MELKOTE - CHELLAPILLARAYA TEMPLE  

Among the famous Vaishnava kshetras, the state of Karnataka proudly boasts of, Melkote occupies a pre-eminent place for reasons more than one. Credit for this goes first to the renowned Krishna temple, popularly known as Chellapillaraya Sampathkumaralaya, the nucleus of spiritual activity and around which many a historic event took place. 

Another shrine dedicated to Lord Narasimha has been playing an equally important, rather a pivotal role in giving a boost to this moksha dham of universal attraction. It was here that renowned Vaishnava mata pravakta Ramanujacharya lived for 14 long years and did yeoman service to temple traditions. It was then, he initiated Hoyasala Vishnuvardhan into Hinduism, and from that moment only spectacular achievements in the realm of sculpture started. His long stay though was brought out by the unworthy persecution of his immature rivals, it culminated in giving immortality to this religious town. It has a fantastic story.

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