Tipu Sultan’s gesture to Nanjangud temple

Mysuru: Historical Srikanteshwara swamy at the famous temple in Nanjangud, in Mysuru district is said to have been termed as “Hakim (Doctor in Urdu) Nanjunda” by Tipu Sultan.

“It is said that Tipu Sultan’s royal elephant which suffered from eye problems had lost its eye sight. Tipu was told about the glory of Srikanteshwara at Nanjangud temple that one’s wishes would be fulfilled if one offered prayers to the lord with all devotion. He was advised by the priests of the temple, to bathe the elephant in River Kapila and wipe its eyes with the river water used for the abhishekam of Lord Srikanteshwara for one mandala that is 48 days. To his surprise, the elephant regained its sight. Impressed by the fact, he is said to have called Lord Sri Nanjundeswara “Hakim Nanjunda,” says temple priest, 76 years old Sadashivaswamy who has been serving in the temple for 62 years.

“Tipu gifted a pachche linga adorned with makara kanti haara to the temple. The kanti haara has a dollar with the symbol of moon, an Islamic symbol. It is kept at the strong room of the temple and put on the idol once in a year on the day of Girijakalayam in the month of Ashada. It is even said that he had gifted land at Chandegaala in Srirangapatna taluk for the money required for daily abhisheka, pooja and others to the Pachche linga,” he says.

He adds that, “There has not been any documentary evidence in any of the scriptures or temple records about the name given to Lord or the anecdote connected to it by Tipu Sultan. But Pachche Makara Kanti haara and the pachche linga are the only two evidences for the anecdote,” Mr Sadashivaswamy said. But the anecdote in this regard is written on a board and hung in front of the premises of Pachche linga at Srikanteswara temple.

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