Melkote or Melukote is a historic town, located at a distance of 50 km from Mysore. Melkote is situated in Pandavapura Taluk of Mandya district. Melkote is one of the holy places of Karnataka. It is built on rocky hills known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri overlooking the Kaveri valley. Melkote is also referred as Thirunarayanapuram.
Here 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.

Vairamudi Utsav Or Vairamudi Festival
"Vairamudi" Brahmotsavam is the most important Annual festival in the temple. The procession idol of Cheluvaraya Narayana Swamy is decorated with a diamond crown and taken out in procession. The Vairamudi utsav, which is the chief annual celebration, is witnessed by more than 4 lakh people.

It is believed that the diamond crown is not to be viewed at when it is not worn by the utsav murthy (procession idol); hence every year, on the occasion, the officiating priest takes out the crown from its chest with his eyes blindfolded and then places it on the head of the idol of Sri Cheluvaraya Narayana Swamy.

Ramanuja not only expounded the profound truths of the Vedanta in Nrisimha’s temple at Tondanur, but with those truths converted thousands of alien faiths to the royal roads of Vedantic Vaishnavism. While thus employed he ran short of Tiruman, or the holy white earth, with which Srivaishnavas are required to illumine their foreheads. To go without this distinguishing mark is the greatest misfortune to Sri-Vaishnavas.

Naturally therefore Ramanuja was much concerned. He had a dream in which Lord Sri Narayana of Melukote appeared and spoke thus “I am very near you, Ramanuja, on the Yadugiri hill, awaiting your arrival; and there you shall have your Tiruman also as well. Come soon.”

Ramanuja awoke and related his wonderful dream to all his comrades, and sending for Vishnu-Vardhana, the king, delivered to him the message. The king marvelled and immediately ordered gangs of men to clear the forests in the direction indicated by Ramanuja, and as Ramanjua advanced, the king devoutly followed him behind.

Steadily progressing thus, they arrived at the foot of the Yadugiri hill, and ascending it, arrived at the foutain called Vedapushkarini, and sighting the holy slab, (paridhanasila), where of yore Dattatreya had worn his ascetic robes, Ramanuja bathed in the fountain and laying aside Kuresa’s white robes, worn when leaving Srirangam, put on his colored ascetie robes. The date of entry into Yadugiri is chronicled as the Bahudhanya year, in the month of Tai (or about 1090 A.D., or when Ramanuja was about 80 years of age).

From the Veda-pushkarini, they silently walked forward in search of where Lord Narayana (i.e. His idol) lay hidden. They failed that day to find the place. Ramanuja however saw in a vision vouchsafed to him that He lay covered up in an ant-hill, between a Champaka and a Vakula- tree on either side, and to the south-west corner of the Kalyani-pond, and that the ant-hill was overgrown with the sacred basil.

He also saw that the place where tiruman was deposited lay to the north-west corner of the same Kalyani-pond, and he also heard as if Narayana telling him that fragments of basil leave would be strewn along the path which lay between Ramanuja and the places indicated.

It is about 30 miles (48 km) from Mysore and 97 miles (156 km) from Bangalore.

By Rail
Mysore railways station located at a distance of 51 kilometers is the nearest railways head. It is well connected with other major cities of Karnataka as well as prominent metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad.

By Road
KSRTC buses ply on a regular basis from Mandya, Mysore and Bangalore. You can even take a bus to Tumkur and onwards from Mysore and deboard at Jakkanahalli Cross. Melkote is about 6 km from this point.

If you need any guide advice please contact
Mr Devaraju
Contact number :- 9448864926
9606262570

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