Anant Narasimha Temple, Veling

The small village of Savoi-Verem in Ponda taluka is the site of the only temple dedicated to Lord Anant in the state of Goa. The temple is about 45 kms away from the capital city of Panaji.

This temple unlike other temples in Goa, has only a tiled pyramid as roof and surprisingly no domes. The walls too, are only plain with plastering. But the insides are in stark contrast to the outside. There is a presence of all the seven colors of the rainbow in all the intricate wooden carvings.

The Ananta temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, appearing here in his incarnation as Ananta, the serpent. Although no definite date is available for its original construction, the temple appears to be quite ancient. The current building is circa 1923 and has pillars with intricate wooden carvings and plated with silver.

The idol of the deity is carved in black stone and Lord Vishnu is shown here in his Anantashayya (a sleeping position where the Lord rests on the multi-headed snake king Seshnaga, whose heads shelter the head of the Lord like an umbrella). This is the only temple in Goa showing Lord Vishnu in this special posture.

The sprawling temple complex also consists of temples of other deities - Shantadurga, Kamini, Narayan and Grampurush.

A number of festivals are celebrated at the temple including Shibikotsav in which the palakhi (palanquin) of Lord Ananta is carried by devotees on their shoulders around the temple complex.

Avaniyapuram

Five Lords of a hill temple

THIS IS a temple with a difference. Located at Avaniyapuram, 25 km from Wandavasi, en route Arani and Cheyyar Dam in North Arcot District, it is a hill abode of two deities. One has to climb 70 steps to reach the first deity, Lord Narasimha, and ascend another 114 to have a darshan of Lord Venkateswara. (Not actually a difficult task compared to Sholingur or the Rock Fort Uchi Pillaiyar of Tiruchi.)

At Avaniyapuram, Lord Narasimha is found in a small cave (technically known as kudavarai koil). A three-tier Rajagopuram welcomes beckons one with its grace and grandeur. We first pay obeisance to Anjaneya before entering the shrine of Lord Narasimha. There is Yoga Narasimha in the same hill at a higher altitude where Lord Venkateswara is housed. Here Lord Narasimha is in a sitting posture, Mahalakshmi Thayar seated on his left thigh. His left arm is around His Consort and His right hand is in abyaha hasta position. His upper hands are holding the chakra and the conch. The unique feature in this temple is that Mahalakshmi Thayar has the face of a lioness. The utsava idol of Lord Narasimha also has the face of a lion. He has four hands and is in standing position flanked on either side by Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. Besides there is a tiny Narasimha Moorthy in the shrine making it three images of the deity.

There is a separate shrine for Alarmelmangai Thayar near the Narasimha temple. Lord Venkateswara is atop at the hill. There are five Narasimha moorthies in all looking alike next to the Thayar sannidhi. Thus we have eight Narasimha idols and it makes a total of nine including the Yoga Narasimha atop the hill. We also find idols of Adhi Sesha and Kalinga Nardana Krishna in Pancha Narasimhar sannidhi. The utsava moorthy of Lord Venkateswara blesses us in an astonishing position in the Narasimha Sannidhi itself.

Now we proceed to the abode of Lord Venkateswara at the top. We find Lord Srinivasa standing armed with chakra and conch. There is a separate cave like enclosure in the prahara of Lord Venkateswara where we see Lord Varadaraja and Perundevi Thayar. Lord Ranganatha is seen on His serpentine bed with Ranganayaki Thayar. Yoga Narasimha is in a sitting position along with Amirdavalli Thayar. Thus we see all the main pancha divya desa moorthies — Kanchi, Srirangam, Sholingur, Tirumala and Ahobilam. Avani means lion and the Lord is said to have obliged Brigu Maharishi by appearing before him in the forms of five divya desa deities.

The temple is believed to have been built during the Pallava regime. Popular festivals here are Srijayanti, Deepavali and Vaikunta Ekadasi. Lord Venkateswara Brahmotsavam is celebrated on a very grand scale in the Tamil month of Purattasi and Lord Narasimha has his parivettai utsavam in Panguni. It is heartening to note that all the shrines in the hill temple are well maintained, a testimony to the grace of Lord Narasimha and Venkateswara.

Maddur


The Ugra Narasimha Swamy Temple situated in Maddur a place in between Bangalore and Mysore has a Special significance.

The Sthala Puranams says that In Dwapara Yuga Arjuna asked Lord Sri Krishna the he wished to see the Narasimha Avatara , for that Lord Sri Krishna told that it is not possible but he can arrange for a darshan of Ugra Narasimha and he asked him to proceed to the present day Maddur. The old timers say the Maddur was known as Arjunapuri also . Purans says that Sri Kadamba Rishi lived here and worshipped the Lord due to this it is also know as Kadamba Kshetra and Nadi which is flowing here is also know as Kadamba Nadi.

Now we enter the Small and compact temple of Lord Ugra Narasimha Swamy of Maddur. And here Swamy gives you darshan with eight hands and Three eyes which is a very rare sight. With two hands he is tearing the Asura Hiranya Kasipu who is lying in his lap, with other two hands he is wearing the Hiranya Kasipu's Intestine as Mala, then in the other two hands he is holding Pasha and Ankusha and in other two hands as usual he is holding the Shanku and Chakara. At the feet of lord our Garuthaman stands on left side and on the right Bhaktha Prahalada is standing in Posture doing Namskaram.

It is said that Swamis third eye came when he was doing the Hiranya Kasipu's Samhara. It is very rare to see a Thinetra Dari Narasimha ( Here we can recollect the the Narasimha Sostra which describes the lord Narasimha as Jwala Kesham , Tri Netram)

Now we have the darshan of our Lord Ugra Narasimha and come out. Then we see a Sannidhi for Lord Srinivasa, Then next Sannidhi is of Matha Yashode breast feeding Our Lord Kuti Krishnan It is also a rare

Murthy , then we step into praharam and on the left side corner we find Goddess Sowmiya Nayaki and then after having her darshan we move to right side corner and we see Goddess Narasimha Nayaki. Then we walk further we come across Sannidhi of Patabhishekam Ramar then once we come out of praharam we immediately find the Sannidhi for Udayavar, Namalwar and Swami Desikan.

It is said these temples were reconstructed during the period of Hoysala Kings regime. It is said if you pray sincerely and say that you will do Thirumanjanam to Lord your wishes will be fulfilled . It is also said that if childless couple do Thirumanjanam and then after manjalkappu of perumal is taken out and put in a vessel and with that the childless couple is given a bath and then the couple will be blessed with a child. One more thing is also done, If you land up without notice and somebody else is doing the Thirumanjanam then you can pay some token amount to the person who is getting the Thirumanjanam done and then you can undergo the same ritual as mentioned above.

The Temple Timings are Daily Morning 8.00 Am to 12.00 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm. On Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays Morning 10.30 Am - 2.30 Pm and Evening 5.30 Pm to 8.30 Pm.

For Thirumanjanam of Lord Narasimha the charges are Rs.300/= .

For Neyvedhanam for one ser the cost is : Puliyodarai =Rs.160/-, Chakarai Pongal = Rs.125/- , Kesari Bath = Rs.60/-

Please contact anyone of the following for the sevas listed above.

Sri T Narayana Bhattar or M.G.Singa Iyengar Bhattar or K R Manjunath - Parapethagar ,
Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple & Sri Vardharaja Swamy Temple
Fort ,Maddur , Mandya District,
Karnataka India

The temple's address is:
Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple or Sri Vardharaja Swamy Temple,
Fort ,Maddur , Mandya District,
Telephone: +91 832 233680 ( Singa Iyengar ) , 91 832 232610 ( T Narayana) , 91 832 233056 ( Manjunath ) ; Mobile # of Narayana Bhattar : 9844421388
Sri Narayana Bhattar or M.G.Singa Iyengar Bhattar may be contacted here. If any Seva is to be conducted, a week's time should suffice to make arrangements.

Sri Adi Shankaracharya LakshmiNarsimha Peetam
Sri Adi Sankararchaya Sharada Lakshmi Narasimha Peetam
Sree Math, Hariharapura - 577 120
Koppa Taluk, Chikmagalur District,Karnataka State, India


Sri Adi Shankaracharya LakshmiNarsimha Peetam - History And Lineage
This Peetam at Sree Math, Hariharapura is very ancient. This holy place, Hariharapura is in Chikmagalur Dist., Karnataka State, India and is situated on the NH 13 between Koppa and Sringeri, on the banks of river Thunga, has three important divine specialties and this place had been a Yaga Bhoomi, Tapo Bhoomi and Jnana Bhoomi.


YAGA BHOOMI: (why it is considered sacred, auspicious and effective to perform Homas and Yagas here?)

DHASKSHASHRAMA :
As per Puranas, the legend is that Dakshabrahma desired to perform a Maha Yajna on the banks of the river Thunga. He invited all Devathas except his son-in-law, Parashiva, whom he did not like in the first place. Sati Devi, daughter of Daksha Brahma and consort of Parashiva came to witness the Yajna and was insulted by her father in front of the entire assembled gathering. Unable to bear the insult on Parashiva, she jumped into the yajna kunda and died. Angered by the loss of Sati Devi, Parashiva ordered Veerabadra to destroy the sacrificial altar. Veerabadra and his retinue destroyed the sacrificial altar after chopping off Daksha's head. Then pacified by the entreaties of Sages and other holy men, Lord Parashiva appeared from the Yajnakunda in the form of "Dakshahara Someshwara" and blessed everyone. Parashiva blessed Daksha and an available head of a goat was fixed to him and the Daksha Yajna was performed with Blessings of Parashiva. As a proof of this holy incident, even today, we find an ancient temple dedicated to Swayambhu Dakshahara Someshwara at Hariharapura.


On account of this, Hariharapura is considered for a long time as a holy, auspicious and sacred place to perform Yajna, Yagas Homa and Havanas.

TAPO BHOOMI (Agastyashrama) As per Puranas, once Sage Vashista was cursed to take another body. Lord Brahma’s order was carried out and through Mitra and Varuna, two Maharshis were born. First came Maharshi Agastya. Then came Vashista, who knew the secrets of the Vedas. Agastya did not need to learn the Vedas and other subjects through someone. He knew everything at birth. He was an expert in the use of weapons. He became very famous. Sage Agnivesha was the disciple of Agastya. Agnivesha was the preceptor of Dronacharya. Agastya traveled throughout the length and breadth of Bharatha boomi. Then on the request of Devas and Maharshis to stop the growth of Vindhya hill, he came to the south and settled down in the southern part in the Western Ghats.Sage Agastya had his Ashrama set here and did his penance. He was worshipping the idol of Lord Lakshminarasimha Swamy which later came to his Parashisya (shisya’s shisya) Sage Govinda Yogi.From him this idol came to one young boy, Krishna, who worshipping Lord Lakshminarasimha continued his severe penance here.

DHASKSHASHRAMA :

At this time, Bhagavadpada Sri Adi Sankaracharya, reincarnation of Lord Shiva, arrived here with Mother Sharada following. He met young Krishna and hearing all information, initiated Upadesha to Sri Krishna and moved by the diving vibrations of this place, chose to draw and install Sri Chakra and consecrated Mother Sharadamba, leaving Krishna to continue his Tapas. Some time later, the principal disciple of Sri Adi Sankara, Sri Sri Sureshwaracharya upon his visit to this place, was much pleased with the own efforts and tapas of Sri Krishna. He initiated Sri Krishna to Sanyas with the title of ‘SWAYAMPRAKASHA SARASWATHI”. And the SRI ADISHANKARACHARYA SHARADA LAKMINARASIMHA PEETAM


According to 14th Century ‘shashanas’ (stone inscriptions) this places was ruled by Harihara Maharaya, the IInd Emperor of Vijayanagara empire, who had recognized this mutt and had also conferred titles to the then Swamiji and gifted lands to the mutt. This place was then called "Kapalam" prior to naming of this place as Hariharapura. (Puranic name of the place was DAKASHRAMA, later historical name became Kapalam, the name indicating that it is a “Shiva Kshetra”). This mutt is one of the Ancient mutts propagating Advaitha Philosophy. It has more than 1000 years history behind it.

In the Gazetter complied during the beginning of 19th century by Mr.Luis Rice and later in the year 1928 by Sri C.Hayavadana Rao's gazetter records:- "from the inscriptions at the place, it appears to been an Agrahara established in 1418 by Sambanna Wodeyar of Agra in the reign of Harihararaya of Vijayanagar and later named after him. The religious establishment at Sringeri was intimately connected with the foundation Vijayanagar empire, and Harihara, one of the brothers from whom the Royal line had descended, gave his name to the Agrahara of Hariharapura.

Agiripalli Sri Shobhanachala Swamy Temple



Agiripalli Sri Shobhanachala Swamy Temple is sacred to all Sri
Vaishnavas. The story, as we were told by our elders, goes like this.

Sri Mahavishnu and Sri Mahadeva were visiting the earth. It was
evening time, when they were near this place. They were looking for a
place to stay over for the night. They saw this place among the
mountains and thick green forest. They were impressed with the scenic
beauty and the tranquility of the place. They decided to spend the
night in the scenic and peaceful environment. Sri Mahavishnu wanted
to perform evening sandhya vandanam and requested Sri Mahadeva to
find a suitable place for their stay. Sri Mahadeva, after searching
for a while, found a nice place on the top of the mountain and
settled down there, forgetting to inform Sri Maha Vishnu. Sri Maha
Vishnu waited for some time for Sri Maha Deva to return, but finding
that Sri Maha Deva did not come back, he went in search of him. When
he found that Sri Maha Deva settled down comfortably on the top of
the mountain, Sri Maha Vishnu felt some what angry and thumped the
head of Sri Maha Deva with his fist and cursed that no body will
visit him without having the Darshan of self (Sri Maha Visnu). Saying
this, Sri Maha Vishnu came down in two steps and settled down at the
foot of the Mountain.

Even now, one can notice the impression of the fingers on the top of
the sacred Siva Lingam and the two large stone slabs (representing
the imprint of the foot steps of the Lord).

Lord Sri Maha Vishnu is known in this place as Sri Shobhanachala
Swamy (Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy) with Mother Sri Rajya Lakshmi.
Lord Sri Maha Vishnu is considered here as Shobana or happy or shanta
Murty (after pacification by Bhakta Prahlada).

In the Zamindari days (about 50 years ago), the temple vibhavam is
the talk of every one in Krishna and Guntur Districts. Agiripalli
Ratha Saptami (celebrated in Chaitra Lunar Month??) used to be listed
as an important event in the Telugu Calendars of those times. On that
day Perumal with Sri Maha Lskshmi is taken round the mountain in a
chariot (Ratham) drawn by people. The Ratham is stored in a tall
building in front of the temple, which is a land mark. There is a
light (Akhandam) on the mountain that is visible even from the
outskirts of Vijayawada city. People believe that this Akhandam
(endless) lights through out the day and night and never
extinguishes. If that happens (God forbid), that is Pralayam or the
end of the world.

People used to tell us the reverence of the Nuzivid Zamindars towards
the Lord. It appears, as the story goes, that the Lord used to appear
in the dream of the Zamindars and demand that the Pooja and the
Bhogam should be performed immediately. The next day, the Zamindar
would visit the temple in Agiripalli and obey the orders of the Lord.
There used to be a Sanskrit Pathasala in Agiripalli village, which is
well known.

Agiripalli village is well laid out. The village is in a square
shape at the foot of the mountain, virtually at the foot of the feet
of the Lord. There are small hamlets attached to the village. There
are four streets, enveloping the square. At the four corners, there
are four Koluvu Mandapams. The One Great Mantapam known as Kotayi is
where the Lord comes down on important Utsavam days like in Dhanur
Masam, Chaitra Masam (Utsavas) and is in Koluvu (Durbar), with all
the alankaranams and Sevas. In our child hood days, it appeared to us
that every body used to participate in those festivities with
devotion. Among the Perumalla bhogams, apart from the traditional
bhogams which Shri Vaishnavas offer to the Lord, the Chitti Garelu
(miniature adas) are very famous. Even now, when we think of those
Chitti Garelu, we feel the presence of the Lord and the pleasant
taste of his Maha Prasadam.

Thuravoor thirumala Sree Lakshmi Narasimha temple is one of the famous temples in southern kerala is renowned for its history and glorious past. The temple situated at a distance of 25 kms from the city of Kochi byroad and 45 kms away from the international airport of Kochi is famous throughout the kerala state aswell as Karnataka state. The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha the presiding diety in this centuries old temple.

The temple is a venue for the famous pallivetta which is held in the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May) which is attended by hundreds of devotees from Gowda Saraswat Brahmins (GSB) community members even from far away places. The annual festival with rituals and poojas of eight days becomes resplendent on the seventh day night
when the presiding diety with his consort arrives for a car festival in the evening. The high car decorated with deft artistry on wood with jasmine and many coloured flowers has a sturdy horse in the front with his front feet held high and with a saddle for the Lord to preside.

History

Sri Raval Naickan, a young business man and an ardent devotee of Lord Narasimha, came and settled in Thuravoor near the Vadakkanappan temple. He visited the temple every day without fail and attended the Deeparadhana from outside. In those days GSBs were not allowed inside other Hindu temples. He was not liked by the poojaris of the temple. One day the poojaris closed the temple early and even refused to give him any prasadam. With breaking heart, he prayed to Lord from outside the temple. He heard somebody asking him to go westward. He followed a light moving towards West. When he reached the location of the present temple, the light disappeared and he felt somebody telling him to have a prathista there. At that time two sculptors appeared there and Raval Naickan requested them to make a Narasimha Vigraha for him.
They made a silpalaya (an enclosure) and entered therein to make the vigraha. Raval Naickan waited for sometime and later impatiently peeped into the silpalaya since he could not hear any sound from inside. He found two Vigrahas there (one Ugra Narasimha and one Lekshmi Narasimha) and the sculptors missing. However, the Ugra Narasimha Vigraha was not fully finished with tip of a finger of one foot incomplete. Raval Naickan believed that the sculptors were divine (Vadakkanappan and Thekkanappan) and constructed a small temple there for the Narasimha Moorthy. He also constructed his house near to the temple. In the begining, the affairs of the temple were managed by Sri Raval Naickan himself and later when he became aged, handed over the governance to Cochin Tirumala Devaswom in 1704 AD. Thuravoor area was then part of the Cochin state. A new temple and agrasalas were constructed during this period. The extensive land owned by the temple and financial assistance for construction of the temple were donated by the Maharaja of Cochin. The original pratishta was facing West. A peepal tree and the althara is seen even today at the west gate of the temple. It was later believed that the declining agricultural yield in the vast paddy fields between the temple and the sea (towards west of the temple) and heavy sea erosion was due to the drishti of Narasimha murthy and hence the new temple and prathista was made facing East. The temple was financially very sound and had vast landed properties spread in Thuravoor and Varapuzha.
During the persecution of Konkanis in Cochin state, many GSBs shifted to Alleppey which was in Travancore state. The Ugra Narasimha vigraha from Thuravoor also was shifted to Alleppey Old Tirumala temple (along with the Venkatachalapathy idol from Cochin) in 1792 AD and eventually was installed in Alleppey Anantha Narayana Puram temple in 1852 AD. By this time Thuravoor became a part of Travancore State. After the death of Raja Sakthan Thampuran, many went back to Cochin. The new Raja of Cochin realised the importance of the Cochin Venkatachalapathy idol and demanded it back but in vain. The Venkatachalapathy idol was clandestinely taken back to Cochin on the midnight of 7th Feb 1853. The members in Thuravoor severed the ties with Cochin temple. This resulted in infights between community members in Cochin and Travancore states for ownership and control of the Thuravoor Temple and its vast properties.
The Cochin members filed a suit in Quilon Court in 1883 AD for this purpose. For some time, the temple was under a Receiver appointed by the Court. Later in 1895 AD, the Court decided that the Alleppey and Thuravoor temple belongs to the entire Community members (in the eight villages or Ashta gramas) of Travancore state. The Ashtagramas are Alleppey, Thuravoor, Shertallai, Purakkad, Kayamkulam, Quilon, Kottayam and Parur. Accordingly the Alleppey Anathanarayanapuram Thuravoor Tirumala Devaswom (AATTD) was formed and managed by elected members from the Ashtagramas. This Devaswom was very rich and initiated many educational projects. The Devaswom runs a High school and Teachers Training Institute near the temple at Thuravoor and a High School at Alleppey. The introduction of Kerala Land Reforms Act in 1963 relating to the fixation of ceiling on land holdings, changed the fate of Devaswom and AATTD lost most of its land holdings making its financial position weak.
A gold covered Flag mast was erected in 1949 AD. Till late sixties, during the annual festival, there was free Sadya (meal) in the temple for all community members on all the eight days with rice from paddy fields owned by the temple. However, at present it is limited only to one day and that too by sponsorship.

The temple owned a Gosala located next to the Elephant cottage until the late sixties and also had an elephant. The elephant of the temple was treated as a pet of the whole community. The most famous of the elephants was Gajendran which lived till 1970 AD. The elephant cottage is now non-existent and a Library and Reading room is constructed at this location. At present, the temple maintains a small Gosala located next to the Reading room on the south east side of the temple