Karnataka is full of surprises when it comes to caves, temples, and treks. Narasimha Jharni is one such temple which you must visit. MetroSaga today unearths the mystery behind the cave temple and how it came to be.
The Legend
Narasimha is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, in which he is the part lion and part human. Legends say that after killing Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha slew a demon named Jharasura. Jalasura was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. While breathing his last, he implored Lord Narasimha to stay in the cave where he was residing and to grant the wishes of his devotees.
After this, Jharasura turned into water and flowed down his feet. This is why we can see a roughly carved image of Narasimha at the end of the cave along with an endlessly flowing stream of water, originating from a spring.
The old and the new
Since the previous entry was considered inauspicious, an entry road is being made to facilitate the influx of devotees into the cave. One can always see bats hanging from the ceiling of the cave and flying through as well. These bats have, however, not harmed anyone till date. The temple has been air-conditioned to ensure that there is fresh air at all times, and a percolation system has been set up to utilize the water emanating from the spring.
Recommended: Bhoo Varahaswamy Temple near Mysore is one of the Rarest Temples dedicated to Mother Earth
The Sanctum Sanctorum
The innermost part of the cave or the sanctum sanctorum houses Lord Narasimha and a Shiva Linga. This spectacular sight can be watched by 8 people at a time. This area also contains the outlet of the tubular spring. The water in this spring contains sulfur and has various healing properties.
This is why a lot of couples willing to bear children frequent this temple. People firmly believe that the deity in the sanctum sanctorum is a self-manifestation because of the location. This is one of the reasons why there are a lot of devotees queued up during festive occasions.
With an interesting story, this temple is definitely one of a kind.
Where: 1km from Bidar and 690 km from Bengaluru.
Best time to visit: December – February.
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