Gunja Narasimha Swamy Temple, T. Narsipur

The Gunja Narasima Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple in Tirumakudal Narasipura, a town in the Mysore district, Karnataka state, India. The town is located 20 miles south east of the historically important city of Mysore. The temple dates back to about the 16th rule of the Vijayanagara empire and is built in typical dravidian style with an imposing gopura over the entrance gate and a four pillared mantapa in front of the sanctum. The temple is located at the confluence of the Kaveri river and the Kabini river and is considered sacred by Hindus. The temple gets its name from the Gunja tree that grows in the front of the main entrance; a boastful local claim is that the temple is more sacred than Varanasi by the weight of a gunja plant. Sculptures in the temple include those of the Hindu god Narasimha and the demon King Hiranyakashipu. ()