Nanjanagud temple of healing

 Nanjanagud.

A place blessed with natural beauty, fertile soil, abundant water and most important over a period of time protected, supported and cared by its cross section religious  rulers is beautiful Nanjangud!  23 kms away and half an hour drive  from Mysore is this temple town about 175 kms away from Bangalore City. Good roads connect this town. Leaving bright and early is a good idea to beat the traffic.

Nanjangud is well connected by rail, road and air. Metagali, the Mysore’s seasonal airport too is close by. Sky Diving happens at this quiet airport of late! Dassera sees a lot of joyride flights, para sailing and other aero-sports for the benefit of tourists and local population.

It’s surprising to see a long lasting Shivite temple in this region surrounded by Vishnavite temples all around the region. 

Here Lord Shiva is known as ‘Srikanteshwara’ or ‘Nanjundeshwara’ – the God who drank poison during the battle for ‘Ambrosia’ – the nectar of eternal life with the churning of the oceans between the Gods and the dark forces. The poison comes before the nectar and Lord Shiva volunteer’s to drink it to save the Gods from this plight. The poison dries in his throat when his wife  Goddess Parvati holds on to his throat tight not allowing it to flow down his gullet! His throat turns blue and hence his name ‘Neelakant!’. ‘Nanju’ also means poison and ‘Nanjundeshwara’ means the ‘God who drank the poison’. Lord Shiva is also called ‘Vishakanta’. . .  or ‘Srikanta’ – one who cures all diseases.

Lord Shiva’s temple was initially built during the ‘Ganga’ period in 9th century. Cholas improved the temple complex during their rule in the 11 & 12 century. Additional structures were added by the Hoysala – Vijayanagar Kings. It was only the Mysore Wodeyar Kings who contributed the full scale development. 

This temple has a 7 tier beautiful gopura welcoming it’s devotees at the main entrance. One can see Hindu Mythology idols in graceful display on this giant edifice. 

The main temple is situated in a 50,000 sq feet huge courtyard amongst a stone pillared hall. Vijayanagar Kings, Mysore Kings – Wodeyars patronized this temple. Even the Muslim Kings of Srirangapatna, Hyderali and Tipu Sultan encouraged and supported this temple. 

The story goes that Tipu Sultan’s favourite elephant turned blind in one eye, Tipu Sultan prayed and made a vow at this temple for it’s healing. Miraculously the elephant recovered it’s sight and the elated Tipu Sultan presented a Emerald Shiva Linga and an Emerald Necklace to this temple. . . even to this day these lie in the temple premises. Tipu Sultan used to refer to this deity as ‘Hakim Nanjanguda’. One can find a stone tablet dated 1517  inscribed in Kannada from the King Krishnadevaraya’s father-in-law. Chief Ministers of the State, local leaders and politicians adore and support this 1700 year old temple which lies on the banks of the river Kapila or Kabini as it’s called – a tributary of River Cauvery, the lifeline river of Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Kapila takes its birth in the the Wynad region of Kerala. 

A lot of pilgrims visit this temple after a ritualistic bath at this river. A few tonsure their hair in reverence.
‘Dodda Jathre’ or the chariot festival -a 10 day festival in the month of November sees 5 chariots being pulled by devotees in reverence. In the month of July ‘Girija Kalyana’ is a big festive momentous event. Mondays, Full Moon & New Moon days are auspicious days too where special poojas are conducted. The temple is open to devotees from 6 am to 1pm and then after a short break it opens it’s doors again from 4 pm to 8:30 pm.

A mammoth Lord Shiva’s statute welcomes you when you enter the temple campus. One can see idols of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya, Lord Chandrashekaramurthi, Goddess Chandikeshava,  Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Satyanarayana in the temple complex. They all are small shrines of worship. It also has the planetary ‘Navagraha’ shrine too. The temple complex has 122 idols and a noted fact is on display is 32 forms of Lord Ganapathi.   Around the temple and the banks of the river Kapila one can find numerous temples of worship and Religious Mutts of Saint Raghavendra & Veerashaiva Mutt. Nanjangud Temple complex is a protected monument and a ‘plastic free zone’.

Do visit this temple for a divine experience or to pray for someone dear to you who’s ill. A bath in the river is sure to cure you of the ailments as the river and the soil around it has medicinal value