Lakshmikantha Swamy Temple, Kalale, Karnataka

Lakshmikantha Swamy Temple, Kalale, Karnataka

Lakshmikantha Swamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Kalale Village in Nanjangud Taluk in Mysore District in the Indian state of Karnataka. Presiding deity is called as Lakshmikantha Swamy and Mother is called as Aravinda Nayaki. The temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

Janamejaya, the builder of this temple:

As per legend, Sage Atri performed penance on Lord Srikantha installed by Lord Brahma in this place. He established his ashram here. Garuda, the mount of Lord Vishnu visited the place and blessed Atri & his son Dattatreya. Later, King Janamejaya of Kuru Kingdom came to this place and saw a beautiful image of Lord Narayana, amid bamboo forest. The king ordered his soldiers to clear the bamboo forest and built a temple for Lord Narayana.

Lakshmikantha:

As per local folklore, a cow belonged to the Kalale royal family used to graze the bamboo forest here. It was noticed that this particular cow emptied its udder at the place where the present temple stands. The royal excavated the place and found the image of Lakshmikantha. Later, the Kalale chief built a temple for enshrining this idol.

History

The temple is believed to be built by Kantha Wodeyar (1505 – 1527 CE), the first ruler of Kalale (Dalavoy). Lakshmikantha Swamy was the royal deity of the Kalale rulers and continues to be patronised by the descendants of the Kalale royal family. The temple was expanded by King Dodda Krishnaraja 1 (1714 – 1732 CE) of Mysore Wodeyar dynasty. Dalavoy Devarajiah of the Kalale family donated the impressive metallic figure of the Hindu god Rama to the temple in the early 18^th century CE. Tipu Sultan (1782 – 1799 CE), the de facto ruler of Mysore gifted four silver cups, silver plate and a silver padiga (spittoon). Kalale was the political and cultural capital of Kalale Dalavoys / Chiefs of Kalale.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with five tiered rajagopuram. Dwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam and Garuda can be seen immediately after the rajagopuram facing towards the sanctum. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, ardha mandapa and maha mandapa. The sanctum enshrines a 3.5 feet tall saligrama image of Lakshmikantha Swamy. He is flanked by his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi. There is a shrine for goddess Aravinda Nayaki, the consort of Lakshmikantha at the right corner of the temple premises.

Shrines & Idols of Koorathazhwar, Ramanuja, Vedanta Desikar, Anjaneya, Azhwars and Andal can be found in the temple premises. The mantapa outside has stone pillars that reveal some interesting carvings related to mythology, including the Ramayana. There are two mandapas namely Karthika Mantapa and Navaratri Mantapa in front of the temple. The pillars of the mandapa has intricate carvings depicting the legends of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 500 metres from Kalale Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Nanjangud, 8 Kms from Nanjangud Town Railway Station, 8 Kms from Nanjangud Old Bus Stand, 9 Kms from Nanjangud New Bus Stand, 21 Kms from Mysuru Airport, 30 Kms from Mysuru, 33 Kms from Gundlupet and 171 Kms from Bengaluru. The temple is situated immediately after Nanjangud on Mysuru to Ooty route.

Location