Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple – Inside Tirupati Balaji Temple

Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

On the Vimana Pradakshana path, in the northeast direction, there is a west-facing Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple. It has Mukha Mandapam (pillared entrance) Antharalamu (middle space) and Garbha Alayam (Sanctum Sanctorum).

In the Sanctum Sanctorum, there is a three-foot-high platform. On that platform west facing idol of Yoga Narasimha is installed. A small room in front of Sanctum Sanctorum is the Antharala of this temple. Through Mukha Mandapam, we have to enter into Antharalam first and then have darshan from the threshold of Sanctum Sanctorum. There is a provision for circumambulation also.

Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple
60 – Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple – Inside Tirupati Balaji Temple

Researchers believe that this temple would have come into existence somewhere between 1330 and 1360 A.D. Before the construction of this temple the idol of Yoga Narasimha was in a God forsaken place without any pooja. Ramanuja brought this idol from that God-forsaken place. After installing it in the temple he even made provision for circumambulation.

Sri Ramanuja's Service

As per inscription

In Kandadai Ramanuja Iyyangar’s inscription of 1469 A.D., there is a mention of this temple. Yoga Narasimha Swamy has been mentioned as Alagiya Singar (beautiful lion) and as Venkataththurai (Lion of Venkatachala mountain). Though daily pooja is not offered to this Yoga Narasimha, Naivedyams are offered daily. Every Saturday Abhishekam is performed to Yoga Narasimha. This will be followed by pooja and Naivedyam.

Every year in the month Vaisakha (the second month in the Hindu calendar) on a grand scale poojas are performed on Nrusimha Jayanthi day. On that day evening after Aradhana, Thomala seva and Archana ‘Thomala Dosapadi’ naivedyam are offered to Lord Venkateswara.

After this, the Archaka’s of Lord Venkateswara with Swamy “Sattari” come in a clockwise direction with all temple Paraphernalia like piped music, Chathra (umbrella) Chamara (fans) etc., to the Yoga Narasimha’s temple. They will perform Purusha Sooktha Abhishekam.

After Abhishekam new robes will be given to Him. He will have Pushpa Alankarana (adorning). At that time Jeeyangars and others will chant ‘Tirupallandu’ from Divya Prabandham (Tamil).

Afterwards, Prasadam vadapappu (green gram soaked in water) panakam (sweet jaggery water) chakkara pongali (sweet cooked rice) will be distributed. After this there will be Asthanam (court) Harati and discourse. This will be followed by the distribution of prasadam.

Annamacharya

Annamacharya the great devotee of Lord Venkateswara has composed so many keerthanas in praise of Yoga Narasimha. As far as Annamaiah is concerned there is no difference between Lord Venkateswara and Yoga Narasimha. One will be thrilled to have Vimana Darshan from Yoga Narasimha’s Mukha Mandapam.

Sanku Sthapana Sthambam (Foundation Laying Pillar)

Towards the northeast corner of Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, at the centre, you can see a pillar. At the behest of Lord Venkateswara, Thondaman Chakravarthy (emperor), it is said, had laid the foundation at this particular spot for the construction of Ananda Nilaya’s tower and prakaras (rampant).

This may not be true. Perhaps it may be a pillar erected for the foundation laying ceremony of Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple. On the four sides of this pillar, you can find the carved figure of Anjaneya.

It is firmly believed that whoever circumambulates this pillar with sincere devotion may succeed in having a house of his own. Let us circumambulate this pillar with the holy name of Lord Venkateswara on our lips!

Let us reverentially bow to Sri Venkata Narasimha

Sri Matpayonidhi Niketana Chakra paane!
Bhogeendra Bhoga Mani Raajitha! Punya Moorthe!
Yogeesa Saaswatha Saranya! Bhavabdhi potha!
Lakshmi Nrusimha! Mamadehi Karavalambam!!

YanaiMalai Narasingam Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

Narasingam Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple

To put an end to the atrocities of evildoers and to defend His true devotees Lord Mahavishnu took as many as 24 avatars of which the most popular are the ten avatars called Dasavatara. In almost all Vishnu temples we can have dharshan of Dasavataras in a separate sannidhi.

Of the main ten avatars, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna avataras are hailed as poorna avataras and the temple of these avataras in our country is legion. Next to these avataras, Narasimha avatara of the Lord is very popular and Narasimha temples particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are innumerable.

Though Lord Narasimha has taken abode in temples such as Ugra Narasimha, Yoga Narasimha, Prahlada Varada Narasimha and several other forms like Ahobilam Kshetra, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temples are too many.

Yanaimalai Narasingam Temple

In Tamil Nadu, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temples located in Sholingur, Parikkal, Singirikudi, Sevilimedu, Narasingapuram, and Velachery in Chennai are very popular.

The most popular Narasimha temple where the Lord appears as Yoga Narasimha is the one near Madurai City.

Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai
West tower of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

The very place where the cave temple of Sri Yoga Narasimha is situated is called Narasingam, a small village at the foothills of the massive rock called Yanaimalai just 8 km from the city of Madurai. Of the 108 Divya Desams, 18 are in Pandya country.

Of these 18, there are Divya Desams temples in Thirumalirumcholai known as Alagar Kovil at a distance of 20 Kms from Madurai and Thirumohur Sri Kalamega Perumal temple 10Kms from Madurai. Narasingam temple is located between Alagarkovil on the North and Thirumogur on the East.

It is believed that in 770 A.D. one Madurakavi also known as Maarankari who served as a minister under the Pandya king Parantaka Nedunchadayan (775-795) of the First Pandya Empire, commenced the construction of this temple and later the construction was completed with a Mukha Mantapam by his brother Maaran Eyhinan.

The Cave Temple

The temple has its puranic legend behind its inception.

Once, Sage Romasa did penance on the banks of Padma Sarovar (lotus tank pond) at the foot of Gajagiri (yanaimalai) and prayed to Lord Vishnu to give him darshan as Narasimha. As Narasimha appeared in his ugra (ferocious) form the rishis and devas were frightened by the intense heat of His fury and propitiated Him to calm down.

Prahlada and Sri Mahalakshmi rushed there, prayed, and pacified Sri Ugra Narasimha who calmed down and appeared to them as Yoga Narasimha, took abode in this kshetra as Yoga Narasimha and Sri Mahalakshmi also stayed here as Sri Narasinga Valli. The presence of the colossal rock running to more than a kilometer, serving as a natural backdrop to this impressive temple has its legend.

Gajagiri and Hasthigiri

According to Thiruvilayadal Purana which narrates the 64 leelas of Lord Sundareswara tells us that a Chola king sought the help of Jain monks to win the battle against a Pandya King. When the King implored Lord Shiva to save him, the Lord dispatched the Narasimha Asthra which turned the wild elephant into a massive rock.

Therefore, this rock is called Yanai Malai Tamil and is also known as Gajagiri and Hasthigiri, The rock resembles a crouching elephant.

Another Legend

There is another legend that tells that Lord Shiva took a holy dip in the Chakra Theertham here, worshipped Sri Yoga Narasimha, and got rid of his brahmahathiya dosham which afflicted him following his act of removing the head of Lord Brahma.

Therefore, it is believed that taking a holy dip in this theertham would absolve us of our sins.

The sprawling lotus pond on the right side of the temple arrests our attention with a lot of lotus flowers. The lotus pond, the gopuram, and the backdrop of the huge yanaimalai rock add charm and beauty to the temple. The entrance of the temple is adorned by a three-tier gopuram with five kalasas.

After the entrance, there is Maha mandapam followed by Artha mantapam and garbagruha. As we enter inside on our left is the separate south-facing sannidhi of Sri Mahalakshmi called Sri Narasingavalli Thayar in this temple. The gopuram and other mantapams belong to Pandya period.

Sri Narasingavalli Thayar - Yanaimalai Narasingam Temple

Yoga Narasimha

The Yoga Narasimha form of Sri Narasimha Moorthy is closely associated with Sudarsana Chakra, the prominent weapon of the panchayudas of Lord Maha Vishnu. In Sudarsana idols, Sri Sudarsana Moorthy with four, eight, or 16 hands wielding various weapons is shown within a shatkona (six points) yanthra, and behind this idol Yoga Narasimha in the yogic posture wielding Sudarsana in all his four hands gives dharshan.

Yanaimalai Narasingam is the most famous Yoga Narasimha Temple in Tamil Nadu.

YanaiMalai Narasingam Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy

In the Yanaimalai temple, the sanctum is bursting with the glorious and imposing presence of Lord Yoga Narasimha majestically seated in yoga posture with both hands on His folded legs with yoga battam. The six feet tall majestic moorthi has been carved on the rocks and a sanctum is formed in front of it.

The upper hands wield Sanka and Chakra and the front hands are held on the slightly lifted knees. In front of the Moola moorthi is the ursavautsava idol of Sri Narasimha in standing posture with four hands. The upper hands hold Sanka and chakra while the front right hand is in abhaya mudra and the left hand rests on the mace.

Inscriptions

There are several Brahmi and Tamil inscriptions in this temple. Two of them speak of the gifts granted to the temple by Pandya king Srivallabha (1101-1124 AD).

Two more inscriptions refer to the conquest of Chola country by Sundara Pandya (1216-1238AD). There are also references to the presence of Vedic scholars in the village and the gifts of lands to them by kings.

Festivals

Narasimha Jayanthi is celebrated grandly in Yanamalai Narasingam Yoga Narasimha temple. On Maasi Magam day (February) Sri Kalamega Perumal from Thirumogur visits Narasingam for the Gajendra Moksha festival.

On every Swathi Nakshathra day, special thirumanjanam and poojas are performed.

On Saturdays, hundreds of devotees throng the temple. Devotees believe that a dip in the holy Padma Theertham and Dharshan of Yoga Narasimha will absolve us of our sins and that Lord Narasimha will bestow on us His abundant grace for health, peace of mind, and santhana baghyam.

Arulmigu Yoga Narasinga Perumal Thiru Kovil Location

Narasingam village is just 2Kms from Othakkadai, Madurai – Melur main road. Othakkadai at a distance of 8Kms from Madurai is the bus stop from where one can engage an auto and visit both Thirumogur (4Kms from Othakkadai) and Narasingam temple. One can visit this temple and be blessed.

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