T.Narsipur

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Tirumakudalu-Narsipura | type = city | latd = 12.21| longd = 76.906
state_name = Karnataka
district = Mysore
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 638
;population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 9930| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 08227
postal_code = 571 124
vehicle_code_range = KA-09
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Tirumakudalu-Narasipura (Kannada: ತಿರುಮಕೂಡಲು ನರಸೀಪುರ ) , officially known as T.Narasipura [http://www.mysore.nic.in/photographs/tnp_gp_vill_bnd.pdf Gram Panchayat and Taluk Boundary Map] ,is a panchayat town in Mysore district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The first letter “T” of the name (T.Narasipura) refers to Tirumakudalu,the peninsular town (Trimakuta in Sanskrit) at the confluence of the Kaveri, Kabini and Spatika Sarovar (a hidden mythical lake or spring, also named Gupta Gamini).This is the place in South Indiawhere Kumbhamela is held every three years. It finds a mention in the Skanda Purana as one of the Trimakuta Kshetras (holy places with the confluence of three rivers. [http://www.karnatakaholidays.com/mysore.php Mysore, Karnataka ] ] . The word 'Narasipur' is the name of the town, which is derived from the famous Gunja Narasimhaswamy temple that is located on the right bank of the Kabini river. Considered as sacred as Prayag (confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Saraswati at Prayag – Varanasi - Kashi in North India), it is also known as Dakshina Kashi The town finds mention in tourism guides, both as a tourist place and a pilgrimage centre.

Mythology

It is said that Tirumakudlu is where Rishi Agasthya had visualised it as 'Dakshina Kashi' long ago. When he travelled down South to Narsipur, the town was a thick forest. Enamoured by the confluence of the three rivers - Kaveri, Kapila and the undercurrent of Spatika Sarovara - he wanted to install a Shiva Linga there and asked Hanuman to get him a linga from Kashi. Since the auspicious period lasting three-and-a-three-fourth of a galige was fast approaching and Hanuman failed to get the linga on time, the sage created a sand linga himself and consecrated it. An insulted Hanuman, who returned soon, cut off the top portion of the sand linga consecrated by Agasthya. From the axed summit, the Spatika Sarovar (Spring )flows out even now and is offered as thirtha (holy water) to the pilgrims. The linga that Hanuman brought was consecrated a little distance away and is called the Hanuman Linga.

The Someshwara and Markandeshwara Lingam in T Narsipur and the Gargeshwara Lingam at Gargeshwari village, along with the Agasthyeshwara and the Hanuman Lingam, form the panchalingas of T Narsipur, just like the five lingams at Talakad.

The legend associated with Gunja Narasimhaswamy Temple is that Lord Narasimhaswamy appeared in the dream of a washerman telling him that his idol lay beneath the stone on which he washed clothes everyday. The Lord told him to build a temple for him and asked him to look for gold coins beneath the stone which could be used for the construction of the temple. When the washerman expressed his wish to visit (Kashi) Varanasi on a pilgrimage, the Lord told him that the construction of a temple for Him had earned him (washerman) an additional punya (blessing) of about a gulaganji (seed of a twig tree) than that which accrues by visiting Kashi. Thus the name tak Gunja can me into usage with name of the God Narasimhaswamy

Archeological Significance

T. Narasipur and its surrounding areas are prehistoric sites where many Neolithic sites have been unearthed by the Department of Archeology and Museums of Karnataka. The rich and fertile areas of the taluk cultivated by the Kaveri and its tributaries, has been the source of continued uninhibited human habitation, over the centuries, as verified by the ancient archeological evidences discovered in the area. The ancient sites excavated in the late fifties and up to mid sixties (between 1959 and 1965) on the left bank of the Kaveri near the Bhiksheswara Temple, opposite to the Narasipur town, which form part of the Upper Kaveri basin, has established the Neolithic phase in the region claiming a date from the first half of second millennium B.C which saw the gradual evolution of the peasants into food producing and settled communities responsible for the growth of civilization. The systematic ground excavations comprising burial ground remnants, potteries, graffiti, stone implements, metal objects, beads and bangles, animal remains, human remains, wood remains, etc examined in depth and in great detail have revealed four cultural phases at the sites, but the most outstanding phase has been deduced as the Neolithic phase.

An authoritative report on the “Excavations at T.Narasipur” by Prof M.Seshadri, Director of Archeology of Mysore published in 1971 provides a detailed insight into the ancient pre-historic civilizational bearings of T.Narasipur town and its surroundingsGR|India] .

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Tirumakudal-Narsipur had a population of 9930. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Tirumakudal-Narsipur has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 59%. In Tirumakudal-Narsipur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Access

T. Narasipur is the taluk headquarters in Mysore District of Karnataka state, India. It is 29 km South-East of Mysore, the district headquarters and 130 km from Bangalore, the state capital. Nearest airport is Bangalore International Airport. Mysore Junction Railway Station and Nanjangud Town Railway Station are the nearest railheads. National Highway 212 passes through the area.

Temples

It is a place of religious prominence. The Gunja Narasimha Swamy temple on the left of the Kaveri river, is a massive complex belonging to the Vijayanagar period. The image of Narasimha in the sanctum sanctorum has a twig with seed of the Gunja (botanical name-"Abrus precatorius") tree and hence is called Gunja Narasimha Swamy. The temple has inscriptions dating from the Krishnadevaraya period with a mélange of Dravidian and Hoysala Architecture and is renowned for the voluminous records in Nagari script. The temple more than 450 years old, which is in need of repair and restoration, is now being renovated by a donor - Dr N.V.Ramanuja Iyengar- an NRI. [http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/28/stories/2007102859140300.htm]

Apart from the Gunja Narasimha Swamy temple, there are many other temples such as the Agasthyeshwara temple. (Sage Agasthya founded and sanctified the Agasthyeshwara temple.This temple complex contains many monuments belonging to the Ganga, Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara periods at Thirumakudlu, and also at the Bhiksheswara temple, the Moolasthaneshwara temple and the Anandeswara temple in the surrounding area.

Religious festivals

The chariot festivals of Gunja Narasimha Swamy and Agastheswara, conducted every year, are attended by thousands of people.

The Kumbha Mela of T. Narasipur, [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2004/02/05/stories/2004020507180300.htm] of recent origin, since 1989, is an event that occurs once in three years. Organised by the Kumbha Mela Trust under the auspices of senior pontiffs and religious leaders of the State. The congregation is meant to underline the concept of unity in diversity. The Kumbha Mela of Allahabad and Nasik is replicated at T. Narasipur when lakhs of devotees assemble and take a holy dip in the confluence of three rivers. A slice of ancient India unfolds as ochre-clad sadhus join people to take a dip at the confluence of the Kaveri, the Kabini, and the celestial lake "Spatika Sarovar".

Industries

Silk Filature at T.Narasipur [http://ksicsilk.com/tnarasipurafactory.htm] is a raw silk manufacturing unit. The unit manufactures raw silk yarn and transfer it to its own silk weaving factory located in Mysore. Approximately 1000 Kilograms of cocoons are purchased daily from Govt. Controlled Market depending on needs. Raw silk yarn known as filatures are produced at the factory from the Cocoons The purchase is done on almost a daily basis, as the purchased cocoon cannot be stored for more than 2 to 3 days.

Sand extraction from the river bed is an activity which has caused increased river bank erosion, and frequent public protests are a common feature against this operation to no avail.

Nearby places

Somanathapura, about 32 km East of Mysore by road and about 14 km from T.Narsipur, a village on the left bank of the river Cauvery is famous for Sri Venugopalaswamy temple and Sri Channakeshava temple built here in 1269 A.D & 1268 A.D by the Hoysla King Narasimha with exquisite carvings. These temples are good examples of the Hoysala architecture and are of great architectural and artistic interest.
Talakad an ancient town, situated on the left bank of the river Kaveri, is 45 km South East of Mysore or 5 km from T.Narsipur. Sri Kirtinarayana, Sri Kartikeya, Sri Vaideeswara, Sri Pataleswara and Sri Maraleswara temples are located in this town. Many more monuments lie buried in the barren expanse of sand dunes in the town.

This place is also tagged to the curse called “Curse of Talakad” [^ The Curse of Talakad- A Legend in History by Sashi Sivaramakrishna ; ISBN 8129108364, Published by Roopa & Co is a recent welcome addition on this subject which has been seldom written about] by Alamelamma on the Wodeyar dynasty (erstwhile Maharajas) of Mysore. The curse which has survived the folklore of last four hundred years is known thus:

-May Malangi turn into an unfathomed whirlpool

-May Talakad turn into a barren expanse of sand

-May the Rajas of Mysore not have children for all time to eternity!

Sosale is another important religious centre because of the famous Vyasraja mutt of the Madhva sect established there by Vysarajathirtha. It is located about 3 km from T.Narsipur.

Noted people

;Music

* T. Chowdiah - The illustrious violin maestro in the early part of 20th century who was the winner of several state and national prestigious awards, excelled as a solo musician. His experiments with 7-stringed violin are legendary.He is credited with many compositions in Kannada, Telugu and Sanskrit under the pen name "Trimakuta" (the Sanskrit name for his home town Tirumakudlu Narsipur.

* T. Puttaswamaiah was one of the foremost vocalists of Karnatic music in the early part of 20th century. Was winner of several prestigious awards.

* Vasantha Shashi is a singer with a nightingale voice, called a “Gaanakogile”. She has sung and recorded exclusive traditional devaranaamas (bhajans) on Gunja Narasimha Swamy composed by her ancestors of T.Narasipur [ [http://www.wavez-music.com/album.html Click here to Listen to her songs ] ] and also several famous saints of India.

;Politics

* S. Sreenivasa Iyengar, Member of Mysore Legislative Assembly (1952) – Engineer and Rich agriculturist

* A.R Srinivasa Iyengar, Municipal President (1958-1962), Dharmadarshi to Agastheyeswara temple, and founder of Silver Jubilee Tennis and Recreation Club.

* N Rachiah, famous political leader, Member of Mysore Legislative Assembly for several terms and was also a Minister in the Karnataka State administration.

* Ambarish (Mr.Amaranath) - Noted Film actor and Member of Parliament and former Minister for State of Government of India. Grandson of illustrious virtuoso vilonist T.Chowdiah.

* Dr H.C. Mahadevappa, Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Former Minister for Health and Family Welfare.

* Vatal Nagaraj, Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and a very active pioneering promoter of Kannada language movement in the state.

* Shivanna, Member of Parliament, and political activist and philanthropist

;Literature

* Dr.Anantharangachar, Professor of Kannada in Mysore University and author of several books

;Religion

A. Gopal, Sanskrit Scholar & Religious Activist

S. Rangaswamy Iyengar, Religious Activist & Founder of Shri Balamuri Ganapathi Temple.

;Science & Technology

* Dr. N.S. Vijayaraghavachar, as a medical doctor and political activist served the people of the town and neighboring areas for 50 years with unstilted compassion and dedication

* N.V.V.Char, Formerly Commissioner (Eastern Rivers) [ [http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkg22_70.htm Committee] ] and Chairman, Bramhaputra Board of the Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India

* Dr N.V.Ramanuja Iyengar - Cardiologist - Miami, USA - Actively associated with building the Shiva Vishnu Temple of South Florida as Chairman of the temple trust in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,USA

* Dr. S.Sampath Iyengar, Geologist and Mineralogist of the Technology of Materials Laboratory, in California, who did original research work on Crop Circles. His work has been covered in shows on the History Channel and also in the show Unsolved Mysteries.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/28/stories/2007102859140300.htm Gunajnarsimha swamy temple to be restored]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2004/02/05/stories/2004020507180300.htm Kumbhamela at T.Narasipur]
* [http://ksicsilk.com/tnarasipurafactory.htm T.Narsipura Silk Filature]
* [http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkg22_70.htm Non Official Member of Working Group on Flood Control – Tenth Plan]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/19/Tirumakudal_Narsipur.html Tirumakudal Narsipur]
* [http://www.wavez-music.com Wavez-Music]