Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple

After Ramanujacharya was made the rajguru of Hoysala Empire, Lord Vishnu in a dream ordered Ramanuja to move to Melkote, where he would find the holy earth. Traditional accounts mention that the reason for travel was to search for namam clay for Srivaishnava Urdhva Pundra which was abundant in Melkote. Upon traveling, he found the holy earth and a vigraha of the god which was installed as the deity Tirunarayana of Melkote in the Bahudhanya year (1099 CE)[3] Pushyamasa Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi, the deity was installed according to Pancharatra agama. Ramanuja worshipped it for three days, followed by kumbhabhishekham and recited tamil vedas. Vishnuvardhana sanctioned 5000 Gadyanas for the construction of the temple which was completed in 1104 CE.[3] Subsequently, the Yadugiri Yathiraja Mutt was established for a sanyasi to live and manage the affairs of the temple.[4]

The temple is lined with carved pillars and features a dome-like top decorated with highly detailed sculptures. The presiding deity is Cheluvanarayana Swamy, also known as Tirunarayana (ತಿರುನಾರಾಯಣ) or Cheluvapille Raya (ಚೆಲುವಪಿಲ್ಲೆ ರಾಯ), a form of Lord Vishnu.[5] Inscriptions indicate that the deity was also known as Ramapriya.[6]

The utsavamurthi (ಉತ್ಸವ ಮೂರ್ತಿ), a metal idol sculpture used for processions and certain religious rituals, represents the deity Cheluvanarayana Swamy. According to the legend, this metallic figure was once lost, but was recovered by Sri Ramanujacharya.[7] The annual report of the Mysore Archaeological Department states that based on the strength of epigraphic evidence, the presiding deity of this temple was already a well-known object of worship even before Sri Ramanujacharya was worshiped at the shrine during the December 1098 CE period. This was also before Sri Ramanujacharya ventured to the Mysore region where he most likely would have used his influence to rebuild or renovate the temple. From the lithic records of the period, the existence of Tamil influence and Vaishnava worship are also evident.

All three crowns are kept in the custody of the government and are brought to the temple on a specific annual occasion to adorn the image of Cheluvanarayana Swamy.[8]

According to legend Ramanujacharya goes to Delhi to retrieve the utsava-murti that had been stolen from the temple. The Delhi Sultan shows Ramanujacharya his treasury of looted statues, however the idol Ramapriya is not among them. The next day Ramanuja finds the idol being played with as a doll by the Sultan's princess. He calls out to the idol "Cheluva pille!" (Beloved son) and the idol comes to him. Ramanuja takes the idol back to Melkote, however the princess follows him, unwilling to part with the idol. The princess becomes one with the idol out of devotion and to this day is honoured as "Bibi Nachiyar".[9]

The legend however is anachronistic as the delhi sultanate was established in the 13th century while Ramanujacharya is believed to have lived in the 11th and 12th centuries. Similar "Tulukka Nachiyar" (Turkish sacred woman) stories are seen for Srirangam and Madurai temples to show how Bhakti transcends socio-religious boundaries.[9]

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  Gopura at the entrance

• Academy of Sanskrit Research

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