It is also known also as the Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple. Narasimha is the 4th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is also the HIS 1st incarnation on earth as the other three before, Matsya, Kurma and Vaaha were in the sea. Hence it is a major pilgrimage center especially for the Vaishnavas. In terms of income earned and number of visitors it is second only to Tirupati.
It is situated on the Simhachalam hill, 20 km from Vizag city.
The legend according to the scriptures: Jaya and Vijaya were the gatekeepers of Vishnu’s abode, the Vaikuntha. Once, the legendary 4 kumaras (Sant kumara etc) visited the Vaikuntha in the guise of children. Unable recognise them Jaya and Vijaya denied them entry. In anger, they cursed them to be born as mortal beings on earth. They prayed Lord Vishnu. As the curse of Devatas cannot be totally revoked Vishnu offered them two solutions: be born as Vishnu’s human devotees for seven lives or be born as demons in three lives as his enemies. Jaya and Vijaya wanted to reunite with Vishnu quickly so opted for the second choice.
Hence Jaya and Vijaya took birth as two brothers Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha to Rishi Kashyapa and his wife Diti. To avenge the gods, they sank the earth to the lower world Rasatala. To save the earth Vishnu took incarnation as Varaha (a boar), hd a war with Hiranyaksha and killed him and saved the earth to its normal position. Hiranyakashipu vowed to avenge his brother’s death e and prayed Brahma and gained boons which made him very powerful and tormented the Gods. He had a son, Prahlada, who became a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. Seeing this Hiranyakashipu tried to kill his son and to saveHIS devotee Lord Vishnu appeared as the incarnation of Narasimha, a half-man-half-lion, and killed Hiranyakashipu. In gratitude Prahlada built the Narasimha temple at that place.
The present temple: According to the ancient inscriptions found the present temple was built nearly a thousand years ago in the 11th century by the Chola king Kulottunga I. After that it was expanded by the Reddy dynasty, the Gajapathi dynasty and finally by the kings of the Andhra Vijayanagara Empire. The architecture and carvings of the huge temple are really beautiful.
The deity: As lord Narasimha was in uncontrollable anger while killing Hiranyakashipu, to keep him col the original deity is covered in sandawood paste for the whole year except one day. On the Akshaya Tritiya day, April-May, sandalwood paste is removed and the idol is given a bath and then covered with sandalwood paste again. So devotees can see the original form of the deity from 4 AM to 4 PM.
The miracle rain: The 12 hour period when the deity is uncovered of sandalwood paste, heavy clouds cover the Simhachalam hill and it rains. This has been happening year after year. People believe that since the deity is uncovered of the cooling paste the heavens keep the place cool!!
Many rituals are conducted daily.
04:00 AM to 04:10 AM Melkolupu(Naadaswaravadyamu)
04:10 AM to 04:30 AM Suprabhatha Patanamu
04:30 AM to 04:45 AM Suprabhatha Darshanamulu
04:45 AM to 05:00 AM Antharalaya Sammarjanamu
05:00 AM to 06:30 AM Prathararadhanamu
05:30 AM to 09:30 AM Veda Itihasa Puranamula Parayanamu
05:30 AM to 06:30 AM Aaradhana Ticket Darshanamu
06:30 AM to 11:30 AM Sarvadarshanamulu
From 9:30 AM Sri Swamy Vari Nithya Kalyanam
11:30 AM to 12:00 PM Mahanivedanamu (Rajabhogamu) Darshanams Break
12:00 PM to 02:30 PM Sarvadarshanamulu
02:30 PM to 03:00 PM Madhyana Viramamu (Pavalimpu Seva) Darshanams Break
03:00 PM to 07:00 PM Sarvadarshanamulu
05:00 PM to 08:00 PM Veda Parayanamu
07:00 PM to 08:30 PM Ratri Aaradhanamu
07:30 PM to 08:30 PM Aaradhana Ticket Darshanamu
08:30 PM to 09:00 PM Sarvadarshanamulu
After 09:00 PM Eekanta Seva, Kavaata Bandhanamu
You can get several Poojas performed in the temple by the priests. Like in Tirupati, many devotees vow to offer their hair here and you can see quite a few clean shaven heads around. It is believed that offering your hair at a GOD’s temple removes your past bad Papa Karmas.
How to visit: You can go to Simhachalam from Vizag by regular busses or taxis. Vizag being a major city of Andhra Pradesh is well connected by air, rail and bus.
