SIMHACHALAM

           Simhachalam is an ancient temple, 11kms from Visakhapatnam. Simha means lion and Achalam means hill. Varaha Avataram came to get back the earth from demon Hiranyaksha and Narasimha Avatar came to kill demon Hiranyakasyapa, younger brother of Hiranyaksha. Lord in Simhachalam appears with the combined features of  Varaha and Narasimha avatara with face of Varaha avataram and tail of lion and human body. So lord here is known as Varaha –Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.  

         

             According to the wish of Prahalada, Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy appeared as a Swayambhu on this Simhagiri. He is also called as Appana. Prahlada did the first pooja here in Kruta Yugam. Later as time passed by this deity got covered with mud. One day Pururava, king of Chandravamsa and Urvasi (apsara) were going on their Vimana (like helicopter) named Somadatta, it suddenly stopped there. Urvasi came to know this is attracted by the power of Lord Narasimha. Soon Pururava got down and found the deity in an ant hill, covered by mud. He suddenly heard a voice, which told him to cover the deity with sandal paste equal to the quantity of the mud by which it is covered and remove that only on Visakha  Suddha Thadiya. Original shape of the deity can be seen only on that day. According to Puranas after killing Hiranyakashyapa, to cool down the anger of Lord Narasimha, devathas coverd him with the sandal paste. The same tradition is carried out till date in Simhachalam. This is called as  CHANDANOTSAVAM

CHANDANOTSAVAM

                 On VISAKA SUDDHA THADIYA early hours say around 3P.M the sandalwood paste on the deity is removed. Raw sandal paste is kept on the head of the deity and devotees are allowed to see the Nijarupa Darshanam. Hereditary Trustee of the temple will be the first person to have darshan of the lord on this day around 4P. Thousands of pilgrims come to see Nijarupa Darshan. Sahasra Ghattabishekem is done at around 9p.m. Out of the four layers, first layer of Chandanam is applied to the deity after Ghattabishekam. This paste is prepared from the sandal wood brought from Tamailnadu. They are brought in to the Beda mantapam and there paste is prepared. 60 different Sugandha dravyas and Vanamoolikas are mixed in the paste and applied to the deity. So pilgrims wish to take the Chandanam removed from the deity. Approximately about 120kgs of Chandanam is applied to deity every time.

Second layer of Chandanam is applied on VAISAKHA PURNIMA.

Third layer on JYESHTA PURNIMA.

Fourth layer on ASHADA PURNIMA.

        APPROXIMATELY 480KGS OF CHANDANAM IS APPLIED TO SWAMY PER YEAR.

In side the temple 32 Pradakshinas are done by devotees.

SPECIALTIES OF THE TEMPLE

                 In Simhachalam there is a pillar know as “KAPPA STAMBAM”. This pillar is installed on a very powerful SANTHANA GOPALA SWAMY YANTRAM, so childless couples are believed to be blessed with children if they hug this pillar and pray the Lord (for more details ask purohits in the temple). 

GIRI PRADAKSHINA

            Giri Pradakshina is done yearly once. Devotees go round the hill. It covers a distance of 32kms.

Contact Details

Phone Number : 0891-2715264,271503,2715262,2715242
Pincode - 530028

JAMBAVATHI, SATHYABHAMA SAMETHA SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE, MANNARU POLURU

              Jambavathi, Sathyabhama sametha Sri Krishna temple is in MANNARU POLURU, in nellore district. It is 3kms from Sullurpeta. You can find about this temple in BRAHMANDA PURANA. This is the place where Lord Sri Krishna fought with Jambavantha for Samanthakamani, So it got the name “Malla Hari Poru Vuru”(means place where Lord Hari did malla yudham, atype of fight). As time passed by name got changed as Mannarpoluru. This is the only temple in India dedicated to Jambavthi, Sathyabhama and Krishna.

PURANIC HISTORY

           As we all know Satrajit got Samanthakamani from Surya Bhagavan god. It gives 8 bara’s gold daily. Lord Sri Krishna asked Satrajit to give this mani to him to serve the people, but Satrajit refused. After some days Satrajit’s brother Prasanajit wore that mani as a locket of his chain and went into the forest for hunting. While hunting he was attacked by a lion. It killed him and fled with the Samanthakamani. Later it was killed by Jambavantha and he took the mani and gave it to his daughter Jambavathi. The disappearance of Prasanajit became public and Lord Krishna was blamed for it.

          In order to prove his innocence, he went in to the forest to the place where Prasanajit dead body was found. There he found the foot steps of a lion he followed them and there he saw the body of a lion and foot steps of Jambavantha, followed them and reached a cave. In the cave he found a girl playing with the Samanthakamani. There he was obstructed by Jambavantha and they were engaged in a furious fight for 28days, Jambavantha gradually became weak and realises that Lord Krishna is none other than Lord Rama and asks Lord Krishna to forgive him and asked him to marry his daughter Jambavathi. This fight took place in MANNAR POLLURU.

ABOUT TEMPLE

           This temple is built by Chola king in 10^th century. This temple is in glory at the time of King Manuma Siddhi, who ruled Nellore in 13th century. In 18th century Venkatagiri raja gave 5 villages as Manyam(gift) to the temple.

           In this temple we can find 9 feet big Garuda statue, 9.5 feet Jambavantha statue, statues of Sugriva and Jatayuvu are also found here. We can find Lord Rama temple also here in the compound. It has separate Dwajasthaba and separate Balipeetam.

VAMANA MURTHY TEMPLE

                    ULAGALANDA PERUMAL TEMPLE(Vamana Temple), KANCHIPURAM


God: Ulagalanda Perumal
Goddess: Amrutavalli

 Vamana Murthy 

              Ulagalanda perumal temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Vamana one of the Dasavatara’s.  It is the 5^th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This Vamana temple is very near to Kamakshi Amman temple. It is one among the 108 Divya Desams . In Rig Veda there comes a reference of Vamana, who measured the three Loka’s in three steps.

              There are 3 Divya Desam’s inside this temple (Thiruneeragam,Thirukaragam and Thirukarvanam) apart from Vamana Murthy, as you go in Pradakshina marga. The deity of Vamana is about 35 feet height. The idol is in standing position facing west. His left leg is lifted high while his right leg rests on the head of Mahabali. Two fingers of left hand and one finger of right hand are shown as if he is saying two steps are completed and where is the place for third step.

ABOUT VAMANA AVATAR

Entrance of Vamana Murthy Temple

                Mahabali is the grandson of Prahalada. Like his grandfather he is also a devotee of Lord Vishnu and very loyal and does  charity. He was once fond of Indraloka and waged a war on Indra and capture Indraloka but he was defeated by indra. Sukracharya,guru of Rakshasas told him to do “Viswajith Yagam”. A GOLDEN CHARIOT CAME OUT OF THE HOMAKUNDAM with a lion symbol flag on it and a bow and Akshaya bana Thuneeram. After doing this Yagam he again went to Indra lokha and captured it. Adithi (wife of Kasyapa muni and mother of Lord Indra ) couldn’t bare his sorrow and she  prays for Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu pleased by her prayer agreed to be born as their son as Vamana. Vamana was born in Sravana Masam, Dwadasa Thithi and he grew as a dwarf child of approximately 8years in no time.      

VamanaMurthy in Kanchi Puram

               When Mahabali is  performing a Yagna, Vamana went there with Umbrella given by Sky,  Krishnajina  given by  Devatas, Dhandam given by  Lord Chandra and Akshamala given by goddess SaraswathiDevi and Bhikshapatra given by Lord Kubera  and asks Bali to give just three feet of land as Dhanam(charity). Sukracharya, identifies Vamana as Lord Vishnu and told Mahabali to refuse to do so. But Bali accepts to give the land. Immediately Vamana starts to grow big, this is called as Trivikramarupa. For the first step he covered the whole earth, for the second step he covered the entire sky, now Bali had no more Land to offer for the third step, so Bali offered his head in front of Lord Vishnu for the third step. Lord Vishnu kept his foot on the head of the Bali and pushed him to Pathalam(region below the earth). Pleased by bali’s      he made him king of Pathalam and promised to make him Indra at the time of Savarni Manuvu. Until then he is made as Adhipathi of Pathalam(underground)made by Viswakarma.

Goopuram Of  Vamana Murthy Temple

                AS PER THE WISH OF MAHA BALI  LORDVISHNU ALLOWED HIM TO COME ON TO THE EARTH ONCE IN A YEAR. THAT DAY IS CELEBRATED AS ONAM IN KERALA. People of Kerala believe that Bali is the king of Kerala and the whole Vamana  Vruthantham  happened in Kerala. We can also find a Vamana temple near Kochi in Kerala.  

               It is believed that those who listen this Vamana Puranam will have the blessings of Lakshmi Devi and any mistakes done during Pitrukaryam will be removed .

ABOUT TEMPLE

              Vamana Murthy here is made of Lime. So Abishekam is not performed. Sometimes some specially made paste is applied to the Murthy, so that it is not damaged and retains its glow. Adishesha prayed Lord Vishnu to be there in Trivikrama rupa, so it is called as ULAGALANDA PERUMAL TEMPLE. In Tamil it is called as”URAGAM”. Uragam means Snake. There is a special place for Adishesha and pooja’s are also done. You can find this on your left while going near to the main deity. 

POOJAS

For the blessing of rahu, for Sarpadosha Nivarana and for marriage devotees perform poojas to Adishesha in this temple. THIRUMANJANAM, CHANDANA ALANKARAM, AND PONGALI NEVADANA ARE DONE IN THIS TEMPLE.

For Thirumanjanam you need a prior booking (APPROX before 3 TO 4 months). For Pongali Nivedana you need to tell them one day before. It costs around 250Rs. Devasthanam will only arrange Pongali and it is kept at Adishesha and given to you as prasadam. Call temple for further details. 

SRI VEDANARAYANASWAMY TEMPLE, NAGALAPURAM

          


TEMPLE TIMINGS: 6A.M TO 12 A.M & 4P.M TO 8P.M

Nagalapuram is a small village located very close to Nagari and 7okms away from Tirupati.  It is 81kms away from Chennai. It is located on the Tirupati and Chennai highway.

Sri Veda Narayana Swamy Temple

Here at Nagalapuram we can see Lord Vishnu in MATHYA Avataram. It is the first of the 10 Avataras(Dasavataram). The presiding deity is Sri VedaNarayana  Perumal. The main deity is Lord Vishnu in the form of Mathya(fish) along with his consorts. Peculiar feature of the idol is it holds the Sudarsana Chakra in Prayoga i.e ready to release. The main reason for this avatar is to get back the Vedas stolen by demon.


ABOUT MATHYA  AVATARA

Sri Veda Narayana Swamy Idol on Goopuram 

          For Devatas one day completes at the end of one Kalpa. One day at the end of a Kalpa Lord Brahma felt sleepy. As his eye lids are closed and his mouth opened involuntarily for a yawn, the Vedas slipped out of his mouth and demon named Somakudu stole them. Devatas prayed Lord Vishnu to get the Vedas back from the Demon. Vedas are necessary for creation. As we know by Puranas,  Pralayam occurs at the end of every Kalpa and creation is again started by Lord Brahma, it was necessary to collect all the plants, seeds, herbs and animals so that they would continue to exist in the new creation.

         According to Mathya Purana, the king of Dravidas and Devotee of Lord Vishnu, Satyavrata who was later known as Manu was offering water during Sandya Vandanam. Lord Vishnu in the form of a small fish came into his hands and pleaded to save its life. He drops it in his Kamandalam. Over night the fish became too big to be in Kamandalam. By the request of the fish he moved it in to another big bowl, but soon fish became too big for the vessel also. Then Satyavrata then left the fish in a pond but in no time the fish grew as large as pond. Satyavrata left it into a lake and fish started growing bigger and bigger. It went on asking for larger and larger space. Finally he decided to leave it into an ocean, but fish pleaded not to do so. Satyavrata got doubt how a fish can grow so big in a single day and released it is none other than Lord Vishnu in the form of fish. He prayed to Lord Vishnu and asked why he took the form of a fish. Lord Vishnu told him that Pralayam will occur soon and at that time you will see a spacious boat approaching you and also told him to collect all variety of seeds, accompanied by Seven Saints along with Serpent Vasuki and other animals.

               The fish left for fulfilling its mission. Lord Vishnu in the form of the fish killed Somakudu and brought the Vedas back and gave them to Lord Brahma to resume the creation at appropriate time. Pralayam started and ocean began rising. A boat came near them and all of them got into it, the boat was tied to a fish, s horn using Vasuki as rope. They sailed on the water through out the Pralayam. Thus Vishnu saved the mankind from dissolution. During this journey Sages and Manu asked Lord Vishnu several questions. The answers that Lord Vishnu gave form the text of MATSYA PURANAM.


TEMPLE HISTORY

Dasawatara Idols On Goopuram Of Nagalapuram

              This temple was built during the time of Sri Krishna Devraya. It is said that he named this town as Nagalapuram in memory of his mother NAGAMBA. This temple covers a very vast area. This temple is maintained by Tirumala Tirupathi Devathanam. As Lord took this form to save the Vedas, this temple is called as Veda Naraya Swamy temple and you can see many Brahmins sitting a side and reading Vedam. You can see all  Dasavataram idols on the Goopuram.

             Interesting fact of this temple is as the Lord here is facing towards west, Sun ray’s fall on the Lord during the Sunset (6pm to 6.15pm). Sunray’s fall at the feet on the first day, on the chest on the second day and on forehead on the third day. This happens once in a year, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th days of Phalguna masam(March). Float festival is also conducted.

Fish in Nagalapuram

MIRACLE IN THE TEMPLE TIRTHAM

Recently while cleaning  the temple Tirtham they found  a rare kind of fish in the pond with different colours  .Many people came to see this miracle  as this is the temple dedicated to Mathya Avataram  .









POOJAS
      6 TO 6.30A.M                        SUPRABATHAM
      6.30 TO 7A.M                        TOMALA SEVA
      7.30 TO 8A.M                        SAHASRANAMARCHANA
      8 TO 10A.M                           SARVA DARSHANAM
     10 T010.30A.M                       SECOND BELL
     12 NOON                                TEERMANAMU
     4 TO 6P.M                               SARVA DARSHANAM
     6 TO 6.30P.M                          TOMALASEVA
     6.30 TO 7P.M                          RATRI KAINKARYAM
     7 TO 7.45P.M                          SARVA DARSHANAM
     7.45 TO 8P.M                          EKANTA SEVA
 
ABISHEKAM :  ABISHEKAM IS DONE FOR GODDESS ON FRIDAY 8 A.M
ABISHEKAM IS DONE FOR VEDA NARAYANA SWAMY ON SATURDAY 8 A.M                

Entrance In To Sri Veda Narayana Swamy Temple

 The sub temples with in the temple are :

1. Sri Vedavalli Tayaru temple

2. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

3. Sri Veeranjaneya Swamy Temple

4. Sri Sita Lakshmana Sametha Ramulavari Temple

TEMPLES  NEAR BY

1. PALLI  KONDESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE- here Lord Siva is in sleeping position on Parvati Devi’s lap. Good for compatibility of couples. It is in Suturapalli, 25kms from   Nagalapuram and near to Uttukotai

2. WALESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE: It is in Rama Giri 5kms from Nagalapuram

3. NARAYANAVANAM: Here Lord Balaji married Padmavathi Devi(Akasaraja daughter ). It is 25kms from Nagalapuram, 5kms from Puttur.