SREE SRIKANTEESWARA (NANJUNDESHWARA), NANJANGUD

SREE  SRIKANTEESWARA (NANJUNDESHWARA), NANJANGUD

Nanjangud is at about 23 kms from Mysore and lot of buses ply to Nanjangud from Mysore, it takes about 45 minutes.   Nanjangud is along the Kabila river bank and main highway separates the river and the temple.   The river snana here is considered very auspicious and the temple authorities have made enough arrangements for taking bath here.  One had to be careful about the steps leading to the river as they are of steeper and are uneven.  In fact the temple is about 300 metres from the main road and has enough shops who sell flowers, vilva leaves, garlands etc.,  and also has enough parking place in front of the temple.  On the day, when I had darshan at this temple on 10 05 2019, thazhamphoo(?) also was being sold.  If it is for deities other than Lord Siva, it is OK.  Someone who knew more on this temple can explain. Normally thazhamboo is not offered in Siva temples. Or it is for the Ambal?  I was in the temple late in the evening and could not verify too on the matter.

                                                     Nanjundeshwarar

Entrance Gopuram, Nanjangud

                                                                Kapila River

This is one of the biggest temples in Karnataka spead over 50000 Sq feet (385ftx160ft).   The temple has an imposing 120 ft main Gopuram with 7 tiers and also having 7 golden Kalasas.   The main deity faces northeast and it is said that  Parashurama who came to the place after he killed his mother as per his father's orders, wanted to clear his sin here.  When he was clearing a bush, there was a sound and a linga was found here and it was bleeding.  Parashurama installed the linga here.  The speciality of this temple is that there is daily annabhishekam unlike other temples which do on the tamil month Aipasi Pournami day.  It is also believed that Sage Gauthama does the pooja here in the noons of the day.

There is a story of a demon named Kesiyan who gave trouble to devas and they complained to Lord Siva about that.  Siva informed the Devas to do a Yaga in the Sagam of the rivers Kabila, Koundini and Manikarnigai and when the asura comes, to push him the agni of the yagna.  When Devas carried as told by Lord, he appeared in the yagna fire and destroyed the demon.   As requested by the Devas, he stayed there and thus the temple.

In the Dakshaprathaban incidence, Lord Siva carried the half burnt body of Parvathi and Sree Prasuthadevi requested the Lord to bring back to life Parvathi and also her husband Dakshan.  The Lord along with Dakshayani gave darshan to Dakshan and Prasuthadevi here.

Deities in the outside Prakaras:
Lord Ganapthy here is known as Prasanna Ganapathy,  Lord Muruga has the serpantine Umbrella and known as Nagasubramanyar.   Goddess Sharadambal (Saraswathi) is on the northwest corner.  Ambal Parvathi has a separate sannidhi and is after the sannidhis of Lord Vishnu with Bhoodevi and Sridevi and a small anjaneya.  Tippu Sultan prayed for one of his elephants here, as the elephant lost the vision and when t he elephant, got back the vision he donated a maragada (Emeralad) lingam to this temple.  The navagrahas are with weapons in this temple.
                                                             Saradamabal

Nagasubramanyar

Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhoodevi

Veerabahdarar

Board at the entrance to temple:

Rathostava here is famous with the no. of chariots meant for the purpose. (from temple website)

1	Maha Shivarathri	These are the main festivals celebrated along with other festivals dedicated to lord Sri Srikanteshwara. Exact dates depend on respective Nakshatra & thithi. Doddajathre (Big fest) in which 5 Chariots are pulled by the devaotees in the main street of the old town, is celebrated in the month of march / april & on this day thousands of devotees come to Nanjangud for the festival. Devotees pull 5 chariots during this day & some of the devotees also do Jagarana on this night as on the night of Mahashivrathri. The 5 chariots are dedicated to Ganesh, Sri Srikanteshwara, Parvathi,Subramanya & Chandikeshwara. They carry their respective idols. Chikkajathre (Small fest) is celebrated usually in November / December month during this day 3 chariots are pulled by the devotees. A procession of 11 small chariots will take place on Sri Srikanteshwara jayanthi. Chariot with idol of Lord subramanya is pulled by the devotees on the day of Skandha (Subramanya) Shashti. Girija kalyana will be celebrated during Ashadamasa. Lakshadeepotsava will be celebrated during Kartheekamasa.
2	Sri girija kalyana
3	Chikkajathre
4	Doddajathre
5	Thepotsava
6	Varadhanti
7	Lakshadeepotsava

E- Mail Address : sstnanjangud@gmail.com

Executive Officer :
Sri Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple,
Nanjangud – 571 301.
Mysore District.

Code : 08221
Executive Officer : 223320
Office : 226245
Dormitory : 226542