Saumya Kesava Temple (1170 A.D), Nagamangala, Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya District

This temple is at proper Nagamangala, Mandya District. The Saumya Kesava temple is a large and splendid temple, which was built in 1170 A.D. The three-celled temple raised on a stellate parapet has the image of Saumya Kesava is a fine piece of sculpture, which is six feet in height. The sanctum to the left houses an image of Lakshmi-Narasimha, while the one on the left has the image of Venu-Gopala.

The central hall is very ornate, elegant and impressive, resting on twelve finely carved columns and having lovely ceilings: the enclosure has many shrines including that of Goddess Saumya-nayaki. The Garudagamba in front of the temple is fifty-five feet and considered finest sculptured column in Karnataka.

Story behind this temple:

During Mahabharatha, Lord Krishna planned to start war but he worried about Nagasthra of Karna. If the war starts, Karna could kill Arjuna by using Nagasthra which is very powerful. Suddenly Lord Krishna controlled all the nagas of this world in his Shank and the war is also started. So the whole control of Nagas came under Shank. In this temple you can see the Shank (which controls all Nagas) and Lord Krishna appears with Shank in his right hand (which is rare)..This shank controls all the nagas of this world by its power. This is the only place in which adhisesha is on top.



Adhi Shesha is sitting in Mandala akara. In the whole world you will not find the Adhi Shesha Sitting in Mandala akara on top of mantapa. Our Adhi Shesha is sitting on a big Shanku which appears as if it is placed on heap of 108 Shanku. This is a unique feature and no where in the world you will find the Adhi Seshan sitting in Mandala Akara Position beneath the Bhuvaneshwari Mantapam sitting atop of Shanku

In one angle if you see You will see as if Adhi Seshan is Perched on top of a Very Big Shanku, then if you ,move to the central point you will see as if the Adhi Seshan is in top of Reversed Lotus Bud. Bhattar says Once you have darshan of Keshavan all your problem will disappear like Slokam Keshava Klesha Nashana.


How to reach Nagamangala Temple:

Route:
1. Bangalore to Belur Cross [Take 'Bangalore to Hassan Bus' and get down at Belure Cross] [It takes around 2 hrs]

2. From Belur Cross, many share autos, Government and Private buses available to reach Nagamangala [It is just 15mts to reach Nagamangala from Belur Cross)