Nambi Narayana Temple the first Oancha Narayana Temple @ Thondanoor Mandya Karnataka @ Tonnur Kere

Nambi Narayana Temple Thondanur Pandavapura Srirangapatana Tourism Mandya tourism Melukote tourism Mysore tourism Karnataka Tourism. Tonnur is the first and the oldest of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams. Thonnur also known as KERE THONNUR thondanur or Tondanuru is near the famous Melukote. Nambi Narayana temple is just 35 kms from Mysore and 155 kms from Bangalore.Time: 9:30 am-5:30 pm. Contact : Srinivas Iyyer @ 9741819202 Nambi Narayana temple was renovated by Ramanuja during his exile from Srirangam, the idol and the sanctum is said to be over 5500years old and dates back to the Dwapara Yuga. Ramanuja built new mandapas outside the sanctum and renovated and consecrated the temple. At the end of the Dwapara Yuga, in the Sura Sura war, Indra was afflicted with Brahmma Hathi Dosham. To liberate himself from this, he undertook penance and invoked the blessings for Lord Vishnu. He was directed to install 5 Narayana Idols in this region to liberate himself from his dosham. Thondanur is the first and the oldest of the Pancha Narayana Kshetrams. The others in this region being – Cheluva Narayana at Melkote, Keerthi Narayana at Thalakkadu, Veera Narayana at Gadag and Sowmya Narayana at Belur. Belief is that one will attain Vaikunta Moksham if he visited the Pancha Narayana Kshetram. Centuries ago, this place was referred to as Yadava Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam. Inscriptions refer to Veera Narasimha, the Hoysala ruler leading his kingdom with Dorasamudram as his capital and granting 64 gadayaanas to the people of Thondanur Agrahara for undertaking any repairs to the temple. The great Vaishnava Seer Ramanujacharya sought asylum in Thonnur at the residence of one of his disciples Thondanur Nambi, who received Ramanuja with all respects. The Jain ruler Bittideva’s daughter was possessed of ghost and none could cure her from the troubling ghost. Then Thondanur Nambi visited the palace and told the king that Ramanuja would drive out the ghost and Ramanuja succeeded in relieving the daughter from the evil spirit. The Hoysala dynasty king Bittideva, was attracted by Ramanujacharya's teachings and embraced Vaishnavism to become his follower. Ramanuja renamed the king as ‘Vishnuvardhana’. Because of Ramanuja’s stay, Thonnur virtually became the second capital of Hoysalas in those days. Legend has it that the temple of Nambi Narayanaswamy got this name as Lord Narayana graced Nambi, a disciple.This temple was constructed in the 12 th century AD during the regime of Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the Cholas at Talakadu. According to an inscription, Suragi Nagaiah, one of the generals of King Vishnuvardhana, built this shrine. The temple has a Navaranga, a Maharanga Mantapa, an Ardha Mantapa, a Shukanaasi, a Garbha Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum) and a big Paataalankana. Fifty pillars adorn the Maharanga Mantapa. The Paataalankana has 40 octagonal-faced pillars. 45 feet high Garudagamba lies in front of this shrine. Nambinarayana Temple specialty of the temple is that lord Nambi narayana holing a conch and disc in his right and left hand while it’s vice versa traditionally in Perumal temples. The temple under ASI Achelogical survey of India. One can see the peeta (chair) of Sri Ramanuja in the mandapam enroute to Garba griham. Sri Ramanuja along with his disciples can be seen next to his peetam. Google Map location: https://goo.gl/maps/ZZJppN5UpN1hrYah9