Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

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Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

At

Anthili

 

Anthili is a non-descript village about 2 kms south of Arakanda

Nallur Police Station on the banks of River South Pennai. Arakanda

Nallur is a Railway Station close to Tirukkoviloor on the Villupuram-

Tirukkoviloor route. Arakanda Nallur is also connected by road.

 

The temple at Anthili is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7

p.m. If prior intimation is given to the Baktha Jana Sabha at Ph no.

04153-254098, special poojas can be arranged.

 

Coming to the stahala puranam, Lord Maha Vishnu in the form of

Narasimha came out of a granite pillar to kill Hiranyakasibu, the

father & tormentor of Prahlad. In this avtar, the Lord rushed to help

Prahlad without calling his vahanam, Garuda. So also in Gajendra

Moksha. These caused much anxiety to Garuda who felt extremely

depressed on being left out. He left Vaikuntam and started doing

penance at Anthili. The severe penance of Garuda pleased the Lord who

appeared before him and asked him the reasons for his penance. Having

stated the reasons, Garuda requested the Lord to relieve him of his

anxiety & depression somehow. Then and there the Lord gave him

darshan as Lord Narasimha with Mahalakshmi seated on his lap. Garuda

pleaded that this darshan should be to the people at large. Due to

Garuda's penance, Anthili thus became a sacred spot for all

pilgrims.

 

The Madhwa seer Sri Vyasarajar visited Anthili and had darshan of the

Lord on top of a small hillock that looked liked Garuda to him. The

same Vyasarajar became Sri Raghavendra in his next birth. Sri

Vyasarajar also consecrated a temple for Hanuman during the glorious

reign of the Vijayanagar Emperors.

Subsequently, due to continuous raids by infidels, the temple lost

its glory & importance. In its dilapidated state, the temple was well

looked after by Sri Anthili Achar and Paranur Sri Krishna Premi

Swamigal renovated the temple. Anthili Baktha Jana Sabha, the

villagers and devotees, are now looking after the temple. The

kumbhabhishekam for this temple took place on 07 June 2004.

 

At the temple, the Lord is with Mahalakshmi on his lap. The idol is

small but the Lord's glory is great.

 

There are in all 12 important Narasimha kshetrams in Tamil Nadu

besides Anthili. They are:

1. Parikkal near Villupuram.

2. Singri near Pondicherry and Cuddalore.

3. Singaperumal Kovil near Chengalpet.

4. Poovarasan Kuppam near Panruti.

5. Sholingar near Walajapet.

6. Polur near Tiruvannamalai.

7. Sinthalavadi near Trichy.

8. Namakkal near Salem.

9. Singar Koil near Vellore.

10. Narasinghapuram near Tiruvallur.

11. Avaniyapuram near Kanchipuram.

Narasimha Kshetrams at places outside Tamil Nadu are:

1. Tirunarayanapuram at Melkote on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway.

2. Simhachalam near Visakapatnam, Andhra.

3. Katri near Kurnool, Andhra.

4. Ahobilam (Nava Narasimhar) near Nandyal, Andhra.

5. Mangalagiri near Vijayawada.

6. Yadagiri Gudda near Hyderabad, Andhra.

And

7. Kunjala near Sosale, Karnataka.

The author has visited only the following:

1. Parikkal.

2. Singri.

3. Poovarasan Kuppam.

4. Singa Perumal Koil.

5. Sholingur.

6. Narasingapuram.

And

7. Simhachalam.