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Tiru - Narayanpuram - Temple in Melkote

Text and photos

by Jaya Vijaya Dasa
At the beginning of Satya-yuga, Lord Brahma requested Lord Narayana to bestow upon him a murti for
worship. Lord Narayana fulfilled the request by creating a beautiful tall image of Himself for Lord
Brahma. The murti was some six feet tall, made of shiny black stone, with four arms holding cakra,
conch, club and one palm outward bestowing benedictions. He was bedecked with golden ornaments,
precious jewels and diamonds. Lord Brahma was extremely pleased and began worshipping the Lord,
who eventually became known as Tiru-Narayana.
Then Lord Brahma gave Tiru-Narayana to one of his sons, Sanat-kumara, who travelled to southern
India to perform tapasya and establish the permanent worship for TiruNarayana. He eventually reached
Daksina Badarikasrama, which was located on a small hilltop plateau. He named the hilltop Narayana
Giri. Then, during Treta-yuga, Dattatreya worshiped Lord Narayana there, which eventually became
known as Vedadri.
Since Lord Brahma gave Tiru-Narayana to Sanat-kumara, he was without a personal miirti. He prayed
to Lord Narayana again, requesting another Deity to worship, and the Lord remanifested as a smaller,
metal murti, along with Sri-devi and Bhu-devi. Brahma was extremly pleased and worshiped the new
Deity, along with His consorts, for the remaining part of Satya-yuga and throught most of Treta-yuga,
up to the time of Lord Ramacandra's return to Ayodhya.
After Lord Rama gave Sri Rariganatha to Vibhisana as a reward for rendering valuable service; Lord
Rama became perturbed at not having a personal Deity to worship. Lord Brahma saw his predicament
and out of his compassion offered the Deities of Lord Narayana, Sri-devi and Bhu-devi to Lord
Ramacandra. Lord Rama worshiped Lord Narayana with great care and loving devotion, who then
became known as Ramapriya-from Lord Rama's heart.
After Lord Ramacandra departed from this planet, Ramapriya was worshipped by His son Kusa. Then
Kusa's daughter, Kanakamalini, married a King of the Yadu dynasty (Yaduekhara/Yaduvama), and
Kua offered his daughter a huge amount of wealth. Still she wasn't happy untffl she received the lovely
murti Ramapriya to worship herself. Ramapriya remained in the Yadu dynasty through the time of Krsna
and Balarama in Dvaraka-puri.
When Lord Balarama was performing His tirtha yatra, He visited Tiru-Narayana Svami and the Anandavimanam, which stands over the Lord, in Daksina Badarikasrama. He was very astonished and surprised
to see the great similiarity between Tiru-Narayana and Ramapriya, who was in Dvaraka. After
completing His yatra, He returned to Dvaraka and informed Krsna that Tiru-Narayana Svami did not
have an utsava-murti (processional Deity). So both of Them returned, along with other members of the
Yadu dynasty, with Ramapriya and installed Him as the utsava-murti of Tiru-Narayana Svami. Thus
Narayanadri/Vedadri became known as Yadudri/ Yadavadri (Yadugiri/Yadavagiri). During the beginning
of Kali-yulga Tiru-Narayana Svami and Ramapriya were worshiped without interruption until the
Mohammedan invasion, which raided and looted the holy abode of the Lord. The utsava-murti
Ramapriya was stolen and taken to the north. Tiru-Narayana Svami was hidden by the local devotees,
who left, and the forest took control of the temple.
RENOVATION BY SRI RAMANUJACARYA

WHILE ON a preaching tour at Sri Rarigam, Ramanujacarya (also known as Yatiraja, king of the
ascetics) arrived at Yadavadri (Melukote). On the morning of the fourteenth day in the month of Pausa
(December- January), 1020 Saka Era, while taking a stroll in a tulasi garden, he came across an image
underneath an ant-hill Kalyani Tirtham (a kunda), and to his delight, Lord Tiru-Narayana (also known as
Yadavagiripati) stood before him, waiting to be reinstalled and worshiped. The night prior to this,
Yadavagiripati had appeared in a dream to Ramanujacarya, requesting service, whereby all the local
devotees should join together and reconstruct a beautiful and magnificent temple so regular worship
could be conducted. All of Ramanujacarya's disciples and the local inhabitants quickly built a temporary,
spacious thatched structure, installed the Deity and engaged themselves heart and soul in the Lord's
service. Within a short period, a beautiful temple was built.
The Jain King Vitthaladeva, who had been recently converted to Vaisnavism by Ramanujacarya and was
now known as Visnuvardhana, financed the temple construction, and a small township that grew up
around the temple complex. Ramanujacarya also called for fifty-two brdhmanas and a priest from Sri
Rarigam to re-establish the proper pujct procedures, based on the Pancaratragama.
After making so many nice arrangements for Tiru-Narayana, Ramanuja decided to observe the
Bramotsava festival, but there was no utsava-murti to complete the occasion. Then Yadavagiripati
appeared to Sri Ramanuja saying: "My dear Ramanuja, I am very pleased with your service, but since I
do not have an utsavavigraha here, I cannot go out of the temple to bless My devotees and free the
fallen conditioned souls from sin. Therefore, quickly return Ramapriya to me, who is now with the
Emperor of Delhi."
RAMAPRIYA BECOMES YATIRAJA-SAMPATKUMARA AFTER RECEIVING the instructions from
TiruNarayana (Yadavagiripati), Ramanujacarya and few of his disciples set out for Delhi, in the north of
the country. It took several months of travelling with great difficulties for them to reach their
destination. Upon arriving, he was received with great reverence by the Emperor of Delhi, who was
much astonished to see the luster of Ramanuja's body, his scholarship and great personality. Ramanuja
asked for the murti of Sri Ramapriya, and the Emperor granted his wish.
Ramanujacarya was taken inside a large room where hundreds of murtis were to be found that had been
taken from various temples throughout India. The Emperor requested him to choose the Deity and take
it, but to everyone's

Then the Emperor remembered the one Deity that his daughter (Bibi Lachimar) had great loving
affection for, which was inside her harem. Upon entering the harem, Ramanuja instantly recognized the
Lord as Ramapriya. Now the Emperor was in a dilemma, since he did not want to incur the displeasure
of his daughter nor that of Ramanujacarya. To settle the matter, the Emperor requested Ramanuja to call
his Lord to him. Ramanuja called the name of Ramapriya, and the Lord (in the form of a child) jumped
down from the couch on which the princess had placed Him, and walked towards Ramanuja, who
embraced Him with all the foundness of a parent finding his long-lost son. Ramanujacarya then gave
Him the name Sampat-kumara or Selva Pillai which means "beautiful, darling child." The Emperor was
amazed at the spiritual potency of Ramanujacarya, and allowed him to take his Lord,
YatirajaSampatkumara, back to Melukote.
After a few days of feeling great pains of separation from the murti of Ramapriya, Bibi Lachimar became
overwhelmed with sorrow and grew sicker day by day. Finally, her father ordered a regiment of soldiers
to leave immediately, to find and bring back the Deity from Ramanujacarya. His daughter insisted on
going a long. Kuvera, a young prince in love with Bibi Lachimar, followed her and the regiment.

Ramanuja and his disciples walked day and night without rest, fearing they were being followed by the
regiment and the Emperor's daughter, until they crossed the boundary of the Emperor's territories and
arrived in Melukote. Ramanujacarya then installed the utsava-vigraha of Tiru-Narayana, Sri- Sampatkumara, in a secret place within the temple.
While the regiment stopped at the boundary lines, Bibi Lachimar continued to proceed southward alone
without food or rest, as the pains of separation tormented her heart and tears flowed constantly from her
eyes. SKuvera followed her, trying to give hope to the young distressed princess. Eventually, the couple
arrived in Melukote, and Bibi Lachimar's desires were finally fulfilled. She spent her few remaining days
"crowned with indescribable happiness born of communion with the Lord of her heart, Sri
Sampatkumara." She entered the temple and never returned again, thus becoming Bhubi Nacchair,
residing at the lotus feet of the Lord. This place is now called Hogaramana Gudi.
Kuvera used to serve her like his own worshipable Deity, so when she left, he was unable to remain in
Melukote any longer. He gave up his Muslim habits and went to Sri Rarigam, taking refuge at the lotus
feet of Sri Rariganatha Svami. One day, while absorbed in deep meditation, he heard a divine voice
saying, "O best amongst the yavanas, I am here to grant liberation to the Vaisnavas who take refuge in
me, and Lord Jagannatha is there to grant liberation unto the fallen ones." Kuvera started the next
morning in Sri Purusottama Ksetra. After a few months of travelling, he arrived in Sri Purl Dhama,
where he was blessed with the darsana of Sri Jagannatha Svami, the Lord of the Universe and redeemer
of all the fallen souls.
THE HISTORY OF THE LORD'S VAIRAMUDI (PRECIOUS CROWN) THE SON of Prahlada
Maharaja, Virocana, was much delighted to be serving Lord Narayana in Vaikuntha-loka. But one day
his restlessness manifested and he took the Varamudi of the Lord, bringing it down to this planet. When
the Lord heard this news, He sent Garuda to rescue the crown, but Garuda had to fight with Virocana to
retrieve it. Once having the crown, Garuda was speeding through the air on his way back to Vaikuntha,
but as he was passing over Mathura, he saw Lord Krsna and landed to offer the Vairamudi to Him.
Unfortunately, the crown did not fit Krsna, so the Lord advised Garuda to offer it to Ramapriya. Sri
Krsna Himself went with Garuda and decorated the head of Ramapriya with this most beautiful,
auspicious and valuable crown. Garuda's joy knew no bounds; taking Ramapriya on his shoulders, he
went on a procession.
Still today the Vairamudi Brahmotsava is the most popular of all the festival days, when Garuda happily
takes the Lord around the temple and town on his shoulders. This very same precious crown used to be
kept in safe custody in the palace of the Mysore Maharaja, but is now kept in the district's treasury in
Mandya. It is brought to Melukote under tight security for the annual oneday festival, which is observed
in the month of Mina or Phalguna (March-April).
THE GLORIES OF YADAVAGIRI
At The Beginning of Kali-yuga, Vyasadeva, saints and other rsis, went to Uttara Badarikasrama in the
Himalayas. This is where Badrivishal-Narayana is residing, performing tapasya under the snow covered
peaks in the forest of Badrivana. It is considered one of the holiest places on this planet, high in the
Himalayas. Vyasadeva and the others prayed to Lord Narayana to guide them to a holy place which
would be free of Kali-yuga's influences. The Lord advised them to go to Yadavagiri, otherwise known as
Daksina Badarikasrama, saying, "Go to that holy place where Kali is forbidden entry." He also explained
the greatness of that ksetra and instructed them to reside there to continue their tapasya. All the sages
obeyed the instructions and went to Yadavagiri. They performed austerities for their salvation, whereas
others continued on their own way, with Lord Tiru-Narayana within their hearts.
MELUKOTE TODAY

Even Today, the Lord is still bestowing mercy to anyone who is willing to make the small effort to visit
Melukote (Yadavagiri). Part of that statement by the Lord "Kali is forbidden entry" still stands today.
There is no meat-eating, no drinking and very little smoking within the township. Everyone is very
polite, sweet, hospitable, and relaxed, especially when welcoming visitors. The local brRhmanas are very
eager and extremely happy to explain the pastimes of Tiru-Narayana, Ramapriya (Sampatkumara) and
Sri Ramanujacarya, who lived there for fourteen years. Darsana is always very pleasing and lasting,
reflecting the high standard of worship, maintenance and loving devotion. The history is rich and
colorful, full of spiritual episodes that leave an inspiring impression. One wishes to reside there or
return.
There are eight auspicious kundas (as thathirthas) in and around Melukote; related to Datattreya (Veda
Puskarani and Darba Tirtham); Lord Ramacandra (Dhanushkoti); the Pandavas (Yadava Tirtham);
Parasara Maharsi (Paraara Tirtham); Sanat-kumara (Padma Tirtham); Maitreya Muni (Maitreya
TTrtham); Lord Narayana (Narayana Tirtham). There is also Kalyani Tirtham, which originated from the
sweat of Maha-Visnu during His incarnation as Lord Varahadeva.
High on the top of a small hill is the abode of Sri Yoga Nrsimha Svami. This Deity of Lord Nrsirilhadeva
is self-manifested from a salagrama-0a, which Prahlada Maharaja obtained in the Gandaki river, high in
the Himalayan mountains. Prahlada came here to perform tapasya and worship Lord Nrsimha. Then the
Lord appeared to Him in this form from the sdlagrama-0a. The Lord is some three feet (one meter) high,
sitting with his front hands on His knees in a padma-asana. Each finger is decorated with rings and
jewels, and His rear hands hold the Sudarsana Cakra and oonohShellHP annPars rntitP rnntPnt Par,,
decorated with silver ornaments and head adorned with a helmet, residing a top of this unique hill in the
middle of Melukote, which in itself means "High Fort."
During the life of Sri Ramanujacarya, only three actual murtis of him were carved and installed with his
empowerment and blessings: one in his birthplace, Sri Perumbudur; one where he entered samddhi, in
Sri Rarigam; and the last one in Melukote.
References:
Naimisaranya Das, 7&e life of Ramanujdcarya, Sweden: VEDA, 1984
Swami Ramkrsnananda, The Life of Sri Ramdnuja, Madras: Sd Ramakrsna Matha, 1993
Melkote, a glimpse, Tiru-Narayana Puram Devasthanam, 1989
L.V. Gopalan, 108 Sri Vaisnava Dtvya Disams, Madras: Visistadvaitha Prachrini Sabha, 1972