Whenever we safely land in a plane, we promise God a little something.-Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960
Simhachalam, the hill of Lion (Simham means Lion and Aachalam means Hill), is a Hindu pilgrim destination, located near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The major attraction in this temple town is the Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple dedicated to twin incarnations of Lord Vishnu known as Narasimha (the man-lion) and Varaham. The original shape of the deity in the tribhanga posture has two hands with the head of a lion on a human torso. The town got the name from this temple placed atop a hill.
It is one of the eighteen "Naarasimha Kshetras" i.e. shrines of Lord Narasimha in India. Simhachalam temple is known as the second richest temple in India (after Tirupati) earning a revenue of Rs. 520 million.
The Simhachalam temple faces west unlike so many others which face east. An east-facing entrance, according to religious belief, brings prosperity while a west-facing one brings victory.
ETYMOLOGY:
 |
| Varaha avatar |
Hiranyakasipu was a Rakshasa king. He was in fact one of Vishnu's Dwarapalakas or gate keepers in Vaikuntha, Jaya and Vijaya. They had to take birth in the mortal world thrice because of a curse given by Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanathana and Sanathkumara, who were not allowed to take darshan of Mahavishnu by them. The other palaka was born as his brother Hiranyaaksha.
 |
| Vamana avatar |
Hiranyakasipu wanted to become immortal and hence performed austerities (tapasya) to propitiate Lord Brahma. However, Lord Brahma said that was not possible so Hiranyakasipu asked Lord Brahma to grant him a boon so that he could not be killed by any animal or a man neither in the morning nor in the night, by any weapons, neither in sky nor on the earth.
Hiranyakasipu wanted the entire world to worship him. But, Prahalada, his son, was a devotee of Lord Narayana and always expressed his bhakti towards Him. In spite of warning him several times, Hiranyakasipu could not alter Prahlada's devotion.
This made Hiranyakasipu angry and he made numerous attempts to get Prahlada killed. One of them was to throw him off the top of a mountain. However, Vishnu rescued him by moving the mountain and made a small path for Prahaladha. It is said that in the place where the Lord stood to protect Prahaladha is the place where the temple is built.
The most important thing about this temple is that here we can't see the God's feet. It is said that the feet is buried inside the earth. Lord Narayana came to rescue Parahalada on Garuda and when they threw Parahalada Lord Narayana jumped from Garuda to save him and in this process his feet went deep into the earth.
HISORY:
 |
| Narasimha avatar |
The Historic Temple at the Simhachalam, built in the 11th Century. An inscription dated as far back as 1098 AD of the Chola King Kuloththunga provides some clue as to its antiquity. Another inscription shows a Queen of the Eastern Ganga of Kalinga (ancient Orissa) (1137-56 AD) covering the image with gold while a third inscription says the eastern Ganga King of Orissa, Narasimha Deva, built the main/central shrine in 1267 A.D. With more than 252 inscriptions in Oriya and Telugu describing the antecedents of the temple, it is a historically important monument.
Newly constructed roads and inquiry counter at the entrance Sri Krishna Deva Raya after defeating the Gajapati ruler of Orissa Gajapati Prataparudra Dev visited the shrine twice in 1516 AD and 1519 AD and offered numerous villages for maintenance of bhogam (worship) along with valuable jewellery of which an emerald necklace is still in the temple. For the last three centuries the royal family of Vizianagaram, "The Pusapati Gajapathi's" have been the temple's trustees.
ARCHITECTURE:
This temple combines the Orissan and Chalukyan features of temple construction, and it attracts scores of pilgrims from both Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.
 |
| Stone chariot at Simhachalam temple |
It contains a square shrine surmounted by a high tower, a portico in front with a smaller tower a square sixteen-pillared mandapam facing portico and an enclosing verandah, all made of dark granite.
One of the pillars in the 'Mukhantantapa' of the temple is named 'Kappam Stambham' or the pillar of tribute. This pillar was infused with only Godly and Miraculous powers. Since the devotes who aspire some desires to get fulfilled put forward offerings (Kappam) to this pillar, this pillar assumed the Name Kappastambham, At the bottom of this pillar Santhana Gopala Swamy image (Yanthram) was installed. So the devotees are of the belief that if the childless couples embraces this pillar, they will be blessed with children erelong. The devotes also believe that for whatever desires to get fulfilled they extend offering and hug this Kappasthambam all those desires will surely get fulfilled forthwith.
On the north side of the temple there is an excellent 'Natyamandapam' where 'Kalyanotsavam' is performed. 96 pillars of black stone support this mandapam, exquisitely carved and arranged in sixteen rows of six each.
FESTIVALS:
Chandanotsavam:
The main deity inside the temple sanctorum gives "nijaroopa darshan" (holy appearance in true form) for only 12 hours in a year on Akshaya Tritiya day, the rest of the time the deity is covered with Sandalwood paste. The darshan described as 'Chandana yatra' or 'Chandanotsavam' falls every year in Vaisakha masa (May).
Legend has it that the Ugra form of Narasimha as he killed the demon Hiranyakashipu was so fierce that the image is kept covered by sandal paste throughout the year.
Kalyanotsavam:
This occurs on the 11th day, 'Ekadasi' in the first half of the lunar month of March - April and extends over a period of 5 days; that is, from the 11th day to the full moon day.
Narasimha Jayanti:
The Narasimha Jayanti festival, which occurs on the Fourteenth day of the first half of month of 'Vaisakha' is celebrated as Birthday of the Lord.
Giripradhikshana:
Giripradhikshana (circumambulation) around the hill range (40 km) from Hanumantha vaka/MVP colony to Simhachalam is done by piligrims during on the full moon day in the month of 'Ashadha', (June) the devotees of the Lord.
Crowds of elderly people / youth / children are observed walking the 40 km stretch over night. They visit the temple after the long journey and give their offerings to the deity.
Those who cannot undertake this, satisfy themselves by making 108 rounds in the temple itself.
It is said that when Muslims during one of their invasions were about to destroy and plunder the temple, a poet by name Kurmanatha implored Lord Varaha Narasimha to save his temple and the Hindus. In response to his fervent prayers, a huge swarm of copper hornets suddenly appeared and attacked the invading army and drove them out of the city. The swarm disappeared behind a hillock after driving out the Muslim armies. That hillock is now known as Tummedala Metta (Tummedala=of hornet, Metta=hillock).
WHERE TO STAY?
Simhachalam Devasthanam provides accommodation facilities for pilgrims. There are choultries, cottages and guesthouses with all amenities like water, lighting etc.
HOW TO REACH SIMHACHALAM?
One can reach Simhachalam from almost any where in Vizag also known as Vishakhapatnam.
By Air:
- The nearest airport is at Vishakhapatnam, which is well connected with flights from important cities.
ByRoad:
- The nearest major railway station is Vishakhapatnam on the Chennai - Calcutta section which is around 20-km from here and is well connected with trains to all important destinations in Andhra Pradesh.
By Rail:
- There are frequent buses operated between Vishakhapatnam and Simhachalam and the main bus stand is at Vishakhapatnam. APSRTC operates buses to all important towns/cities in Andhra Pradhesh like, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Tirupati and so on.
You can take up the steps path to reach to the hill to the temple. However, if you also take up a bus.Simhachalam Devasthanam runs Simhadri Bus Service to take you to the hill top from the foothill. Busses will be available for every 10 minutes.
Comments
Post a Comment