This temple has sannidhis for Sri Ugra Narasimha, Sri Sowmya Nayaki, Sri Narasimha Nayaki, Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, Sri Yashoda Krishna and Sri Srinivasan, and alwars. Mother Yashoda is seen breast feeding Lord Sri Krishna in the sanctum. Lord Brahma is seen held from Lord Sri Krishna's nabhi. In the final days of Mahabharatha Arjuna requested Lord Sri Krishna to give him a darshan of Lord Sri Narasimha. Lord Sri Krishna mentioned that this would not be possible as the Narasimha was a Ugra (angry) avatar. He requested Lord Brahma to craft a stone replica of Ugra Narasimha. This was installed in Maddur temple. In earlier days Maddur was called "Arjunapuri" as Arjuna worshipped in this temple. Later, Kadamba rishi worshipped here using the waters from a nearby river stream. The place was called "Kadambha nadhi kshetram" because of this. This place later became Maddur owing to kings using the place for making bombs for warfare. Maddu meaning gunpowder in Kannada.
