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Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Temple
Shiva (Nanjundeshwara) · Dakshina Kashi · Karnataka
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
The Srikanteshwara Temple at Nanjangud, on the bank of the Kapila river near Mysuru, is one of the great Shiva temples of Karnataka, honoured as a Dakshina Kashi. Shiva is worshipped here as Nanjundeshwara — “the one who swallowed the poison” — and the temple is famed as a place of healing, where even a ruler’s elephant is said to have been cured.
The lord who drank the poison
Nanjundeshwara recalls the churning of the ocean, when Shiva drank the world-destroying halahala poison to save creation, holding it in his throat. As the swallower of poison, the lord of Nanjangud is sought above all for healing, and the temple has long been a place where the sick come to pray for cure and relief.
The emerald lingam of Tipu Sultan
Among the temple’s treasures is an emerald Shivalinga said to have been gifted by Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, in gratitude when his ailing elephant recovered after worship here — a story that gave the lord the affectionate name “Hakim Nanjunda,” the healer. Such tales of cure have made Nanjangud a temple of faith for the sick across the region.
A grand Dravidian temple
Begun in the Ganga age and enlarged over centuries by the Cholas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara kings and the Wadiyars of Mysore, the temple is one of the largest in Karnataka, with a towering gopuram and long pillared corridors. Its great festival, the Dodda Jatre, fills the town in spring with a car procession and immense crowds.
How to reach Nanjangud
- By road: Nanjangud is about 23 km from Mysuru on the Mysuru–Ooty road.
- By train: Nanjangud has its own railway station, connected to Mysuru.
- By air: Mysuru airport is about 30 km away; Bengaluru is the larger airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nanjundeshwara?
Nanjundeshwara is Shiva as “the one who swallowed the poison,” recalling the churning of the ocean when he drank the halahala poison to save creation. He is the presiding deity of Nanjangud.
Why is Nanjangud a temple of healing?
As the swallower of poison, the lord is sought for cure and relief, and many stories of healing — including the recovery of Tipu Sultan’s elephant — have made it a place of faith for the sick.
What is the emerald lingam at Nanjangud?
An emerald Shivalinga is said to have been gifted by Tipu Sultan when his ailing elephant was cured after worship here, earning the lord the name “Hakim Nanjunda,” the healer.
Why is Nanjangud called Dakshina Kashi?
It is honoured as a Dakshina Kashi — a Kashi of the south — for its great sanctity as a Shiva temple on the bank of the sacred Kapila river.
How do I reach Nanjangud?
Nanjangud is about 23 km from Mysuru on the Mysuru–Ooty road, with its own railway station and Mysuru airport about 30 km away.
What is the Dodda Jatre?
The Dodda Jatre is the temple’s great spring festival, marked by a car (chariot) procession and immense crowds.
॥ हर हर महादेव ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Shiva as Nanjundeshwara (swallower of poison) |
| Significance | Dakshina Kashi; a temple of healing |
| Special | Emerald lingam gifted by Tipu Sultan |
| River | Kapila (Kabini) |
| Builders | Ganga, Chola, Hoysala, Vijayanagara, Wadiyar |
| Main Festival | Dodda Jatre |