The Guru Narasimha Temple, Saligrama is a Hindu temple dedicated to Narasimha, the lion-headed form of Vishnu. Srimad Yogananda Guru Narasimha is the chief deity of the town of Saligrama, Udupi, Karnataka, India. The main image of Narashima, lion-faced and two-handed, is dated to the 8th century. The temple of Guru Narasimha is located on NH 66 at a distance of 22 km from Udupi city.

The ‘Sri Saligrama Kshetra Mahatmyam’ of the Pushkara khanda of the Padma Purana, the Sahyadri khanda of the Skanda Purana, and the Lokadityapaddati provide the details of the significance of this temple. According to the Padma Purana, the deity of Guru Narasimha appeared at the bottom of a pipal tree holding Shankha(conch) and Chakra(disc) in its hands. Narada muni who had heard this through an akashavani (celestial message) installed the deity of Guru Narasimha. The akashavani described the deity as ‘Yogananda Nrusimhakyam’. According to the Sahyadri khanda of the Skanda Purana, Lokaditya, the son of Mayura Varma of the Kadamba Dynasty came along with his army and a group of Brahmins headed by a great man called Bhattacharya. The priests performed mahayagas like Poundra, Atiratra, etc. At the request of the king. The blessings of Mahaganapati had been invoked at the start of the yagnas. Ganapathi appeared in the dreams of Bhattacharya with 10 hands and told him to re-install the deity of Lord Yogananda Narasimha and from henceforth Narasimha himself shall be the Guru and god for the Brahmins of the 14 villages surrounding the temple. To this day, the Brahmins of these 14 villages, known as Kota Brahmins follow Guru Narasimha as their sole Guru.

Festivals

• It is a practice by the Brahmins of the 14 villages to perform the mooduganapathi seva for the Lord in the tulaamaasa sankramana for providing proper rain and hence proper harvest. Later a feast is organized using the rice collected during this time.
• 120 coconut ganahoma to the Mahaganapathi deity during Ganesh Chaturthi.
• Ratharohana during Uttarayana Sankranthi(January 16).
• Chandika Parayana for Durga Parameshwari during Navaratri.
• Hanuma Jayanthi.
• Narasimha Jayanti.
• Car festival during makara maasa.

Source: Wikipedia