A MUST VISIT DEVOTIONAL KSHETHRA OF NARASIMHA SWAMY: History and wonders at Panakala Narasimha Swamy Temple, Mangalagiri

Mangalagiri also known as Mangalaladri or thothadri is one of the Most historic towns of the Andhra Pradesh located 16.4349° N latitude, 80.5688 E longitude between Vijayawada and Guntur. It is just 13.7 KM away from the VIJAYAWADA and 19 KM away from Guntur. Mangalagiri is one of the NAVA NARASIMHA SKHETHRAS of Andhra Pradesh. Mangalagiri is the only city in Andhra Pradesh which contains 2 Vaishnavite temples with a Shivalayam in between them. Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Temple exists at the bottom of the mangalagiri hill Mukti Parvatham or Mangalaladri parvatham (appears like a sitting elephant). Lord Panakala lakshmi narasimha swamy resides at the middle of the hill.  

PANAKALA LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY TEMPLE

Overlook of the Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, mangalagiri

LORD PANAKALA LAKSHMI NARASIMHA is the deity resides at the mid of the hill named Mukti Parvatham. Ghat road as well as steps are available for the pilgrims. LORD PANAKALA LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY appears as a self manifested statue(swayambhu) appears up to the shoulders with his mouth wide open(15 cms). Here Panakam made of jaggery (Bellam, Patika Bellam) will be served as a prasadam which can be bought by the devotees at the entrance of the temple in Medium Sized steel vessels. Half of the vessel of the panakam is served to the deity through Shankam. Goddess RAJYA LAKSHMI temple appears on the top of that of the Lord’s. Goddess RAJYA LAKSHMI statue is also a self manifested one(swayambhu). Rajya lakshmi amman penance for lakshmi Narasimha swamy here. So, the temple is named as Mangaladri.

Lord Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy

Wonders devotees experience at this temple

1.     During Panakam Nivedana, Arachaka pours panakam in to the wide opened mouth of Deity unknowingly stops when exactly half of the panakam is served. Remaining Half is served to the devotee as a Prasadam.

2.     Inside the mouth of the deity, Shankam(Panchajanyam) and Sudarsana Chakram. These can be seen when harathi is given. As Sudarsana chakram appears inside, he is also called as Sudarsana Narasimha Perumal.

3.     Where ever Panakam is served in the temple, Single ant also cannot be found.

4.     While going through steps to the Rajya lakshmi temple, there appears god hanuman on to the wall on right which is a self originated one. Recently, Garuda swamy also appeared beside hanuman.

5.     Vallabha charya who proposed the sudda advita started his preachings from this temple. Vallabha charya matt appears beside the Rajya lakshmi temple.

6.     In olden days, it was said that people who sleep in the temple Premises (prangana) in the night used to appear at the beginning of the steps when they wake up in the morning.

7.     There is a cave beside Rajya Lakshmi Amman temple. Once upon a time, this cave was a underground tunnel route to the bank of Krishna river through which people used to go for bath before conducting prayers to the Deity. Now, it is closed.

8.     Scientifically speaking, mangalagiri hill is a volcanic mountain and it was said that the Panakam taken by the deity gets distributed throughout the hill and makes it not to erupt.

9.     When Panakam is poured into the mouth of the deity, we can hear gargling sound as to that of a person.

10.  Kruta yugam, deity is offered AMRUTHAM,                                               

     In tretha yugam with GHEE,                                                                    

     In dwaparayugam with MILK and                                                                    

     In kali yugam PANAKAM is offered to the deity  

HISTORY OF PANAKALA LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY

The lord Maha Vishnu originated as narasimha swamy due the boon of the Hiranyakasapa, Father of Prahlada. Narasimha Swamy originated not only to kill hiranyakasapa but also to make a devotee’s belief true. He used the same avatar to kill Namuchi, a rakshasa(Demon).

Namuchi a great demon spent several years in penance to brahma and received a boon that he will not get killed by either wet or dry. He started harassing devatas including indra. As they can’t be able to face his harassment, they approached Sri Maha Vishnu and said the bad deeds done by him. Sri maha Vishnu gave his Sudarsana chakra to indra. Indra with a huge army attacked Namuchi. Namuchi transformed in to small size and hid in this hill. Indra prayed Lord Vishnu and released Sudarsana chakra on him. Lord Narasimha swamy appeared from the center of the Sudarsana chakra and killed the demon and self manifested himself. Thus he got the name Sudarsana Narasimha. Devathas offered him amruntham to control the rage of anger. 

In trethayugam, the people who done good deeds and enjoying happiness in heaven were asked to go to earth. They are very unhappy and approached Indra. Indra advised them to spent some time praying the narasimha swamy in mangalagiri. They prayed and attained heaven again. In Kruta yugam, Yama dharma raja asked the people to wash off their sins by doing Penance at Mangalagiri. Rama advised hanuman to be at mangalagiri after his avatara. Thus Anjaneya swamy is khsethra palaka of mangalagiri.

GANDALAYAM

On the top of the hill, there exists a rock structure in which a space is provided to lit a flame. People with wishes and strong desires come here and add gingelly oil to the basin provided there and lit the fire. This is called as AKHANDA DEEPAM. This deepam can be seen from any part of the town. Here people see god narasimha in the form of Jwala or Fire and pray him to fulfill their desires. Recently, steps have been arranged up to the top of the hill.

LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY TEMPLE

In Dwaparayuga, Pandavas lost empirein Gambling and are promised to go to ARANYA VASAM for 12 years and AGNATHA VASAM for 1 year. There is a condition that if any of the pandavas got identified be anyone then they have to undergo the course of ARANYAVASAM and AGNATHA VASAM again. Dharma raja used to pray NARASIMHA SWAMY and RAJYALAKSHMI AMMAN and carried their salagrama vigrahas every where. People identified him based on the statues. So, after the aranyavasam, he came to mangalagiriand done PRANA PRATISHTA to those vigrahas. In hindu tradition, salagrama stones are treated as the indirect resemblances of the god and also states that god stays within it. While going to AGNATHA VASAM, he asked the people in this region to pray and fulfilldesires. Thus, narasimha swamy was prayed from then.

In 1510, vijayanagara king, ANDHRABHOJA SRIKRISHNA DEVARAYA constructed Mukha Mandapam for swamy.

In 1807-1809, RAJA VASIREDDY VENKATADRI NAYUDU constructed Lofty 11 storeyed East GaliGopuramwhich is of a height of 153mts making it one of highest GALIGOPURAMS in south india.

Gali Gopuram Front View

The Deity is very powerful and daily rituals are done here according to the VAIKHANASA AAGAMAM.

BRAHMOTHSAVAMS will be performed fromPalgunaSuddasashti. On the second day , after the homam, prasadam called “GARUDA MUDDHA” will be given to newly married and infertile women to get blessed with a child. Vahanas on which swamy will ascend are

1.     Garuda Vahanam

2.     HanumanthaVahanam

3.     SimhaVahanam

4.     VYALI Vahanam

5.     GajaVahanam

6.     Sarvabhupalavahanam

7.     Rajadhirajavahanam

8.     Seshavahanam

9.     PonnaVahanam

On palguna sudda chaturdasi, NARASIMHA SWAMY KALYANAM will be done every year.

On the next day, RADHOTHSAVAM will be done on holy. This is the most enjoyable moment. People will recite sacred chants “JAI NARASIMHA JAI JAI NARASIMHA”.

Divya Ratham of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy

WONDERS AT LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY TEMPLE

1.     Divya Radham was gifted to the god by kings. The pictures of DASAVATHARAS were most legibly carved on the wood.

2.     During radhothsavam, the ratham just turns towards gali gopuram which is on the right but not straight even though the people pull Radham straight.