This article is on – Sri Panakala Narasimha Swamy – Panakalarayudu
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.
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.
Mangalagiri – Sri Panakala Narasimha Swamy
Mangalagiri is where Lord Laxminarasimha made his abode, which is called “Panakalarayudu” (panakam is jaggery water). The greatness of this temple is that whatever quantity of Panakam is offered to the Lord whether it is full of a pot or even a spoon, he swallows half of the content and leaves the remaining as prasadam to the devotees.
In the times immemorial, this area was ruled by a king named Pariyathra. “Hraswasringi” was born to Pariyathra and his wife Susila. The boy who was born physically impaired and with several diseases, parents felt that if he visited several divine places, he may get rid of these fateful features of his body. While visiting many places, he arrived at this place. He meditated there for a long period.
Having found that his son did not return from his pilgrimage, his father Pariyathra went in search of his son and reached Mangalagiri and found his son meditating there. He requested his son to stop his meditation and return to the kingdom. Agreed to the request of his father, he prayed to God and turned himself into an Elephant first and later into a hillock.
The hill, which represents the form of an Elephant, has become the abode of Sri Narasimha Swamy. Another narration reads that Narasimha after killing a demon named “Samuchi” stayed back on this hill.
2 temples in Mangalagiri
There are two temples in Mangalagiri, one on the hill and the other in the village. The temple on the hills is the abode of Sri Panakala Narasimha Swamy. There is a ghat road leading to the main temple or one can climb around five hundred steps to reach the Sanctorum. The temple on the hill has a main entrance and a Sanctum. The Lord in the Sanctorum is facing the west side. The Lord will be seen leaning to the wall with his mouth wide open.
The devotees offer Panakam to the Lord. He accepts half of what has been offered to him and leaves the remaining which shall be taken as Prasadam by the devotees. The temple is open up to noon. There is a strong belief that the Lord is served by Devatas and Munis thereafter.
The temple in the village is special and attracts many devotees. The main entrance faces east has 11 stairs and is about 153 feet in height. Lord Laxmi Narasimha attributed with Conch, Chakra (wheel), Blessing palm, Goddess Laxmi seated on his left lap provides Darshan in a peaceful posture.
It is believed that this statue has been installed by Dharmaraja in Dwapara yuga. The divine consort of the Lord, Goddess Rajya Laxmi is adored in a separate temple therein. In the sub-Sanctum of the temple, Lord Sita Rama Laxmana bless the devotees. Sri Laxmi Pushkarini (a pond of water) and Prapatti Anjaneya Swamy also bless the devotees in nearby temples.
Lord Narasimha is one of the dasa avatars of Sri Maha Vishnu. However, the Narasimha avatar has a unique significance, especially in South India. There are many Narasimha temples throughout Telugu states.
Nine significant Temples (Nava Narasimha Temples)
Among them, nine significant temples depict different forms of the Lord. In addition to them, there are many Narasimha temples in both states. The reason for this is that Lord Narasimha, after killing Hiranya Kashipa, wandered in the forests of these states and ultimately married Sri Mahalaxmi who donned the avatar of Pratyangira/Chenchu Lakshmi (a tribal girl).
Ahobilam
Ahobilam is a major pilgrimage centre in South India, located in Allagadda mandal in Kurnool district (136 km) in AP. According to local legend, this is where Lord Narasimha blessed Prahlad and killed the demon Hiranya Kashipa. It is an important place of worship for Vaishnavites and is one of the 108 Divya Desams.
Though the main temple is on the plain ground, there are eight more on the hills of Nallamala. Only a few visit them except the one on the first hill, because of the rugged climb and desolate forest area.
Penchalakona
The temple, located 70 km from Nellore is amidst lush trees and waterfalls. It is a very popular temple in that area. The original name PenuSila Kona (penu=big; sila=stone; kona=forest) got transformed into Penchala Kona. The presiding deity in this shrine is Lord Lakshmi Narasimha, along with His consort Chenchu Lakshmi.
It is believed that Lord Narasimha, after killing Hiranya Kashipa, took a bath in the tank nearby and attained tranquillity.
Sri Kadiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is located in Kadiri, 94 km from Anantapur of AP. Kadiri is an alternative name for the Sanskrit word, Khadri, meaning canary wood or Indian mulberry. The town has derived its name from the legend that Sri Narasimha Swamy emerged from a Khadri tree.
Sri Kadiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple
The presiding deity in this temple is seen with eight hands and hence is known as Ashtabahu Narasimha. Prahlad is seen standing with folded hands beside the Lord. The amazing fact is that sweat comes out of the sacred idol after Abhishekam is performed. The more the priests wipe it, the more it oozes out of the idol.
Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy dwells in Simhachalam, on the outskirts of Vishakhapatnam. Facing West, the temple is built in the Kalinga architectural style atop a scenic hill. The idol is a composite form of Varaha and Narasimha.
The main idol is always smeared with sandalwood paste (to ward off the ferocity) in an oval shape which is removed only once a year on Vaisakha Sudha Tadiya. The oval form is decorated with thirunama on it. This temple is very popular in the northern Andhra districts. Locals fondly refer to the deity as “Simhadri Appanna”.
Antarvedi
Antharvedi is located at a distance of 130 km from Kakinada, and 100 km from Rajahmundry. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple is situated at the estuary i.e., where the Bay of Bengal and Vashista Godavari converge. It is the place where Lord Brahma performed Rudrayaga and installed Lord Neela Kantheswara.
As that place was made a stage or “Vedik” to perform the Yaga, it was named as “ANTARVEDI”. It is the place where Lord Narasimha killed Rakta Vilochana, the son of Hiranyaksha, who was a menace to dharma.
Mangalagiri
Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
This temple is located at the foot of a hill and it is traced to the time of Yudhishtira. About 200 years ago a stupendous gopuram on the eastern gate was built. It is one of the tallest gopurs in South India and the only one of its kind in this part of India. It is 53ft. high and 49 feet wide with 11 tiers.
Panakala Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
This temple is on a hill. Lord Rama visited this temple. It was also visited by spiritual personages like Sri Adi Sankara, Ramanuja, Chaitanya Prabhu and Sri Krishna Deva Raya.
It is a regular practice in the temple to offer panakam (a beverage made of jaggery and water)as naivedya. The peculiarity of the above offering is that the Lord receives it with a gurgling sound while the beverage is poured into his mouth (whatever the quantity).
Half of the quantity of the beverage comes out of his mouth which is distributed as prasad. Another mysterious fact is the absence of flies or ants of any kind on the hill. Nobody knows where to and how the Panakam goes leaving the entire area always dry.
Vedadri
This temple is right on the banks of the Krishna. Here Lord Narasimha is in Yoga mudra, hence called Yoga Narasimha. The temple can be reached from the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway via Jaggayyapet (15 km). In addition to the main deity, Sri Jwala Narasimha Swamy is also on the hillock, which can be approached from within the temple.
Besides this, Swamy manifests as a hugeSaligrama in the river which is also worshipped by the devotees.
Yadadri (Yadagiri Gutta)
Yadagiri Gutta is 60 km from Hyderabad and is near Bhongir. The deity is in a cave on a hillock. He is also called Yadagiri hence the name Yadagiri Gutta (hill). Recently, it has been renamed as Yadadri. Currently, the temple is being renovated in a big way.
It dates back to Treta Yuga when Yada rishi, the son of the great sage RishyaSrung and Santa Devi did penance inside a cave. Lord Narasimha revealed himself in five different forms Jwala, Yogananda, Gandabherunda, Ugra and Lakshmi narasimha.
It is also called as Pancha Narasimha Kshetram. The idol disappeared after some time but many years later He revealed himself as five majestic avatars through a devout lady.
Dharmapuri
Dharmapuri is situated at a distance of about 28–30 km from Jagityal town and 42 km from Manchiryal railway station on Khazipet- Balharsha line. There is a rare temple of Dattatreya here. It is said that at Dharmapuri, NarasiAha Deva meditated in Yoga mudra, hence worshipped as Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.
Apart from the main deity of the temple of Lord Sri Narasimha, there are temples of Brahma Dev and Sri Rama Lingeshwara Swamy here. Because there are three deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar in the same temple, this temple is also known as Trimurthy Kshetram.
Some believe that Malyadri is one of the Nava Narasimhas (Nava Narasimha Temples) of Telugu states and not Kadiri. Hence, it is also included here
Malyadri
This temple is very popular in the Prakasam district of AP. One can reach it from Singaraya Konda, a town 144 km from Guntur. Here, Swamy manifests himself as Jwala Narasimha in a cave. Malyadri means hillocks in the form of a mala i.e. a garland of hillocks. It is said that Swamy manifested here at the request of Agastya Rishi.
The idol blesses the devotees with the fourth hand. Swamy grants blessings to Yakshas, Gandharvas, Sidhas, and Devamunis for six days (Sunday to Friday) and to the mortals (Manavas) only on Saturdays.
There are several huge natural caves in this area, all formed of a single stone. Though the temple is open only for one day in a week, from dawn to dusk, thousands of devotees throng this place. People perform weddings all through the year on this holy hill, without bothering about auspicious muhurt.
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