This article is on – Sri Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Vedadri
Lord Narasimha
Lord Narasimha is the most revered God of the people of Andhra. Several famous temples of Lord Narasimha make their presence felt throughout Andhra Pradesh. Of many temples of Narasimha spread all over, the five temples are very important.
5 Divine Temples
The five divine temples are situated at
- Mangalagiri,
- Vedadri,
- Mattapalli,
- Vadapalli, and
- Kethavaram.
These temples which are along the banks of river Krishna are so great that whoever serves, visits, performs adoration and just thinks of them gets their fears, omen from planets, sins from several births removed and they are blessed by the Lord with health, wealth and prosperity.
Vedadri
Vedadri is in Jaggayya Peta Mandal in Krishna District. It is 15 Km from Muktyala, 18 Km from Jaggayyapeta and 10 Km from Chilakallu.
Vedadri is a great place where Sri Narasimha Swamy is named as “Snanalayaa” (who takes a whole bath) as the Lord blesses all those who take a bath in the holy river Krishna as if they have taken bath in the river along with the Lord himself. (click here for the temple location on Google Maps)
At the beginning of the creation of this universe, a demon named, “Somakasura” stole the Vedas and hid at the bottom of the Ocean. Lord Vishnu incarnated as a “fish” (matsyavataram), killed the demon and saved the Vedas from destruction.
All divine people representing the Vedas prayed to the Lord to bless them with a boon of honour to remain attached to the Lord all the time, which the Lord declined at that stage and however blessed them that their desire shall be fulfilled in later years and till that time, he advised them to take the shape of “Salagrama” (a revered stone form) and remain in the river Krishna.
In the later period, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha demolished Hiranya Kasipa and as per word given to the men of Vedas, seated there as “Jwala Narasimha Swamy”.
Lord Brahma took Jwala Narasimha to his abode, Satya Loka, and immediately the entire Satya Loka was demolished of fire. He then carried him into river Krishna and established him on the “Salagram hill”. The great rishis like Rishyasringa, kings and men prayed to the Lord who later set himself as “Yogananda Narasimha Swamy”.
Pancha Narasimhakshethra
The temple history further narrates that, the Lord incarnated in a temple, approximately five Kilometer to the east, as “Veera Narasimha Murthy” when “Garutmantha” requested and as “Laxmi Narasimha” on the request of forest gods.
Thus Vedadri has the distinction of being adored as “Pancha Narasimhakshethra” (a place where five temples of Narasimha at one place) as Laxmi Narasimha named as Jwala, Salagrama, Yogananda, Veera, Laxmi Narasimha incarnated at one place.
Many munis heard the dictum of the Lord from words emanating from the sky in Kaliyuga and started praying to the Lord at this place. Later, village people started offering prayers to the Lord here.
The main temple is facing west in Vedadri. The temple has Sanctum and Sanctorum and Sri Yogananda Narasimha Swamy occupies this temple.
