Muktinath – The Temple

Muktinath – The Temple

The central shrine of Sri Muktinath is considered by Hindu Vaishnavas to be one of the eight most-sacred shrines, known as Swayam Vyatka Kshetras; the other seven being Srirangam, Srimushnam, Tirupati, Naimisaranya, Thothadri, Pushkar and Badrinath. The temple is very small. Muktinath is one of the most ancient Hindu temples of God Vishnu. Presiding Deity is called as Mukti Narayana / Sree Moorthy.

The Idol of Mukti Narayana is of gold and is tall enough to compare with a man. He is in standing posture and is facing north. Mother is called as Sridevi. In addition to Mukti Narayana, the temple has bronze images of Bhoodevi (the Earth-goddess form of Lakshmi), the goddesses Saraswathi and Janaki (Sita), Garuda (the mount of Vishnu), Lava-Kusa (the sons of Rama and Sita) and the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages created by Lord Brahma).

Behind the Temple, the prakaram (outer courtyard) has 108 bull faces through which water is poured and are separated by approximately one foot. Water from the ice-cold Kali Gantaki River has been diverted to flow through the mouths of these bulls. The sacred water that flows in 108 pipes around the temple complex denotes all the sacred Pushkarini waters (Temple Tanks) from all the 108 Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams, where the devotees take their sacred bath even in freezing temperatures.

Theertham associated with this Temple is Chakra Theertham and Kandaki River. Vimanam over the sanctum is called as Kanaka Vimanam. The worship is conducted by Buddhists, with a Buddhist monk present. A local nun manages the pujas (prayer rituals) in the temple. Pilgrims who go there are expected to offer a prasad (religious offering of food) to the deity.