Jharni Narasimha Temple: A Cave Temple Filled With Water

LOCATION:

The temple is located in a cave in the Bidar district of Jharni in North Karnataka. Bidar city is a kilometer away from this temple. To get to the murti’s feet, you must wade through waist-deep water. This temple is located beneath the Manichoola mountain range and opens at 8:00 a.m. It’s a 300-meter-long water-filled cave temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha.

What is so unique about this temple?

The Narasimha Jhira Cave Temple, also known as the Narasimha Zarna Cave Temple and the Jharani Narasimha Temple, is a temple devoted to the strong Lord Narasimha. The deity of the Narasimha Jhira Cave temple is a swayambhu roopam, which means that it is self-manifested and extremely powerful. Lord Narasimha, Lord Vishnu’s fourth incarnation, is half human and half lion.
This location is claimed to have a perennial stream of water that has been running for hundreds of years. Walking through waist-deep water for 300 metres through a cave-like tunnel in search of a view of Lord Narasimha is a fascinating experience. It is one of Bidar’s most popular attractions.
The Narasimha Jhira Cave Temple is well-known for its stunning architecture and is revered as a sacred site. The shrine is located in a cave with water flowing up to 300 metres deep.

How did Lord Narasimha get the name Jharni Narasimha?

Bhagwan Vishnu protected the kid devotee Prahlada, who was tortured for being a devotee of Bhagwan instead of leading a materialistic life as wished by his asura father Hiranyakashipu. Prahlada, on the other hand, endured all of these torments with unwavering devotion. Finally, Bhagwan, disguised as a Man-Lion (Nara-Simha), arrived and killed Hiranyakashipu.

Bhagwan Narasimha, Bhagwan Vishnu’s fourth incarnation, is half human and half lion. After defeating Hiranyakashipu, Bhagwan Narasimha killed another giant named Jharasura (Jalasura), who was a devout follower of Bhagwan Shiva. Jharasura pleaded with Bhagwan Vishnu (i.e., his incarnation Narasimha) to stay in the cave where he was dwelling and offer boons to the devotees as he breathed his last.

Narasimha came to live in the cave after fulfilling Jharasura’s last wish. At the cave’s conclusion, there is a crudely carved image of Narasimha on a stone wall. After being killed, the demon transformed into water and began to run down Bhagwan Narasimha’s feet. Since then, the flow of water in the cave passage has been unbroken. There has never been a dry spring.

Traditional legends claim that Vidura dwelt here and that this is where Nala and Damayanti (Daughter of Raja Bhima, the King of Vidharba) first met. The city’s documented history dates from the third century B.C., when it was a member of the Mauryan Empire. The Satavahanas, Kadambas, and Chalukyas of Badami, as well as the Rashtrakutas, governed the Bidar area after the Mauryas.

Sources:

• Featured image: Twitter
• 2nd Image By jaideepjrao.blogspot.in
• 3rd Image: Epuja
• 4th Image: Twitter