
Narasimha Jharni

Narasimha Jharni (local kannada: ನರಸಿಂಹ ಝರನಿ) is a small temple and also known as Narasimha Jharni cave temple, located in Bidar. It is associated with Lord Narasimha, an incarnation (avatar) of Hindu god Vishnu. The ancient temple is excavated in a 300 m tunnel under the Manichoola hill range situated at around 4.8 km from the city.
Temple description.
One has to wade through the cave wherein water height varies from 4 feet to 5 feet to have a glimpse of the deity's image formed on the laterite wall at the end of tunnel which is architectural wonder. Bats can be seen hanging on the roof of the cave and flying throughout the tunnel. It is a wonder that no one has been harmed by the bats till date. People utter the words "govinda-govinda" and "narasimha hari-hari" with devotion as "mantras". The end of the cave temple is the sanctum sanctorum which houses two deities – Lord Narasimha and a Shiva Linga which the demon Jharasura (Jalasura) had worshipped. Around eight people can stand and watch this spectacular sight as there is very little space in there. Others need to wait in the water for their turn. Since the water flows continuously and people walk in it, the water does not remain crystal clear. People carry kids into the temple on their shoulder. The water has sulphur in it and is said to have healing properties for people having skin problems. This temple is especially visited by many child seeking couples. As this is one of its kind temple, the overall experience can be thrilling & adventurous.
Narasimha Avatar.
Lord Vishnu guarded the child devotee "Prahlada", who was put to endless torture by his father "Hiranyakashipu", a Demon, for repeating God's name instead of his own. But "Prahlada" withstood all these tortures with steadfast devotion. Finally God appeared in the terrible form as Man-Lion, and killed the "Hiranyakashipu". In this Man-Lion incarnation, the God's emphasis is on devotion.
Mythology.
The fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord Narasimha, is half human and half lion. Legend says that Narasimha after killing Hiranyakashipu, slew another giant named Jharasura (Jalasura) who was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. While breathing his last, Jharasura beseeched Vishnu (or rather, his incarnation) to reside in the cave in which he was living and to grant boons to devotees. Granting last wish of his, Narasimha came to live in the cave. There is a roughly carved image of Narasimha on a stone wall at the end of the cave. After being killed, the demon turned into water and started flowing down the feet of the Lord Narasimha. The flow of water in the cave tunnel is continuous since then. The spring has never dried out.
Geology.
Narasimha Jharni is a tubular spring. Though Bidar is at an elevation, the temple is at a lower level. It is located amidst the slopes of the hilly terrain. The lateritic rock formation under the plateau enables percolation of surface water. Bidar urban plateau is of irregular shape, land stretching about 35.4 km in length and 19.3 km in width. The plateau consists of red laterite rocky crust, of a depth varying from 30.5 m to 152.4 m supported on impervious trap base.
This has resulted in springs at the cleavages between trap and laterite rocks. Such water springs can be observed in Bidar also at Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib Gurudwara, Papanasha Shiva Temple etc.
Significance.
People throng to this temple because it is believed that the Deity at the Narasimha Jharni Cave temple is a swayambhu roopam – in other words, the deity is self manifested and is very powerful.
Recent developments.
To facilitate the devotees, the cave temple has been Air conditioned and Electrified for lighting systems. The temple is open from 8AM to 6PM. The facilities at the temple are planned in a systematic way to draw more visitors. Creation of parking space, multi-purpose hall, rooms, overhead tank to ensure adequate water supply to the devotees and a percolation tank to make use of the water coming out of the cave has been taken up. A new approach road to the temple is being constructed to make a "systematic" entry to the temple. The pre-existing entry was not according to Vaastu. Now they are not allowing pilgrims to enter the cave as the water flow is slow.