The Temple’s History and Topography

Sri Aprameya swamy Temple is a very ancient structure. Some historians date it back 3000 years, but local historic documents date it not less than 1500 years. There is evidence that this temple existed even before Lord Ramanuja’ s Digvijayam in Karnataka and it will not be a surprise if it was built much before Lord Ramanuja’ s Birth. There is a written document preserved to date, which mentions the Kainkaryam of lighting Nanda Deepam to Lord Aprameya in the year 980. This is a proof of the temple’s existence in that period.

Legend has it that Lord Rāma stayed here, in Dakshina Ayodhya, for many years and during this time, he worshipped Lord Aprameya. Hence Lord Aprameya is also known as Srirāmāprameya. Lord Rāma also performed Homams and other rituals in this place and even to this day, there are remnants of the structures where he conducted the Yagnams. In kshetram Mahatmiyam Kandam of Brahmanda Purana there is a description of Lord Aprameya in twelve chapters.

The specialty of the temple is it is standing on sand and not on any solid foundation. It appears from the style of construction of the temple, that it was expanded during the regimes of certain kings who ruled Mallur in the past.

Standing outside the temple, one can see the towering and beautiful Raja Gopuram. Built in the dravidian architectural style, one finds sculptures from the Dasa Avataram adorning the side walls (Madal) of the Raja Gopuram. The Maha Dwaram is 30 feet high. Opposite the Maha Dwaram is the tall Deepa Sthambam made from a single stone which vies with the Maha Dwaram in height, at 30 feet.
Facing the Rajagopuram, is the Purandaradasa Mantapam, a tribute to the composer of the famous krithi “Jagadoddharana Adisidalu Yashoda” which immortalizes his ecstasy on seeing the Navaneetha Krishna here, for generations to come.

Purandaradasa composed Jagadodharana…

It is believed that the great composer Purandara Dasa saw Lord Navaneetha Krishna from this tower and composed jagadOddhArana AdisidaLeshOde … which is the most reverend prayer (Bhakti Geethe) to Lord Krishna even today.

As you enter the temple you pass the Mukha Mantapam, where you can see the huge Vahanams of Garuda, Shesha, Gaja, Ashva, Simha, Chandra Prabha, Samarabhoopala, Hamsa, Puppet Ashva and Hanuman. They are made of copper. Walking around the Prakaram, you will find ancient stone pillars adorned with figures from the Dasa Avataram and Lord Krishna’s Bala Leela. You can find inscriptions from the holy Granthams on the walls.