which is made from a single stone. This deepa stambha is almost as tall as the mahadwara and situated right in front of it. Ratha mantapa and the four pillared Purandara Dasa mantapa are in front of the temple.

 

Goddess Mahalakshmi is called as Aravindavalli in Aprameya Swamy Temple because she appeared in a lotus flower in the Vishnu tirtha which is situated at the northwest corner of the temple. The goddess is seated in a lotus in the Padmasana pose in Chaturbhuja form. She holds the lotus flowers in the upper two hands, while the other two hands are in the Varada and Abhaya Mudra giving darshan and blessing the devotees. In the same garbha griha, there are deities of Andal and Vedanta Desikar.

 

Individual temples for Mahalakshmi as Aravindavalli Thayar, Navaneetha Krishna, Vaikuntha Narayana Swamy are within the prakara of the temple. Prakara was reconstructed during the Vijayanagara period.

Lord Sri Ramachandra Prabhu visited Aprameya Swamy Temple

Sri Aprameya Swamy temple is a very ancient temple and popularly known as ‘Dakshina Ayodhya’. Sri Ramachandra Prabhu stayed here for a while and performed various pooja to please Aprameya Swamy including the yajna. Due to which Lord Aprameya is also known as Sri Ramapremaya – the favorite of Lord Rama. Still one can see the remnants of the rites performed by Lord Rama.

Ambegal Krishna/ Navneetha Krishna

In north-west corner of the temple, there is a beautiful and cute Navaneeta Krishna or Ambegalu Krishna. He is holding butter in His right hand and crawling with the support of left hand. In Kannada language Ambegalu means crawling. The Deity was installed by Vyasaraja (aka Vyasatirtha), who was a prominent saint of Dvaita Vedanta When Purandara Dasa visited this temple, he was mesmerized by the beauty of Lord Sri Krishna that the Supreme Lord who is the liberator of the entire creation, is in the form of small boy playing in the lap of Mother Yashoda. Thus Purandaradasa in appreciation of the beauty of this idol; he authored the world famous Kriti (musical composition or song) "Jagadodharana Adisidale Yashode" was composed in Carnatic music right in front of Navaneeta Krishna.

 

 It is believed that this is one of the rare temples where Krishna is in his baby form. His face defies the beauty of a full moon. His eyes are sparkling and incredible attractive. His curly hair is very thick and glamous. Many ornaments such as necklaces, waist belt and jewels adorn His charming body. Out of parental affection, the pujaris in temple make Him wear tiger’s nails to avoid an evil eye on the Lord.

According to locals, any childless couple who prays to baby Krishna will soon be blessed with baby. And after the child is born, the couple visits the temple again and thank the lord by hanging a silver or wooden cradle in the sanctum.

My painting of Navaneetha Krishana: 

I am great devotee of Lord Krishna. WhenI thought of Painting Bala Krishna I took this Image from Google

 

In feb 2020  I sketched krishna and Painted.But that time I never knew I will Visit this temple. When I saw Krishna I had goosebumps and my eye filled with tears. His eyes mesmerized me.I feel  Blessed.

 

Krishna symbolizes truth, devotion, love and joy. While doing artwork it imparts peace, spirituality and serenity upon its immediate surroundings. Hope you all will like this painting for their flawlessness, exquisite finish and their attractive looks and colorful pattern

Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple is open throughout the year every day from Morning 06:00 AM to 1:30 PM and Evening from 5:00 Pm to 8:30 PM

By Road: Sri Apremaya Swamy Temple is 63 kms from Bengaluru and 80 kms from Mysuru. Road transport can be easily availed. Regular bus services are available from Bengaluru, Mysuru and taxis are also available from Bengaluru & Mysuru.

By Rail: Bengaluru railway station is the nearest railway station. It is well-connected by important towns of India. Another nearest railway station is Channapatna railway station.

 

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna

 

During my visit to Karnataka, I had the privilege of visiting one such temple – Ranganathaswamy Temple Srirangapatna, Karnataka .The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu in the avatar of Ranganatha and thus the town gets its name from here. Located in historic town Srirangapatna. Inside the Srirangapatna Fort, the temple is situated on the banks of Kaveri River. This beautiful ancient temple situated about 14 km from Mysore, 5 km from Sri Nimishambha Temple, 3.5 km from Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, 18 km from Brindavan Gardens, 36 km from Somanathapura, and 125 km. from Bangalore.It falls in the Mandya district of Karnataka. Earlier it was known as Srirangpuri.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangapatna is considered as one of the five most important and sacred shrines devoted to Lord Vishnu. These sites are called Pancharanga Kshetram and are of very high religious importance. The presiding deity of this temple is the Adi Ranga, or the 'first Ranga'. The temple has a rich history associated with it and is visited by devotees from all over the world. It comes under the Archaeological Survey of India.

 (Idol of Pic taken from  Google Image)

The idol of Lord Ranganatha is seen in a reclining posture over the Sheshanaga. An inscription in the temple premises indicates that the shrine was first sanctified around 984 AD. Innumerable architectural intricacies make the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple an enthralling architectural marvel and must be included on your list of places to visit. The entrance of the temple is grandeur and inspiring. Its Gopuram means very good workmanship in the upper part. To reach the sanctum sanctorum, we had to go through a narrow path made of steel pipes. In the sanctum sanctorum, The main shrine consists of the idol of Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture. The idols sit the coils of the snake Adishesha Naag with seven hoods. There is an idol of Goddess Lakshmi at its feet. 

 

Also, you can see various smaller shrines inside the complex, such as those dedicated to Narasimha, Garuda, Gopalkrishna, and Hanuman. A golden layer statue of Garun Dev is also a centre of attraction here.

History of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

As per one of the inscriptions, which are the oldest inscription on the temple complex Among them the main temple is that of Sri Ranganatha. The inner apartment of SriRanganatha temple was built in 817 A.D by a lady by name Hambi, of the class of dancers in the year 894 A.D. When a king of the Ganga dynasty was the ruler, a person by name Thirumalaraya got constructed the Navaranga mantap and the temple of Lord Thirumala(Srinivasa) at the left side portion of the great Mahadwara. In the year 1117 A.D when Sri Ramanuja came to this part after escaping from the chole country here a join by name Hoysala Bittideva was the ruler, Sri Ramanuja got him converted to a Vaishnava and named him Vishnuvardhana.

Architecture of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

The Temple is also renowned for its fine architecture. Around 1210 AD, King Veera Ballala II of Hoysala Dynasty made some additions and renovations to the temple complex. These have been documented in various inscriptions on the structure. The structure also possesses intricate carvings signifying architecture of Vijayanagara Dynasty and the Mysore Kingdom (Wodeyar Kings).

 

The entrance of the temple has a striking tower and two huge Prakarams which is a very typical structure in Hindu architecture that forms the outer part of the temple, around the sanctum. There is a Mandapa (pavilion) lined by numerous intricately carved pillars that lead to the main shrine. The temple complex also consists of two more halls, one of which is the Mukhamandapa (the front hall) and a Sukhanasi (an Antechamber).

 

Built-in the Dravidian style, this temple is a marvelous specimen of Hoysala and Vijayanagara architecture. The Gorupam of the temple with fort-like walls and intricate carvings impressed me the most. It has 4 pillars with carvings of 24 avatars of Lord Vishnu called Chaturvimashti.

After Sri Jayachamarajendra wodeyar came to the throne these ustavas were being celebrated even up to 1953-54 and on the day of the ustavas that was being done in memory of the mummadi King the Courtiers vidwans and other important persons of the Palace would attend the celebrations.

The main festival of this temple is Kotarotsava, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm. In this, Lord Ranganath is adorned well. More and more people come from far and wide to witness this grand event. I feel a wonderful peace and relaxation in the temple

Tips for Visiting Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

1. There is no dress code as such, but it is advisable to follow a conservative dress code.

2. The temple is visited by devotees all through the year, and there are long lines almost every day, but the temple gets extremely crowded during the weekends.

3. Garlands, flowers and other offerings can be bought from the kiosks outside the temple complex.

4. Carry enough water to keep yourself hydrated.

5. Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside the temple complex.

6. A decently large area nearby is used as parking space. Visitors can park their vehicles at minimal charges.

o reach here, you can take help of rail, road and air routes.

There are some small shops nearby where you can buy statues and a memento as a remembrance. Be careful not to negotiate.

Visitation time at the temple from 8 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm.

There is a lack of places to eat and drink around, so take some food and water.