Description

Devarayanadurga Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is located on the hill station Devarayana durga. It is a hill station which is covered by Rocky Mountains and at an attitude of 3940 feet in the state of Karnataka. The closest town to the hill station is Tumkur and is just 65 kms away from Bangalore. There are two beautiful springs Ane done and Jaya Tirtha which unite at the foot of the Irukasandra hill. There are two caves which have Mythological figures of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana engraved.The temple has been built artistically in the Dravidian style and the temple faces the east direction i.e. the direction of sun-rise. The temple was constructed by King Kanthirava of Mysore in Karnataka. This region of Tumkur is quite famous amongst the tourists due to the historic temple and also the nursery developed here at the region nearby the temple. There are more than 300 types of medicinal herbs and ayurvedic plants here at the nursery. The nursery has been developed as a step to conserve the endangered plants and herbs.

History

Importance/Significance

Facts/Mythology

Here at the Narasimha Swamy Temple, Lord Vishnu's reincarnated form � Narasimha Swaroop is idolized and prayed. Lord Narasimha came to earth to save his true devotee Prahlad from his demon father Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu was trying to kill his son Prahlad and it was then that Prahlad started chanting Lord Vishnu's name and Narasimha lord appeared and killed Hiranyakashipu (this lord is said to have half body of lion and half human)

Festivals/Events/Gatherings

There is a Car Festival that is organized every year at Devarayanadurga Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. It is also known as Jatre- which means a fair. This fair or Car festival is organized during the month of March or April during the full moon day. During this car festival the chariot of the god Narasimhaswamy is taken for ride on the streets of the hills and the chariot is decorated heavily with gold ornaments and flowers. Many devotees in and around Bangalore come to witness this car festival.Narasimha Jayanthi-Narasimha Jayanti is celebrated as the birth day of Narsimha Avtara i.e. reincarnation of Hindu God Vishnu. This celebration takes place every year during the month of May which is the Chaitra month as per the Hindu calendar. This occasion is celebrated on a large scale and it attracts tourists and devotees from all parts of the Karnataka. During this festival delicious eateries like the sweet jiggery drink, buttermilk and other foodstuffs are served freely by the temple.Giri Pradakshine-Giri Pradakshine means circling around the hill which is one of the rituals as per Hindu tradition. Giri Pradakshine is undertaken by many devotees to please the god and also as a gesture of thanks for fulfilling their wishes.