Antharvedi is a small village in
Sakhinetipalle Madal, East Godavari District, Andhrapradesh. The village is
situated in the place where Bay of Bengal and
Vasista Godavari meet. It is located at a
distance of 65kms from Amalapuram, 130kms from Kakainada and 196 kms
from Vijayawada.
The story of this temple is given in GAUTHAMI MAHATYAM (BRAHMANDA PURANAM).
Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is constructed between 15th
and 16th centuries. Lord Siva is the Kshetra Palaka of this temple.
Lord Siva temple is much older than Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Archiology
department found Panchaloha idols of Garuda and Anjaneya during the development
work done in this temple in 2007 which confirmed this temple belongs to (AC)1660.
TEMPLE HISTORY
Vasista
Maharishi, one among the Sapta Rishis brought one of the tributary of Gauthami Godavari and merged it in Bay
of Bengal and built a Parnasala and stayed there along with his
wife
ARUNDATHI. Rakshasa named RAKTHALOCHANA son of HIRANYAKSHA did severe penance and got boons from Lord Siva. He started
troubling the sages living in Vasista Asramam. He killed many people and
demolished Asramam. He also killed 100 children of the rishi.Vasista Maharishi
prayed Lord Vishnu to kill the demon. Pleased by rishi's prayer Lord Vishnu came in the form of Lord Narasimha and fought with the
demon. Due to the boon’s given by Lord Siva, sand particles drenched by the
blood drops falling on the ground from Rakthalochana’s body, produced equal number
of demons. Lord Narasimha noticed this and called his sister ASWARUDAMBIKA, and told her to see
that blood does not fall on the battle field.She spread her tongue on the
battle field so that blood falls on her tongue and not on ground.
Lord
Narasimha killed the demon. Later Aswarudambika released the blood as a reddish
river and merged in Vasista Godavari. This is called as RAKTHA THULYA RIVER. Even today we can see a small river
flowing in the
direction of the temple.
ASWARUDAMBIKA IS ALSO CALLED AS GURRALAKKA and
a temple is built for her at a distance of 1km from the Narasimha Swamy temple.
Vasista Maharishi prayed Lord Narasimha to calm down and stay there. Lord
Narasimha along with his consort Lakshmi Devi became Swayambu in Padmasa posture.
ADI KURMA KSHETRA
Here people believe that
Antervedi is the first place to be brought out by Lord Vishnu in Kurma Avatara. As
this Lord came in the form of Kurma Avatara in RAKTHATHULYA RIVER.
There is a story behind this. Once an idol came into
the fisherman’s net. Fisherman threw this idol into the river and it came into
the net again and again. Fed up by this, fisher man threw this idol and it was
broken. Blood came out of the idol. Seeing that fisherman became unconscious.
Lord told him that he came there as Swayambu. So
from then onwards daily Abishekam is done to Adikurma Swamy along with Lakshmi Narasimha swamy. We can see idol
of Adikurma near the feet of the main deity.
NEELAKANTESWARA SWAMY
Neelakanteswra Swamy was installed by
Lord Brahma. During
KRUTHAYUGAM
Lord Brahma thought this place is convenient to perform
Rudra Yagam and installed Lord Neelakanta to protect the Yaga. As
Lord Brahma performed Yaga here it is called as “
ANTERBHAGA
VEDIKA”,”
ANTERVEDIKA. As time passed by
it was gradually changed as “
ANTERVAEDI”. Lord
NEELAKANTA is
Kshetra Palaka of this temple.
During Treta Yugam after killing Ravana, Lord
Srirama along with Sita Devi, Lakshmana and Hanuman visited this temple.
In Dwapara Yugam ARJUNA visited this temple and
fulfilled his wishes.
SPECIALITIES
1. Every year during the ten days starting from “
Radha
Sapthami” sun rays fall on the feet of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.
3. It is believed that by staying
8 days in Antervedi we get the result of
living
88 years in Kasi. Praying to Lord
Neelakanta here will give blessings of Lord Siva.
4. Childless couple come here during
Kalyanaostavam
i.e in
Magha Masam(February) and take bath in
Sagarasangamam and with wet clothes they go to
Santa Venugopala Swamy present in this temple and go
to back side of main Goopuram and sleep there praying to Lakshmi Narasimha
Swamy. They believe by doing so they will be blessed with child.
SRI
SUDHARSANA PERUMAL SWAMY
Among the 5 beram’s of Lord(Druva, Kouthuka, Utsava, Sapana, Bali)
Bali Beram is taken for bath on Purnima of Maghamasam.
THE SPECIALITY OF THIS idol is it has 16 hands, 16 weapons and flames around
it. Sudarsana Yantram is present at backside of
the idol and Garuda Vahanam at the bottom. This
idol is the powerful, unique and oldest Sudarsana
Perumal idol in Andhrapradesh. So many devotees come on that Purnima to
take a shower along with this idol.
KALYANOSTAVAM
Kalyanam is done
on Magha Suddha Dasami(night)
. This festival is celebrated for 10 days with great pomp and
Show.. On Magha Suddha Dasami Night
Kalyanam is done.Temple Purohits will attend on goddes’s side and
Mogalthur king’s family and committee members will attend on behalf
of Lord.
Vahana Seva is done for Lord Lakshmi
Narasimha Swamy on these 10 days.
Surya Vahana,
Garuda Pushpaka Vahana,
Rajadhiraja Vahana,
Hamsa Vahana,
Ponna Vahana,
Gaja Vahana,
Hanaumath Vahana,
Sesha
Vahana,
Pancha-Mukha Anjaneya Vahana,
Simha Vahana,
Kanchu Garuda
Vahana,
Asva Vahana are used.
RADHOSTHAVAM
RADHOSTHAVAM is done
on Bhishma Ekadasi. for Rajya Lakshmi Sametha
Narasimha Swamy . On the way Lord goes to ASWARUDHAMBIKA temple and
offers Sari, Kukkum, fruits to his sister Gurralakka.
ACCOMMODATION
Guest Houses available are
1. T.T.D.Choultry is available for accommodation.
Phone:08856-259313
CONTACT DETAILS
Temple Authorities:
Special officer and Assistant Commissioner,
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Vari Devasthanam,
Antervedi,
Sakhinetipalli Mandal,
East Godavari
Phone:08856
-259313
