Narayana Temple Melkote
Melkote is a popular center of pilgrimage center and has two different temples. The main temple is a square building of large size but very plain is dedicated to Lord Cheluva Narayana Swamy or Tirunarayana. The utsav murthy (metallic procession idol) representing the deity is referred as Cheluvapille Raya whose original name appears to have been Ramapriya. It is believed that the utsav murthy was worshipped by Lord Rama and his son Kusha; hence the name Ramapriya.
On the top of the hill is an attractive temple dedicated to Lord Yoga Narasimha. It is believed that the image of Yoga Narasimha temple was installed by Prahlada. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III presented a gold crown to this temple. The temples of Melkote have made the town a popular tourist attraction. The temple houses a large pond called as Kalyani Theertha. The temple premises also houses the oldest Sanskrit college named Sri Veda Vedantha Bodhini Sanskrit Mahapathashala. This ancient Sanskrit college in India dates back to 1854. The institution continues to provide instruction in Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy.
The enchanting idol of Lord Vishnu is holding Shanku, Chakra and Gadha. The image of Ramapriya is in the Ranga Mandapa in front of the sanctum. The shrines of Vaikuntanatha, Chakrathu Alwar and Anjaneya are on the corridors. Goddess Yadugiri Nachiyar and Kalyani Nachiyar have separate shrines in a sculptured mandapa. Much significance is attached to the idol of Sri Ramanuja in this temple. When Sri Ramanuja wanted to go back to Srirangam, he made an image of himself and installed it in this temple. There are two other similar mages of Sri Ramanuja one at Sriperumpudur (his birthplace) and the other at Srirangam (his Brindavanam). A shrine dedicated to Lord Yoga Narasimha is on this hill. Prahlada, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, is said to have installed the deity here. The Melkote temple is flanked by mutts belonging to different sects of Vaishnavites. Theerthas Kalyani Narayana Padma Veda Pushkarini Vaikunta Ganga
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