Thursday, August 6, 2009

NARASIMHA TEMPLES


RADHE KRISHNA 06-08-2009



NARASIMHA TEMPLES








The series of articles on this blog will be on Narasimha temples
in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere. These articles can be viewed
in http://jwalamanisu.blogspot.com .
My blog on Random Expressions can be viewed
on http://aares28.blogspot.com.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
At
Anthili

Anthili is a non-descript village about 2 kms south of Arakanda Nallur
Police Station on the banks of River South Pennai. Arakanda
Nallur is a Railway Station close to Tirukkoviloor on the
Villupuram- Tirukkoviloor route. Arakanda Nallur is also
connected by road. The temple at Anthili is open from 7 a.m.
to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. If prior intimation is given
to the Baktha Jana Sabha at Ph no. 04153-254098, special
poojas can be arranged.

Coming to the stahala puranam, Lord Maha Vishnu in the form of
Narasimha came out of a granite pillar to kill Hiranyakasibu,
the father & tormentor of Prahlad. In this avtar, the Lord
rushed to help Prahlad without calling his vahanam, Garuda.
So also in Gajendra Moksha. These caused much anxiety to
Garuda who felt extremely depressed on being left out. He
left Vaikuntam and started doing penance at Anthili. The
severe penance of Garuda pleased the Lord who appeared
before him and asked him the reasons for his penance.
Having stated the reasons, Garuda requested the Lord to
relieve him of his anxiety & depression somehow. Then
and there the Lord gave him darshan as Lord Narasimha with
Mahalakshmi seated on his lap. Garuda pleaded that this
darshan should be to the people at large. Due to Garuda’s penance,
Anthili thus became a sacred spot for all pilgrims.
The Madhwa seer Sri Vyasarajar visited Anthili and had darshan
of the Lord on top of a small hillock that looked
liked Garuda to him.
The same Vyasarajar became Sri Raghavendra in his next
birth. Sri Vyasarajar also consecrated a temple for
Hanuman during the glorious reign of the Vijayanagar
Emperors.
Subsequently,
due to continuous raids by infidels, the temple lost
its glory & importance. In its dilapidated state, the
temple was well looked after by Sri Anthili Achar and
Paranur Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal renovated the
temple. Anthili Baktha Jana Sabha, the villagers and
devotees, are now looking after the temple. The
kumbhabhishekam for this temple took place on 07 June
2004.
At the temple,
the Lord is with Mahalakshmi on his lap. The idol is
small but the Lord’s glory is great.
There are in all 11 important Narasimha
kshetrams in Tamil Nadu besides Anthili. They are:

1. Parikkal near Villupuram.

2. Singri near Pondicherry and Cuddalore.

3. Singaperumal Kovil near Chengalpet.
4.
Poovarasan Kuppam near Panruti.

5. Sholingar near Walajapet.

6. Polur near Tiruvannamalai.

7. Sinthalavadi near Trichy.

8. Namakkal near Salem.

9. Singar Koil near Vellore.

10. Narasinghapuram near Tiruvallur.

11. Avaniyapuram near Kanchipuram.
Narasimha Kshetrams at places outside Tamil Nadu are:

1. Tirunarayanapuram at Melkote on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway.

2. Simhachalam near Visakapatnam, Andhra.

3. Katri near Kurnool, Andhra.

4. Ahobilam (Nava Narasimhar) near Nandyal, Andhra.

5. Mangalagiri near Vijayawada.

6. Yadagiri Gudda near Hyderabad, Andhra.
And

7. Kunjala near Sosale, Karnataka.

The author has visited only the following apart from Anthili:

1. Parikkal.

2. Singri.

3. Poovarasan Kuppam.

4. Singa Perumal Koil.

5. Sholingur.

6. Narasingapuram.
And

7. Simhachalam.
Posted on November 30, 2006
Since writing this article, the author has visited and had darshan
of Pancha Narasimhar at Avaniyapuram and Nava
Narasimhar at Ahobilam, hoping to visit Polur,
Singar Koil and Sinthalavadi.

The author has been given to understand that
there is a Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple at
Sevillimedu near Kanchipuram and one on the road
to Panruti from Villupuram(Tamil Nadu); would be
grateful if some one can throw light on these.
Similarly, the Author would like Yatris who have
visited the Pancha Narasimha Kshetrams near
Vijayawada to come out with descriptions of these
temples.
Posted on 09 Apr 2007

The Author visited recently the Yoga Narasimhar
Temple atop a hill in Melkote, the Narasimhar
temple at Simhachalam and the Panaka Narasimhar
Temple at Mangalagiri. The Narasimhar at
Simhachalam remains covered with sandal paste
throughout the year except for 3 days commencing
from Akshaya Thrithiyai day when a fresh paste of
sandal is applied.


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