Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple /ஸ்ரீ லக்ஷ்மி நருசிம்ஹர் திருக்கோவில்/ Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple, / Pon Vilaintha Kalathur / P.V. Kalathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Lakshminarasimhan Temple at P. V. Kalathur was a part of the Maha Vishnu and Shiva Temples visit at Singaperumal Koil, Kolathur ( Appur, Vembakkam ), Mettu Pudupakkam and Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, on 24^th October 2021. This temple is on the same street as Sri Pattabi ( Kothanda ) Ramar Temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Vaikunda Perumal

Utsavar    : Sri Lakshminarasimhan

Thayar     : Sri Lakshmi / Ahobilavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..

The temple faces east with a recently built 5-tier Rajagopuram. A 4-pillar mandapa is opposite to Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam / Kodimaram, and Garudan are after the Rajagopuram.  Moolavar is not with Simha Face and Maha Lakshmi is with him. Dwarapalakas paintings are at the entrance of Ardha mandapam. Stucco ( bas reliefs ) images of Lakshmi Narasimhar with Dwarapalakas, Hayagreevar, Andal, Alwars, Krishna, and Anjaneyar are in the mandapam. A Tonsuring  mandapam is on the right side of the Rajagopuram.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum Sanctorum / Vimanam is on the 3 anga upa peedam. From upa peedam to prastaram sanctum Sanctorum was constructed with stone. Madhalam is in the valabi. Koshata niches are shown with Makara Thorana. Garudan, Maha Vishnu are in the Makara thorana. A 3 tier Nagara Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. Vimanam thangis and Maha Vishnu’s avathara stucco images are on the Vimanam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old and no old inscriptions were found anywhere in the temple. During the Pallava and Chozha periods, this place was called Kalanthai, later turned to Kalathur, and is now called Pon Vilaintha Kalathur. As per the Thondai Mandala Sathagam, the Poet Pukazhenthi, who was born at this place holds the position of Royal Poet of Vikrama Chozha Pandyan.  Also, the 17^th Century Anthakakavi Veeraraghava Mudaliar, a blind and a great poet belongs to this place.  

Kodi Archana was performed from 05^th August 1970 to 11^th March 1973.  The 5-Tier Rajagopuram was constructed in the Year 1976.

On 24^th March 1995, a new temple chariot was made with the help of Villagers, Devotees, and Urupattoor S. Sampath Ayyangar, and a chariot procession was also carried out.

On 02^nd June 1991, Ashtabandhana Maha Samprokshanam was carried out.

02^nd April 1997, a new Dwajasthambam was installed. The same was replaced with a new one on 15^th November 2009.

On 18^th May 2016, Ashtaabandhana Maha Samprokshanam was conducted.

A 1.61-cent land was gifted to Naivedyam by Avuli Desikachariyar on 11^th November 2018. As per the temple records, the temple has 15.74 cents of land at various places.

A swarna kavasam was gifted to Moolavar Sri Narasimha Swamy on 06^th May 2001 in memory of Acchan Ramapriya.

Ashtabandhana Maha Samprokshanam was performed with the blessings of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Sriranga Ramanuja Mahadesikan ( Srimushnam ) on 8^th November 2013.  

The annual income of the temple as per the records of HR&CE, is: for Fasli 1400 - Rs.15,316/-; for Fasli 1401 - Rs.17,086/ - and for Fasli 1402- Rs.17,174/-. A Board of three trustees administers the temple. The temple is under the control of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Sri Nikamantha Mahadesikan stayed one night in this Village along with his daily worshiping Vigraha, Hayagreevar. On that night the farmers found that a horse was grazing in the paddy field. When they chased the horse out of the paddy field, it ran into the house where Desikan stayed and disappeared. The next day when the farmers reported, Sri Desikan went along with the farmers, to asses the farmer's statement. At the paddy field, He and the farmers found that all the paddy beads had turned into golden beads. Sri Desikan concluded that the horse that grazed in the previous was nothing but Hayagreevar. Hence this place was called Pon Vilaintha Kalathur ( Pon – Gold ).

In another legend, the utsavar has a connection with the Mahabalipuram Maha Vishnu Temple. During the sea flood, many Utsavar idols were washed away. Garudan was asked to take the Narasimhar Utsava idol and keep it safe. When Garudan was flying over this area, he found this place was an ideal and calm place for the Narasimhar. So the Narasimhar was installed at this place. 

In another legend, during the foreigner’s invasion, Lord Narasimhar himself told to take the Lakshmi Narasimhar to some safe place. Garuda will fly along with him. The Narasimhar may be installed at a place where Garudan lands on the earth. It is believed that Garudan landed at this place and Lakshmi Narasimhar was installed.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunda Ekadasi & Garuda Sevai, Rama Navami, Narasimha Jayanthi, Pavithra Utsavam and annual Brahmotsam with Chariot procession in the month and Panguni.

Thirumanjanam is performed on Pradosham time to cool down Lakshmi Narasimhar since Maha Vishnu took the form of Ugra Narasimhar to kill Hiranyakasipu on that day.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Landline and mobile numbers of Dharmakartha Avali Srinivasan ( Narayanan ) P. Pathri Narayanan and D Jaganathan ( Administration ) +91 9894425477 may be contacted for temple activities.

HOW TO REACH

This place Pon Vilaintha Kalathur is 10 KM from Chengalpattu, 44 KM from Tambaram, and 71 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Donors are behind the grill ( Bar..?)

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---