Guru Narasimha

Srimad Yogananda Guru Narasimha is the chief deity of the town of Saligrama, Udupi, India. The temple of Guru Narasimha is located on NH 17 at a distance of 20 km from Udupi City.Kshetra purana (Significance of the history of the place)The 'Sri Saligrama Kshetra Mahatmyam' of the Pushkara khanda of the Padma Purana, the Sahyadri khanda of the Skanda Purana and the Lokadityapaddati provide the details of the significance of this temple.According to the Padma Purana, the idol of Guru Narasimha appeared at the bottom of a pipal tree holding Shankha(conch) and Chakra(disc) in its hands. Narada muni who had heard this through an akashavani (celestial message) installed the idol of Guru Narasimha. The akashavani described the deity as 'Yogananda Nrusimhakyam'.According to the Sahyadri khanda of the Skanda Purana, Lokaditya, the son of Mayura Varma of the Kadamba Dynasty came along with his army and a group of Brahmins headed by a great man called Bhattacharya. They priests performed mahayagas like Poundra, Atiratra,etc. on the request of the king. The blessings of Mahaganapati had been invoked at the start of the yagnas. Ganapathi appeared in the dreams of Bhattacharya with 10 hands and told him to re-install the idol of Lord Yogananda Narasimha and from henceforth Narasimha himself shall be the Guru and god for the Brahmins of the 14 villages surrounding the temple. To this day, the Brahmins of these 14 villages, known as Kota Brahmins follow Guru Narasimha as their sole Guru.