Did you know that the Yoga Narasimha Temple in Mudigere, Karnataka has the unique vigraha of Lord Narasimha with 'Nine' faces, which are said to be very distinctly visible during the abhisheka only?
The Yoga Narasimha Temple located in Mudigere village, Dudda Taluk in Hassan District of Karnataka has the main deity Lord Yoga Narasimha (the Man-Lion avatar of Lord Vishnu) with 'Nine' faces, which are stated to be very distinctly visible during the abhisheka only. The temple also has an exlcusive shrine dedciated to Lakshmi Varaha Swamy which helped to stop the fierce and ferocious destrcitve nature of the main vigraha of Ugra Yoga Narasimha.
The temple has history dated to 850 - 900 AD to the Hoyasala period, believed to have been built by the legendary architect (sthapathi) Jakanachari. The temple is constructed in Hoysala Style architecture with their hallmark of finely lathe turned pillars.
It is said that when the deity of Yoga Narasimha was initially installed in the sanctum sanctorum it was in such a ferociuos or ugra form that dry husk placed at the entrance to the sanctum would burn to ashes in front of it. It is also said that the wooden dwajastamba which was installed in the temple was also burned to ashes. This fiery effect was contained only when the Vigraha (Idol) of Sri Lakshmi Varaha Swamy was installed in an exlsuive shrine in the same temple. It is of interest to note that the door of the Sri Lakshmi Varaha Swamy garbha griha is opened first so that when the door of the Yoga Narasimha swamy temple is opened the sight of the Ugra Narasimha's fiearceness directly falls on Sri Lakshmi Varaha Swamy, and only after that devotees are allowed to see the Moolavar or main idol of the temple.
The temple built in Hoysala architectural style is raised over a jagati or platform of about 10 feet above the ground. The steps up this platform leads to a Mukha Mantapa or Main Hall of the temple and surrounded by a platform. The navaranga hall is supported by 4 huge stone pillars (finely lathe truned chiseled ) which are finely turned. The sukhanasi preceeds the garbha griha and the navaranga. The garba griha (sanctum sanctorum) is deified with the image of Yoga Narasimha in an Ugra form (fierce form). The deity sculpted in a yogasana posture is 7 feet tall.
The temple celebrates, every year, rathotsavam (chariot festival) on the occasion of Sri Chandramana Narasimha Jayanti and Sri Souramana Narasimha Jayanti. The Thirimajjana seva (sacred bath of the deity) or Abhishekam followed by the 'Manjekaapu' seva or the turmeric alankaram (decoration of the deity) performed on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, is a special event.
Narasipur Char
