Temples of AP: Pancha Narashima Kshetram, AP

Pancha Narashima Kshetram: Vadapalli, Mattapalli, Kethavaram, Vedadri and Mangalagiri.

Mattapalli: Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy

The temple is situated on the banks of River Krishna at Mattapalli in Huzurnagar Talaq of Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh.

The place is about 225 kms from Hyderabad, and 25 Kms from Huzurnagar. The place can be reached by train. The station is Miryalaguda, from there you have to take a bus to Huzarnagar and from there share autos are available.

Main Deity is Swayambu Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy. This is a cave temple.
We see Goddess Rajyalakshmi and Chenchu lakshmi Thayar to side, which was installed later.

Inside the cave the sacred image of Lakshmi Narashimar in seated posture, with well spread hood of “Sesha” over the head. He is fully adorned with shanku, Chakra, and Gada.

We see urchava vigrahas also inside the sanctum. Baktha prahaladha is near the main deity who can be seen only in the morning at 5Am, rest of the day it is covered with flowers alankaram.

Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy was worshipped by Sages and Rishis. Purana says Barawadja muni worshipped lord here. In Kaliyuga Lord appeared in dream to Sri Anumula Machi Reddi then the ruler of Thangeda a place nearby. He asked him to go in search, of his swayambu image in the form of Narashima in one of the caves on the bank of River Krishna. As he was not able to locate the place he prayed to Lord to help him out.

Lord indicated that there would be an eagle sitting on an “Are” tree and opposite to it in a cave he can find the image. Machi Reddy was able to locate the place and he constructed the temple.

Once upon a time the place was forest area but now it is not so. Opposite to the main cave we see Garuda and Hanuman. We can have darshan of Brugu, Marichi, Athri and Kasyapa muni idols. Next to them Ramanujar is also seen.

The place is a small town. There are rooms available near the temple. Sri Mukkore Lakshmi Narashimachariar is fond of this place, and he had mentioned about the main deity Sri Lakshmi narashimar in his book Kurai ondrum illai.

They have arrangements for meals at 1.30 as annadhanam scheme. Sahasranama archana for the lord begins at 11.30Am.
Vedadri: Yogananda Lakshmi Narashima Swamy temple.

The temple is on the bank of Krishna River and it’s located in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. It’s about 10 kms from chillakallu on the national highway from Vijayawada to Hyderabad.

Brahma purana says, Somasura stole the Vedas from Brahma and hided himself in ocean. Brahma approached Lord Vishnu to get back the Vedas from the Asura. Sriman Narayanar in the form of Matchaya avathara rescued the Vedas from the asura.

Vedas took human form and thanked lord Vishnu, and prayed to stay on their heads.
Lord Vishnu agreed to stay with them as pancha murthy, only after Hyranya vadham. He asked them to stay in the river as Saligrahama Mountain till then.

Lord Narayanar in the form of Narashima killed, Hiranya kasyapa and ever since stayed as jwala Narashima on the mountain head of Vedadri.

Brahma requested Lord Narashima to stay at sathya lokha as saligrahama. Lord Narashima agreed and even before Brahma could offer prayers to Lord the sathya lokha was in flames. So Brahma brought back the saligrahma moorthy to River Krishnaveni and erected it on Saligrahma Mountain. Thus Lord Narashima fulfilled the wishes of Veda Purushas and River Krishnaveni.
Vadapalli: This is the first pancha Narashima kshetram.

This place is 20 kms from Miryalaguda station which is on Hyderabad to Chennai via Nalgonda. The place belongs to Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh.

Main deity is Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy.

Purana says 6000 years back Agyasthya muni brought the Siva Kesava idols and he wanted to install them. He was traveling through all Lokas and finally he landed in Bholokaham, as he was heading towards Kasi kshetram, he heard akasa vani saying that Lord Narashima wanted to be installed at this place where sangamam of River Krishna and River musi.

Agyastayar installed and constructed a temple for Lord Narashimar. As the years passed there was lot of changes and the temple was not taken care and the main deity was covered by ant hill.

During 12th century Reddy Kings developed their city and at that time they found the deity of Narashimar and they re constructed the temple and installed the main deity.

The temple is small one and has lot of place, around it with trees and plants. We see Dwjasthanbam near the entrance and Garuda near the Dwajasthambam. As we enter inside we have the darshan of Jaya, Vijayan to either side of the entrance. We have to enter into artha mandapam and inside in the main sanctum we have the darshan of Lord Lakshmi Narashima swamy. There is no separate sanctum for Goddess. This is the only sanctum in the temple.

Inside the main sanctum we see two lamps lit and tied to a pole next to deity. One lamp is to the height of main god and the other is half way down. The light lit to the lamp on the top is wavering where as the one to the other lamp is still.
They say the shake in the light is due to the breath of Lord Narashima in main sanctum.

This is a unique thing about the Lord of this place. The deepam here is Akanda Deepam.

The temple is open upto 12 noon and in it’s opened again at 4.30 Pm onwards As we go around the temple to the side we have the darshan of Anjaneyar. This is a small village and we did not see any rooms as such for rental.
Mangalagiri: Panakala Narashimar.

The place is about 20kms from Vijayawada. The temple was found by pandava king Yudishtra.

Mangalagiri is in existence from the beginning of all Four Yuga. It was known as Anjanadri in Krutha Yugam, Totadri in Tretha Yugam, Mukthadri in Dwapara Yugam and Mangalagiri in Kali Yugam.

Sri Narashima Swamy destroyed the demon known as Namuchi in Kritha Yugam. He stayed back as Swayambu Moorthy in this place. Devas were unable to with stand Lord’s Ugra Swaroopam, and they tried to cool him by offering Amrutham in Krutha yugam, in Tretha yugam he was offered Cow’s Ghee, in Dwapara yugam he was offered Cow’s Milk and in Kaliyugam he is offered Panakam.

Anjaneyar is Kshetra palakar in this place.

We see an arch near the entrance of road leading to Panakala Narashima Swamy temple on hill top.

The hill looks like an elephant. Prince Harsva srungi visited all holy places and came to Mangalagiri and stayed back doing penance in praise of Lord Vishnu. One day when his father visited this holy place, to take his son back to kingdom Harsva srungi took the shape of an Elephant to become the abode of Lord Vishnu, who is known as Panakala Narashima Swamy. This is the legend about the hill of this place.

To reach the top of hill we have steps as well as road. We reach the Panakala Narashima swamy temple, mid way to the hill top. There are many shops selling pooja items.

We see Dwajasthambam.

We enter into a sanctum where to the left we have darshan of Sri Hanuman and we proceed further in a line to have darshan of Sri Panakala Narashima swamy.

We see a cut in the rock to which the face of Narashima Swamy kavacham with wide opened mouth is kept. This is the place where Panakam (Panakam is made of Water and Jaggery) is offered to God.

We climb few steps to see Hanuman sculpture to the wall.

Further few steps lead us to Thayar Sannidhi, which is behind Sri Narashimar sanctum.

There is a small cave outside next to Sri Lakshmi temple,which is believed to lead to Vundavalli caves on the bank of River Krishna. The Sages used to use that way to have their bath in River Krishna.

Sri Lakshmi Narashima swamy temple view from top of the hill

The temple is closed by 4PM.

Lakshmi Narashima Swamy temple:

The main Raja Gopuram of nine tiers facing east. .

As we enter in we see Dwajasthambam in front of the main mandapam of Lakshmi Narashimar temple.

When we go around the temple we see Sanctum for Sri Rama to the left. West gopuram is un finished. We see Rajalakshmi Thayar Sannidhi to right side of main Sanctum.

We climb few steps to enter inside the main mandapam where we see Garudazhwar sanctum.

This is the main sanctum door of Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy Temple.

Tanjavoore painting of Sri Lakshmi Narashimar and Sri Rajayalakshmi Thayar is seen on mandapam wall inside.

Charriot of Sri Lakshmi Narashimar Swamy Temple.
Kethavaram: We are yet to visit the place. This is a place to be visited during day time only.