Sir,

Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy’s article titled “The Cult of Lord Narasimha” (SOM dated May 20) was highly illuminating.

Mysuru’s three Narasimha temples can be interestingly traced to Melukote, the temple town nearby. The first temple on Ramavilas Road is managed by Ahobila Mutt. The founder of the Mutt is from Melukote who on divine vision established the Mutt at Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh on a chain of hills forming Srishailam (Sri Mallikarjuna temple) and Tirumala (Sri Venkateshwara temple). The Yoga Narasimhaswamy temple of Prof. Bhashyam Swamy in Vijayanagar is a replica of Melukote temple. The Lakshminarasimha temple is established and managed by Yatiraja Mutt of Melukote.

Narasimha temples existed in Karnataka at Melukote, Saligrama and Tondanur visited by Ramanuja. Annamacharya’s copper inscriptions were located at Ahobilam later. He was a disciple of the Mutt.

– G.T. Sampathkumarachar, Tonachikoppal, 22.5.2017