Temple Description

The name “Nanjundeshwara” translates to “God who Drank the Poison,” a reference to the legend of the Great Churning of the Ocean of Milk where Shiva consumed poison. Consequently, the town’s name “Nanjanagudu” means “the abode of the god Nanjundeshwara.”

The temple is renowned for its Dodda Jaathre festival, which draws thousands of pilgrims. During the celebrations, five vibrant chariots are pulled by devotees along a route known as the ratha beedi. The Parasurama Temple is located nearby.

The temple’s imposing nine-storied gopuram (gateway tower), standing 120 feet tall, and its elaborate exterior were constructed by Devarajammanni, the queen of the Mysore king Krishnaraja Wadiyar III.