Blessed Origins of the Temple

The sacred Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple of Gorur, located on the serene banks of the Hemavathi River, is one of Karnataka’s ancient spiritual treasures. Rooted in divine legend, the temple’s history begins with Gokarna Maharishi, who performed intense penance in this very region. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Narasimha manifested before him in a unique yogic posture on a stone slab. It is widely believed that the present deity of Gorur Yoga Narasimha Swamy is carved from this very sacred stone. Centuries later, the divine presence revealed itself again. Two pious brothers, Dodda Narasaiah and Chikka Narasaiah, witnessed a miraculous sight — a cow emptying its milk over an anthill on the riverbank every single day. Intrigued and spiritually stirred, the villagers removed the anthill and discovered the stone idol of Yoga Narasimha Swamy beneath it. The elders of the region consecrated the idol and built a humble shrine, marking the beginning of the temple as we know it today. The area was once known as Shata Rudra Yaga Puri, referring to the great sacrifices performed by sages in the region. Over time, the name evolved into Gorur, but the divine aura of the ancient land remains unchanged.