Srikanteshwara Temple, Nanjangud
| Nanjundeshwara Temple | |
|---|---|
ನಂಜುಂಡೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Mysore |
| Deity | Nanjundeshwara Swami (Shiva) |
| Location | |
| Location | Nanjanagudu |
| State | Karnataka |
| Country | India |
| Geographic coordinates | 12°7′8″N 76°41′33″E / 12.11889°N 76.69250°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Temple |
| Website | |
| https://nanjangudtemple.kar.nic.in | |
The Nanjundeshwara Temple (also called Srikanteshwara Temple) is an ancient temple dedicated to Shiva in the Hindu pilgrimage town of Nanjanagudu in Karnataka, India. It is located on the right bank of the Kabini River, a tributary of the Kaveri River. Nanjanagudu is also known as The "Dakshina Kashi" or "Kashi of South".
Nanju in Kannada means "to poison". The name Nanjundeshwara means the "God who Drank the Poison" (halāhala, a word that has its origins in the legend of the Great Churning of the Ocean of Milk); thus, the town got the name "Nanjanagudu" which means "the abode of the god Nanjundeshwara".
The temple's Dodda Jaathre festival attracts thousands of devotees. The festivities in the fair include five colorful chariots pulled by devotees on a path called the ratha beedi. Parasurama Temple is near Nanjundeshwara Temple.
The nine-storied, 120-foot-tall temple gopuram (gateway tower) and its extensive exterior was built by Devarajammanni, the queen of the Mysore king Krishnaraja Wadiyar III.