Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Sri Lakshmi Narasimmar Temple / ஶ்ரீ லக்ஷ்மி நரசிம்மர் கோயில், Avaniyapuram, Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple at Avaniyapuram was a part of the “Narasimha Temples Visit in Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai Districts”, on 24th March 2024, ie Panguni Uthiram day conducted by Bhakthi Ula, Pattabhi of Ashok Medicals Velachery, Chennai. Apart from Narasimhar Temples, Vallakottai Sri Subramaniar Temple, Thennangur Pandurangan Temple, and Perunagar Jyeshta Devi are also Covered in this visit. Avani in Sanskrit means Simham, hence this place is called Avaniyapuram, Avani Narayanapuram, etc,. This temple is also called Dakshina Ahobilam, Simma Malai, etc,.


Moolavar  : Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar
Thayar     : Sri Alarmel Mangai Thayar

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temples are facing east on two levels. An entrance arch is at the beginning of the Steps. Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Sannadhi is at the first level with about 60 steps. Dwajasthambam and Balipeedam are before the Rajagopuram. Three-tier Rajagopuram is at the entrance of the Temple. There are two Garudalwars, of which one Garudan is with Simha's face. The darshan will be from a long distance, and difficult to recognize the faces of moolavar and Lakshmi. Lakshmi is sitting on the left lap of Narasimhar. Maha Lakshmi is also with Simha's face. It was told that the sanctum sanctorum is a Rock Cut Cave. 

Thayar Alarmel Mangai is in a separate sannidhi. The utsava murti has three eyes. Alwars, Utsavars, Anjaneyar, Srinivasa Perumal with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Sudharsanar are in the mandapam. Pancha Narasimhars – Veera Narasimhar, Hiranya Narasimhar, Ugra Narasimhar,  Prahalad Narasimhar, and Mangala Narasimhar along with two Nagars. All the 5 Narasimhars are facing South.

Utsvar - PC HR&CE Website
Pancha Narasimhars – Veera Narasimhar, Hiranya Narasimhar, Ugra Narasimhar,  Prahalad Narasimhar and Mangala Narasimhar
Sri Alarmel Mangai Thayar
Sri Srinivasa Perumal with Sridevi & Bhudevi

At the top level, the sannidhi for Sri Vadaraja Perumal is similar to Sri Tirupati Balaji.  The other sannidhis are Lakshmi Narasimhar, Maha Lakshmi, Anandha sayana Perumal as Ranganathar with Ranganayagi, Yoga Narasimhar with Amirthavalli Thayar, Varadaraja Perumal & Perundevi Thayar and Srinivasa Perumal with Alarmel Mangai. This is also called Pancha Divya Desa Murti’s temple ie Kanchipuram, Sholingur, Srirangam, Tirupati, and Ahobilam.

Srinivasa Perumal with Alarmel Mangai
Ranganathar & Ranganayaki
Yoga Narasimhar with Amirthavalli Thayar,

ARCHITECTURE
This Hill consists of two Temples. The one temple in the middle of the Hill has Garudan Two Garudalwars and one with a Simha face, Balipeedam, and Deepa sthambam. A Dwajasthambam is in front of Rajagopuram. A 3 tier Rajagopuram is at the entrance of the temple. An eka tala Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.  It was told that the sanctum sanctorum is of rock-cut cave.



The top-level Sanctum Sanctorum was built with stone up to prastaram. An ekatala Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s various forms are in the greeva koshtam.




HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the temple’s display board, the temple belongs to the Pallava period and received contributions in the 12th Century also.

The construction of the steps was started on 03rd May 1993. The Steps from the Middle level to the Top level ( 130 Steps ) ie up to Venkatachalapathy temple were started on 10th July 1992.

The entrance arch construction was sponsored by Er Parasuraman, Varalakshmi, Ramalingam, and Vendal, on 11th Dec 2000.

Lakshmi Narasimhar sannidhi Upper Ceiling Maha Mandapam was constructed in August 1999.

Upper-level Sri Venkatachalapathy temple’s Dwajasthambam was installed on 15th September 2014.

Maha samprokshanam was conducted on 07th March 2024.  The temple is under the Control of Ahobila mutt.






LEGENDS
It is believed that Lakshmi Narashimhar gave darshan to Brugu Maharishi, Vashistar, and Devars. It is further believed that Devas still stayed as veppalai Trees on the hill and worshiped Lakshmi Narasimhar of the temple.

Lakshmi Narasimhar legend is associated with Bhakta Prahalath's story. After killing Hiranyakasibu, Narasimhar was very ferocious. To make Narasimhar calm, Maha Lakshmi was asked to sit on the lap of Narasimhar. After Maha Lakshmi, sat Narasimhar became calm. Hence Narasimhar is called as Lakshmi Narasimhar. 

5 Narasimha’s are sitting in a row facing South direction. Hence the devotees worship Lakshmi Narasimha to get rid of Yama fear.

Devotees pray to Venkatachalapathy on the upper level to get rid of enemies' trouble and get rid of debt. Devotees also worship for marriage and Children's boon.


POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Narasimha Jayanthi in the month Vaikasi, Thirukarthigai, Masi Maham, Krishna Jayanthi, hanuman Jayanthi, Brahmotsavam in the months Chithirai and Puratasi, etc.

Sarvathari Year ( a Tamil Year which comes once in 6o years ), the 9th Day of Aani month is celebrated in a big manner, since Thayar has got the simha face on that day.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs. to 12.00 hrs. and 16.00 hrs. to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The temple is under the Control of the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Department. Jyothi Lakshmi, Thakkar + 91 6379849473 and Sarayanya Working official +9197914 71900 and +914182299108 email. tnendowments.avaniyapuram@gmail.com may be contacted for further details.

The Bhattar Mugunthachar Mobile number +919486046206 may also be contacted for further details.  

HOW TO REACH
This place Avaniyapuram is about 9 KM from Injimedu Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple.
This temple in Injimedu is at the center of Arani ( 17.3 km ), Cheyyar ( 24 km ), Vandavasi ( 31 km ), and Chetpet ( 23 km ).
Buses are available, Polur, Route No 148 from Chennai, Route No 105 from Chennai to Vandavasi ( 26th km from Arani to Vandavasi Road ), Route No 59 from Cheyyar, 241 from Kanchipuram, Private buses Renugambal and Rangasamy.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE








Family
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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