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Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple of Maha Vishnu
Temple Famous for :
This place is one of the 8 important Mahakshetrams (sacred places) in India. In the temple, there will be no statue of the god, but there is only mouth, widely opened to 15 cms. The mouth is covered by metal face of the god.
Belief / Faith :
Fulfill Wishes,
About Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple :
Mangalagiri means ‘the holy hill’.
Panakala Narasimha Swamy – means God who drinks Panakam, which is jaggery water with cardamom flavor, a simple Prasad offered to Gods, especially all forms of Lord Vishnu.
This place is one of the 8 important Mahakshetras (sacred places) in India. The eight places where Lord Vishnu manifested himself are (1) Shri Rangam (2) Shrimushnam (3) Naimisam (4) Pushkaram (5) Salagamadri (6) Thothadri (7) Narayanasramam (8) Venkatadri.
Thotadri is the present Mangalagiri. Lakshmi Devi has done tapas on this hill, and hence it got this name (the auspicious hill). There are three Narasimha Swamy temples in Mangalagiri. One is Panakala Narasimha Swamy on the hill. Another one is Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at the foot of the temple. Third one is Gandala Narasimha Swamy at the top of the hill.
There is a motivating legend, to point out how the mountain came into existence. The mountain itself is in the shape of an elephant. Pariyatra, associate in nursing ancient king, had a son – Hrasva Srungi. He visited all holy and sacred places, to regain traditional bodily stature and at last visited this place of Mangalagiri and stayed for 3 years with active penance. All the Devathas (Gods) suggested him to remain at Mangalagiri and continue to do penance in praise of Lord Vishnu. The father of Hrasva Srungi came along with his retinue to bring his son back to his kingdom. However, Hrasva Srungi took the form of an elephant, to become the abode of Lord Vishnu, who is regionally called Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha swamy.
The stone inscription of the kings of Vijayanagar, relate besides to the conquest of Raya over Kondaplli, that Siddiraju Thimmarajayya Devara granted a complete area of 200 kuncham (10 kunchams equals one acre) of land in twenty eight villages,of which Mangalagiri was the gift of forty kunchams by Chinna Thirumalayya to Ramanujakutam.
Near the foot of the stone flight of steps, is seen a stone pillar with a Telugu inscription, recording grants of villages. It is dated 1520 AD, and mentions the capture of Kondavidu by Timmarusu, general of Krishna Deva Raya, in 1515AD, from the Gajapati Raju rulers of Kalinga (ancient Odisha). Another stone near to the temple of Garudalwar has inscriptions on four sides recording grants, within the reign of Sadashiva Raya of Vijayanagara Empire 1538AD. The lofty gopuram(tower) in the temple, at the foot of the hill was erected by “Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu” in 1807-1809, and in terms of sculpture and design, this temple stands to be a final testimant for the traditional Vishwakarma Sthapathis in designing and sculpting these temples.
In the temple of Lord Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy only, the face of the God is seen with the mouth widely open. Behind the temple, there is the temple of Shri Lakshmi, to the west of which there is a tunnel, which is believed to lead to Undavali caves on the banks of the Krishna. The Lord who has established himself on the hill, is in the form of Narasimha (man-lion) which Lord Vishnu assumed to kill Hiranyakashapu, a rakshasa(demon) father of Prahlada, a great devotee. He is also called Sudarsana Narasimhaswamy. The legend says that Namuchi, a Rakshasa after great penance, obtained a boon from Brahma, that he would not be killed by anything that is either wet or dry. He began to harass Indra and the Devathas. Encouraged and supported by Lord Vishnu, Indra commenced destroying the army of Rakshasa Namuchi, who hid in a cave in Sukshmakaram, giving up his stulakaram. Indra dipped Sudarsanam, the disc of Lord Vishnu in the foam of the ocean and sent it into the cave. Lord Vishnu manifesting himself at the centre of the disc, destroyed the Pranavayu (oxygen or lifeline) of the Rakshasa with the fire of his exhalation. He thus got the name of Sudarsana Narasimha. The blood that flowed from the body of the Rakshasa, seemed to have formed into a pool at the foot of the hill. The Lord said that he would be satisfied with milk in Swaparayugam, with ghee in Threthayugam and with panagam (jaggery water) in Kaliyugam.
The perculiarity in this temple is that, jaggery water locally known as "Panakam" is poured as an offering to the Lord with a conch. The jaggery water is actually poured into the mouth of the Lord as an offering. While the jaggery water is being poured into the mouth of the Lord, a gargling sound is clearly audible, as if the Lord is actually drinking it and the sound becomes shriller and shriller as and when the Lord is drinking. The sound will come to a stop after sometimes and the balance of the jaggery water is thrown out. This phenmenon happens not once a day, but is a recurring feature during the course of the day, as and when devotees offer panakam. It will be interesting to note that even a single ant is not traceable near the Lord, nor around the temple, in spite of the offering of so much jaggery water. As the offering of panakam to the Lord is peculiar, the Lord here is called Panakala Narasimhaswamy.
It is also believed that Lord Rama while departing for Vaikuntam, after completing his mission in that incarnation, advised Anjaneya to stay at Mangalagiri and after obtaining his blessings to remain in this world forever. Anjaneya took his adobe at Mangalagiri as Kshetrapalaka. The place thus also came to be known as Mukthyadri (the hill that grants Mukthi-salvation).
The image of the Lord in the form of Narasimha (man-lion) and that of Lakshmidevi to his left are of stone. The garland of the Lord with 108 Saligramams is of special significance here.
Daksjamavartha Sankam, a special conch, believed to be the one that was used by Lord Krishna and presented by the Maharaja of Tanjore, is one more possession of significance of the Lord. There is also an ancient ratha (temple car) belonging to the temple with ornamental woodcarvings, depicting the scenes from the great epics of Bharata, Bhagavata and Ramayana. Thimmaraju Devaraju, a military chieftain of the Vijayanagara rulers improved this temple. He had constructed prakarams, mandapas, gopurams, five images of Lord Bhairava, a festival chariot, and ten varieties of courts for annual ceremonies, flower gardens, lakes and tanks. He had also installed utsava vigrahas in the temple. To the north of the temple, there is temple of Shri Rajyalakshmi, to the south that of Rama with Sita and Lakshmi to the west vahanasala.
Ksheera vruksham (the milk tree) on the Mangalagiri hill, is of great attraction particularly to the woman. The legend goes to say that king Sasibandi was advised by Narada to visit pilgrimages. King left the kingdom and his queen, and started pilgrimages. The queen came to know about this, grew furious and cursed Narada to become a Ksheera vruksham on the hill. The tree is within the easy reach of devotees, blessing women at its very sight, with property, children and washing off the sins they committed out of ignorance or oversight, for having ill-advised her husband to desert her and take to penance. Narada took this not as a curse, but as a boon as it meant service to humanity, blessed the queen with happy life with her husband and a thousand children. Even today the milk tree is on the Mangalagiri hill and throughout the year, thousands of women visit and worship the tree for begetting children.
There is a legend connected with the making of the procession idols of the temple. A repated goldsmith was appointed to make the procession images of the Lord. In spite of all his skill and care, the panchalohas (five metals) melted together in a huge crucible and smeared over the images to form a brilliant coating. The metals used to separate themselves and this bitter disappointment continued day after day. He began the process of burning one day, after praying for the Lord's grace and heared a voice that success in his work required human sacrifice. Just then his son rushed to him and requested the father for water to quench his great thirst. He lifted his affectionate son and threw him into the molten mixture of the five metals and the body disappeared in no time. The amalgam was cast and beautiful icons of the Lord were then completed. After completing the work, the goldsmith thought about his son and called out in agony “come my son and I will give you water to quench your thirst”. It is believed that the body jumped out of the image and stood before his father.
Shri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Brahmothsavam is very important annual festival. It is believed that the celebration was inaugurated by Dharmaraja at the behest of Lord Krishna. Pradyumna, the son of Lord Krishna, reqested his father to celebrate his birthday annualLy for a sapthaham (seven days) from Phalguna Suddha Sapthami. Lord Krishna entrusted this work to Dharmaraja, the eldest of the Pandavas who was the successor to the throne at Hasthinapura.
At present, the festival is celebrated for 11 days commencing from Phalguna Sudda Shasti (Feb - Mar). One day before Phalguna Suddha Purnima i.e. on Chaturdasi, here the marriage of Santha Narasimha Swamy, and Shridevi and Bhoodevi will be celebrated. They follow Agama sastras in this celebration. Before the marriage, Chenchus celebrate on the occasion of Narasimha swamy, marrying their daughter Chenchu Lakshmi. That night, Swamy comes by Sesha Vahanam and participates in Eduru Kola. The next day after the marriage is Purnima, on which the Holi festival is celebrated by Indians. The same day, people celebrate Tirunalla, when the Lord goes on procession, in a big chariot.
Shrirama Navami, Hanumajayanthi, Narasimhajayanthi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, and Mahashivarathri are other festivals which are celebrated here on a large scale. On Mahashivarathri, Lord goes on procession in a small chariot.
Temple Timings :-
Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Timings :-
7 am to 3 pm
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Timings:-
5am to 12.30pm and 4pm to 8.30pm.
How to reach:-
By Air :-
Vijayawada is connected by Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
By Rail :-
Vijayawada is well connected by rail with every city in India.
By Road :-
vijayawada is well connected by road withMadras, hyderabad, Vizag, Nellore.
Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
Hindu Temples: Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Mangalagiri
Temple Famous for :
This place is one of the 8 important Mahakshetrams (sacred places) in India. In the temple, there will be no statue of the god, but there is only mouth, widely opened to 15 cms. The mouth is covered by metal face of the god.
Belief / Faith :
Fulfill Wishes,
About Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple :
Mangalagiri means ‘the holy hill’.
Panakala Narasimha Swamy – means God who drinks Panakam, which is jaggery water with cardamom flavor, a simple Prasad offered to Gods, especially all forms of Lord Vishnu.
This place is one of the 8 important Mahakshetras (sacred places) in India. The eight places where Lord Vishnu manifested himself are (1) Shri Rangam (2) Shrimushnam (3) Naimisam (4) Pushkaram (5) Salagamadri (6) Thothadri (7) Narayanasramam (8) Venkatadri.
Thotadri is the present Mangalagiri. Lakshmi Devi has done tapas on this hill, and hence it got this name (the auspicious hill). There are three Narasimha Swamy temples in Mangalagiri. One is Panakala Narasimha Swamy on the hill. Another one is Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at the foot of the temple. Third one is Gandala Narasimha Swamy at the top of the hill.
There is a motivating legend, to point out how the mountain came into existence. The mountain itself is in the shape of an elephant. Pariyatra, associate in nursing ancient king, had a son – Hrasva Srungi. He visited all holy and sacred places, to regain traditional bodily stature and at last visited this place of Mangalagiri and stayed for 3 years with active penance. All the Devathas (Gods) suggested him to remain at Mangalagiri and continue to do penance in praise of Lord Vishnu. The father of Hrasva Srungi came along with his retinue to bring his son back to his kingdom. However, Hrasva Srungi took the form of an elephant, to become the abode of Lord Vishnu, who is regionally called Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha swamy.
The stone inscription of the kings of Vijayanagar, relate besides to the conquest of Raya over Kondaplli, that Siddiraju Thimmarajayya Devara granted a complete area of 200 kuncham (10 kunchams equals one acre) of land in twenty eight villages,of which Mangalagiri was the gift of forty kunchams by Chinna Thirumalayya to Ramanujakutam.
Near the foot of the stone flight of steps, is seen a stone pillar with a Telugu inscription, recording grants of villages. It is dated 1520 AD, and mentions the capture of Kondavidu by Timmarusu, general of Krishna Deva Raya, in 1515AD, from the Gajapati Raju rulers of Kalinga (ancient Odisha). Another stone near to the temple of Garudalwar has inscriptions on four sides recording grants, within the reign of Sadashiva Raya of Vijayanagara Empire 1538AD. The lofty gopuram(tower) in the temple, at the foot of the hill was erected by “Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu” in 1807-1809, and in terms of sculpture and design, this temple stands to be a final testimant for the traditional Vishwakarma Sthapathis in designing and sculpting these temples.
In the temple of Lord Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy only, the face of the God is seen with the mouth widely open. Behind the temple, there is the temple of Shri Lakshmi, to the west of which there is a tunnel, which is believed to lead to Undavali caves on the banks of the Krishna. The Lord who has established himself on the hill, is in the form of Narasimha (man-lion) which Lord Vishnu assumed to kill Hiranyakashapu, a rakshasa(demon) father of Prahlada, a great devotee. He is also called Sudarsana Narasimhaswamy. The legend says that Namuchi, a Rakshasa after great penance, obtained a boon from Brahma, that he would not be killed by anything that is either wet or dry. He began to harass Indra and the Devathas. Encouraged and supported by Lord Vishnu, Indra commenced destroying the army of Rakshasa Namuchi, who hid in a cave in Sukshmakaram, giving up his stulakaram. Indra dipped Sudarsanam, the disc of Lord Vishnu in the foam of the ocean and sent it into the cave. Lord Vishnu manifesting himself at the centre of the disc, destroyed the Pranavayu (oxygen or lifeline) of the Rakshasa with the fire of his exhalation. He thus got the name of Sudarsana Narasimha. The blood that flowed from the body of the Rakshasa, seemed to have formed into a pool at the foot of the hill. The Lord said that he would be satisfied with milk in Swaparayugam, with ghee in Threthayugam and with panagam (jaggery water) in Kaliyugam.
The perculiarity in this temple is that, jaggery water locally known as "Panakam" is poured as an offering to the Lord with a conch. The jaggery water is actually poured into the mouth of the Lord as an offering. While the jaggery water is being poured into the mouth of the Lord, a gargling sound is clearly audible, as if the Lord is actually drinking it and the sound becomes shriller and shriller as and when the Lord is drinking. The sound will come to a stop after sometimes and the balance of the jaggery water is thrown out. This phenmenon happens not once a day, but is a recurring feature during the course of the day, as and when devotees offer panakam. It will be interesting to note that even a single ant is not traceable near the Lord, nor around the temple, in spite of the offering of so much jaggery water. As the offering of panakam to the Lord is peculiar, the Lord here is called Panakala Narasimhaswamy.
It is also believed that Lord Rama while departing for Vaikuntam, after completing his mission in that incarnation, advised Anjaneya to stay at Mangalagiri and after obtaining his blessings to remain in this world forever. Anjaneya took his adobe at Mangalagiri as Kshetrapalaka. The place thus also came to be known as Mukthyadri (the hill that grants Mukthi-salvation).
The image of the Lord in the form of Narasimha (man-lion) and that of Lakshmidevi to his left are of stone. The garland of the Lord with 108 Saligramams is of special significance here.
Daksjamavartha Sankam, a special conch, believed to be the one that was used by Lord Krishna and presented by the Maharaja of Tanjore, is one more possession of significance of the Lord. There is also an ancient ratha (temple car) belonging to the temple with ornamental woodcarvings, depicting the scenes from the great epics of Bharata, Bhagavata and Ramayana. Thimmaraju Devaraju, a military chieftain of the Vijayanagara rulers improved this temple. He had constructed prakarams, mandapas, gopurams, five images of Lord Bhairava, a festival chariot, and ten varieties of courts for annual ceremonies, flower gardens, lakes and tanks. He had also installed utsava vigrahas in the temple. To the north of the temple, there is temple of Shri Rajyalakshmi, to the south that of Rama with Sita and Lakshmi to the west vahanasala.
Ksheera vruksham (the milk tree) on the Mangalagiri hill, is of great attraction particularly to the woman. The legend goes to say that king Sasibandi was advised by Narada to visit pilgrimages. King left the kingdom and his queen, and started pilgrimages. The queen came to know about this, grew furious and cursed Narada to become a Ksheera vruksham on the hill. The tree is within the easy reach of devotees, blessing women at its very sight, with property, children and washing off the sins they committed out of ignorance or oversight, for having ill-advised her husband to desert her and take to penance. Narada took this not as a curse, but as a boon as it meant service to humanity, blessed the queen with happy life with her husband and a thousand children. Even today the milk tree is on the Mangalagiri hill and throughout the year, thousands of women visit and worship the tree for begetting children.
There is a legend connected with the making of the procession idols of the temple. A repated goldsmith was appointed to make the procession images of the Lord. In spite of all his skill and care, the panchalohas (five metals) melted together in a huge crucible and smeared over the images to form a brilliant coating. The metals used to separate themselves and this bitter disappointment continued day after day. He began the process of burning one day, after praying for the Lord's grace and heared a voice that success in his work required human sacrifice. Just then his son rushed to him and requested the father for water to quench his great thirst. He lifted his affectionate son and threw him into the molten mixture of the five metals and the body disappeared in no time. The amalgam was cast and beautiful icons of the Lord were then completed. After completing the work, the goldsmith thought about his son and called out in agony “come my son and I will give you water to quench your thirst”. It is believed that the body jumped out of the image and stood before his father.
Shri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Brahmothsavam is very important annual festival. It is believed that the celebration was inaugurated by Dharmaraja at the behest of Lord Krishna. Pradyumna, the son of Lord Krishna, reqested his father to celebrate his birthday annualLy for a sapthaham (seven days) from Phalguna Suddha Sapthami. Lord Krishna entrusted this work to Dharmaraja, the eldest of the Pandavas who was the successor to the throne at Hasthinapura.
At present, the festival is celebrated for 11 days commencing from Phalguna Sudda Shasti (Feb - Mar). One day before Phalguna Suddha Purnima i.e. on Chaturdasi, here the marriage of Santha Narasimha Swamy, and Shridevi and Bhoodevi will be celebrated. They follow Agama sastras in this celebration. Before the marriage, Chenchus celebrate on the occasion of Narasimha swamy, marrying their daughter Chenchu Lakshmi. That night, Swamy comes by Sesha Vahanam and participates in Eduru Kola. The next day after the marriage is Purnima, on which the Holi festival is celebrated by Indians. The same day, people celebrate Tirunalla, when the Lord goes on procession, in a big chariot.
Shrirama Navami, Hanumajayanthi, Narasimhajayanthi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, and Mahashivarathri are other festivals which are celebrated here on a large scale. On Mahashivarathri, Lord goes on procession in a small chariot.
Temple Timings :-
Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Timings :-
7 am to 3 pm
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Timings:-
5am to 12.30pm and 4pm to 8.30pm.
How to reach:-
By Air :-
Vijayawada is connected by Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
By Rail :-
Vijayawada is well connected by rail with every city in India.
By Road :-
vijayawada is well connected by road withMadras, hyderabad, Vizag, Nellore.
Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
Hindu Temples: Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Mangalagiri
