By: Ramaswamy Seshadri
Whenever a childless couple visited Sai Mandir at Bengaluru, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji used to advise them to visit Dodda Mallur on the outskirts of Channapatna on Bengaluru – Mysuru highway and seek blessings at Ambegalu Krishna (Crawling Krishna) temple.
The main Deity here is VISHNU in the name of Aprameyaswamy. The primary and biggest attraction is the sanctum dedicated to child Krishna in the name of NAVANEETHA KRISHNA, in crawling posture, carrying a grab of butter in one hand. The idol, on a Garuda Peetam is beautiful and mesmerizing. Baby Krishna is quite attractive with captivating eyes and a cute pose. Baby Krishna can be seen without alankara (decoration) or fully clad with butter, adorned with jewels, ornaments, and flowers.
The greatest belief is that when a childless couple visit this Krishna and pray sincerely, they beget a baby soon. After the birth of the child, the couple visits the temple with the child, thank the Lord by hanging a silver/wooden cradle in the sanctum.
Swamiji also advised devotees to visit the Vainatheya Temple at Bindiganavile- in Mandya district close to Nagamangala. This verdant and beautiful village has a small but important Sri-Vaishnava temple that is dedicated to Sri Channa Keshava Perumal and his consort Sri Sowmyanaayaki Thaayaar. But it is also famous for the fact that this is the only temple where there is a separate sannidhi for Garuda. In all other temples, Garuda is installed on the Dwajasthambam or flag post in front of the temple. The temple is over 1,000 years old and was visited by the Vaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya during his travels. Garuda here is known as Vainatheya or son of Vinutha.
The stories associated with the temple are nothing short of miracles and goes something like this. The Chennakeshava temple at Belur had placed an order for a wooden Garuda Vahana to a sculptor in Kanchipuram. When it was ready, a group set out on a journey to bring it to Belur. During the journey, the convoy that was transporting the Vahana decided to stop for the night at Bindiganavile. That night, the leader of the caravan had a dream wherein Garuda spoke to him and said, “We have arrived at Keshava’s abode. I would like to stay here to serve the Lord. Let us go no further.” The leader dismissed the request as just a dream and the convoy prepared to leave Bindignavile. But to their surprise, the Garuda Vahana refused to move. The same night, the local village official also had a dream where he was asked to get the temple ready for installation of the Vahana. In deference to Lord Garuda’s wishes, he was installed as the ‘Archamurthy’, which means there are daily poojas performed to him. Here also Vainatheya blesses the childless couples with progeny
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