Complete Guide about Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal, Tamilnadu
Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal
About Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal
The Tamil Nadu district of Namakkal is home to the Arulmigu Narasimha Swamy Temple, which attracts visitors from all around the country. The Pandya monarchs are thought to have constructed the temple sometime in the eighth century. In front of this temple, Lord Hanuman is positioned in a worshipful position. The Arulmigu Narasimha Swamy temple was constructed in the Dravidian architectural style. At the foot of the Namakkal Fort, a temple that was carved out of a hill may be found. Another draw for tourists in the town is the fort itself. During the months of March and April each year, a 15-day festival called Panguni Uthiram is held, during which the processional deities are paraded through the streets.
The Lord is shown in the main sanctum in a sitting position, earning Him the nickname Asanamurthi, which is connected to a wide walkway of pillared hallways. He can be seen holding a chakra and a conch. Under His feet, there are two representations of the Sun and the Moon. Goddess Lakshmi isn’t perched on the Lord’s lap in this instance. Instead, a pendant with Her likeness is present. To calm Narasimha Swamy, who was still in His furious state, there are Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma on either side of Him. As a result, the temple is known as Trimurti Sthalam. His right hand’s palm has a purple hue, which the priests identify as bloodstains.
The classic hymn “Simha Rupanda Sri Hari Namagirishane” was written by Saint Purandara Dasuru, a brilliant poet and a follower of Lord Vishnu, before Namakkal Lord. Goddess Namagiri Tayar and Lakshmi Narayana are housed in two other sanctuaries (Lakshmi). Above the primary temple is a shrine dedicated to Lord Ranganatha (Vishnu).
The History:
The Pandya monarchs are thought to have constructed the temple in the eighth century using a rock-cut architectural style. According to historian Soundara Rajan, the time period corresponds to the pre-Varagunan I (800–830) era. According to palaeography and rock-cut architecture, it dates to the eighth century, according to P.R. Srinivasan. The majority of historians have made comparisons between the temples and comparable Badami Caves architectural features from the sixth century to speculate about influences. Some historians have maintained that because the Azhwars abandoned rock-cut pictures during the Bhakti period, the Nalayira Divya Prabandham makes no mention of this temple.
However, other historians who have cited mention of rock-cut temples in the canon, such as Thirumeyyam in Pudukottai district and Ninra Narayana Perumal temple in Virudhunagar district, refute the claim. The Annual report on Epigraphy from 1961 contains records of the specifics of the inscriptions. There are no inscriptions in the temple, however the Ranganatha temple, which stands in the higher cave in the hill, has an undated inscription. According to historians, it’s probable that both temples were constructed at the same time.
The Architecture:
In Tamil Nadu’s Namakkal district, the temple is situated along the Namakkal-Salem route in Namakkal town. The temple, which was hewn out of an imposing hill, is situated on the western side of the hill, below Namakkal Fort. The temple has a flat gateway tower and a second entrance that leads to pillared halls and has a flat gateway as well. The sitting image of Lord Narasimha, known as Asanamurthi, together with two other images are kept in the main sanctum sanctorum. The sanctuary has a square, rock-cut shape, with a dark background. Three sculptured compartments, two pillars, and a verandah are all features of the sanctum.
The Sun and Moon are represented by the images beneath Narasimhar’s feet, which are treated as Yogasana representations. Due to the absence of the consorts on either side of him, it is not referred to as a Bhogasana. He is adorned with Shiva and Brahma on either side of him, and he is carrying the conch and the chakra in each of his two hands. A panel shows the story of Vamana, who drinks water from Mahabali and eventually becomes enormous as Trivikrama to trample Bali under his feet in accordance with the Skanda Purana. This is seen by historians as a departure from the monoscenic sculptures found in Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram temples.
Other sculptured reliefs can be found on the temple’s walls, including ones showing Trivikrama, Narasimha defeating Hiranyakasipu, and Ananta Sayana Vishnu. Outside the temple is where you’ll find Kamalalayam, the temple tank. Similar rock carvings may be found in the temple located halfway up Namakkal Fort. Notably, Saint Purandaradasa wrote his well-known song “Simha Rupanada Sri Hari, Namagirishane” in front of Namagiri Narashimhar. Two more sanctums are located within the temple complex. Lakshmi Narayana and Namagiri Thayar are housed in these sanctuaries. The largest of these is known as “Kamalalayam” and is dedicated to Lakshmi. There are other sacred bathing sites or thirthams in hollows in the sides of the rock.
The Legends:
According to Hindu mythology, Hiranyakasipu, a demon king who was tormenting the Devas (celestial deities), received a boon from Brahma that forbade anybody from killing him, whether they were on land, air, or water. His father hated his son Prahlada because he was a fervent follower of Vishnu. Several times, Hiranyakasipu attempted to kill Prahalada, only to be saved by Vishnu’s miraculous intervention. Hiranyakasipu asked if Vishnu was everywhere during their most recent heated debate before using his weapon to smash a pillar. Vishnu emerged from the pillar’s aperture in the form of Narasimha.
Hiranyakasipu was killed one evening in a doorway that was neither on land nor in the air by Narasimha, a half-human with a lion face. When Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, was performing penance here in earlier times, she was asking for his blessings. Lakshmi asked Hanuman, also known as Anjaneyar in his native land, to assist her with a vision of Vishnu as Narasimha when he was carrying an image made of Saligrama. She was given the saligrama by Hanuman, who asked her to keep it safe until his return. Before Hanuman could return, Lakshmi could no longer support the load and set the image here, where it quickly transformed into a mount. In front of them both, Narasimha made his appearance and established his residence.
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