VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Malayadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple / వారానికి ఒక్కసారే దర్శనమిచ్చే స్వామివారు, Malakonda, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh.

Thursday, 13 July 2023

Sri Malayadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple / వారానికి ఒక్కసారే దర్శనమిచ్చే స్వామివారు, Malakonda, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh.

The visit to this Sri Malayadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple was a part of the “Shiva and Vishnu Temples/Rock cut Cave temples of Andhra Pradesh Visit”, on 24^th June 25^th June 2023. Even though this temple visit was not included in the list earlier, added to Saturday’s list, since this temple will be kept open for darshan only on Saturdays.

This is one of the Nava Narasimha Temples of Andhra Pradesh. This Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple is also called Sri Malayadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. The hill range has a wide variety of rocks and rock formations, like Mica mixed, conglomerated pebbles/chips like stones, which are not usually seen in a single geological feature.

Moolavar : Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar

Consort : Sri Lakshmi

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

The main temple on the top of the Hill and the Cave Temple face east. The Top temple may be accessed either through 1000 and odd steps or through a vehicle. Entrance arches are on ground level and one is at the vehicle parking place. The steps are not uniform and narrow in many places. A Shiva Sannidhi in a natural cave is on the way.

Moolavar Narasimhar is in a sitting posture with Lakshmi sitting on his left lap. Moolavar has with big mustache. Narasimhar and Lakshmi are in separate sannidhis in the bottom Cave shrine. There is a Shiva Shrine one step below the cave Shrine.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple on the top of the hill is with sanctum sanctorum and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam similar to Perumal temples.

One level below the top is a Cave Shrine for Narasimhar and Maha Lakshmi. Both are in separate shrines. This is a natural cave and walls and pillars are constructed, to form the sanctum sanctorum and mandapam. Stucco Vimanas are constructed just above the shrines. A two-tier vesara Vimanam is above the Narasimhar shrine. Stucco images of Narasimhar, and Lakshmi Narasimhar are on the tala and greeva koshtas. An ekatala vesara Vimanam is above Maha Lakshmi’s shrine.

Hill Top Shrine

Hill Top Shrine Adhistanam

Cave Shrine

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple at the top of the Hill is more than 2000 years old. There are no inscriptions found to prove its antiquity.

LEGENDS

Once Sri Narayanan, ie Maha Vishnu asked the wishes of Maha Lakshmi. She said that only a few Divya Kshethras are there on the earth and Devotees found it difficult to have the darshan of all the temples. As per Maha Lakshmi’s wishes, Sri Narayanan created Divya Kshethras on the mountains in the form of Garland. They were called Malakonda, which was corrupted to the present name of Malayadri.

As per the legend of Lakshmi Narasimhar, Hiranyaksa / Hiranyakasipu, the demon King did penance on Brahma to get a boon of immortality, and should not be killed neither by the God nor animals, neither inside nor outside of the residence, neither on the earth nor on the sky, neither day nor night. Brahma gave the boon as requested by Hiranyakasipu. After getting the boon he tortured the Devas and declared himself, as the supreme, and no one should pronounce Maha Vishnu’s name.

Bhaktha Prahalad, his son was an ardent devotee of Maha Vishnu. He used to chant the name of Maha Vishnu always and refused to accept Hiranyakasipu as the supreme. This made him angry and tried to kill his own son many times and was saved by Maha Vishnu.

One day, Hiranyakasipu asked whether his God was present everywhere..?. Prahalad replied that Maha Vishnu would be present in the Pillar, also in a thirumbu / a small object. Angered Hiranyakasipu hit the pillar with his mace. Maha Vishnu took the Narasimha avatar came from the Pillar killed Hiranyakasipu with his nails and drank the demon’s blood. After killing Hiranyakasipu, Narasimhar has become more ferocious. Brahma and Devas requested Prahalad to pacify Narasimha. When his attempt failed, Devas requested Maha Lakshmi and sought her help. Maha Lakshmi sat on Narasimhar’s left thigh, and Narasimhar became calm. Hence Narasimhar is called as Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas on Saturdays, special poojas will be held on Narasimhar Jayanthi.

On Saturdays, Devotees prepare Sweet Pongal and offer a small shrine in front of a 4 pillar mandapam, do Ko poojas, tonsuring of entire family or individuals, etc are done as a part of thanksgiving to Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar after their wishes are fulfilled.