Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal

The Narasimhaswamy temple in Namakkal, a town in Namakkal district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Narasimha (Acham theertha Piran in Tamil), an avatar of Vishnu. The temple is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams of Vaishnavate tradition. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and Rock-cut architecture, the temple is located on the Salem–Namakkal–Trichy Road.

Narasimhaswamy Temple
Image of the temple entrance with Namakkal Fort in the background
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Namakkal
Deity	Narasimhaswamy (Vishnu) Namagiri Tayar (Lakshmi)
Location
Location	Namakkal
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	11°13′20″N 78°09′51″E
Architecture
Type	Dravidian, rock-cut architecture

The legend of the temple is associated with Narasimha appearing here for his consort Lakshmi and Hanuman. Based on the architectural features, historians believe that the temple was built during the 6th century by the Adiyaman kings,^[1] as evident from a temple inscription.^[2][3]

The temple has a pillared hall leading to the sanctum, which has rock-cut architecture. The sanctum sanctorum is rock-cut and square in shape with a black background. The sanctum has three sculpted cells, two pillars and a verandah in front of it. The central sanctum sanctorum niche, houses the image of Narasimha in sitting posture, called Asana murti. The temple complex houses two other sanctums. These sanctums house Namagiri Tayar and Lakshmi Narayana.

The temple is open from 7:00 am – 1:00 pm and 4:30 – 8:00 pm. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which fifteen-day Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) when the image of presiding deities are taken around the streets of the temple, being the most prominent. The annual car festival for the temple is celebrated in March and April every year (The Tamil month of Panguni) as per the Vaikhānasāgama.

The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legend

As per Hindu legend, Hiranyakashipu, an Asura king, received a boon from the god Brahma that no human/ animal could kill him, neither could he be killed in morning, noon or night nor in air, water, or the ground. His son Prahalada was an ardent devotee of Vishnu, garnering the hate of his father. Hiranyakashipu tried to slay Prahalada numerous times, however Prahalada saved by Vishnu. In a heated argument, Hiranyakashipu asked his son if Vishnu was present everywhere; when Prahalada replied in the affirmative; the king broke a pillar to check if Vishnu was present there. Vishnu assumed the avatara of Narasimha and burst out from the pillar. Narasimha was a half-human with a lion face and killed Hiranyakashipu during sunset (evening) time in a doorway, which was neither land nor air; fulfilling the conditions of Brahma's boon.^[4][5]

Ages passed by, when Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu was angry and performing penance because Narasimha did not forgive Hiranyakashpu. Hanuman (Anjaneyar) was carrying a shaligrama image and requested the disguised Lakshmi to hold it until he returns. Lakshmi could not bear the weight and placed the image at this place, which grew into a mount before Hanuman could return. Narasimha appeared before both of them and set his abode at this place in the stone statue.^[5] This the place where Lakshmi got back into the chest of Vishnu and can be seen even today in the main deity's chest. Narasimha is seen here worshipped by the deities Shiva and Brahma.^[6]

Though the Alvar saints did not glorify this temple, Purandarasa (1500 CE), a Kannada Haridasa, known as the Pithamaha (grandfather) of Carnatic music had visited this place and glorified the God by composing a Kannada song. In front of Namagiri Narashimhar, he composed his famous song "Simha Rupanada Sri Hari, Namagirishane".^[7]

History

View of Namagiri Thayar Vimanam

Sculptural niches on the walls

The temple has a huge history and doesn't have enough inscriptions in the temple, The temple is believed to be built during the 6th century CE by the Pandya or Satyaputra kings in rock-cut architecture with the inscriptions found in the Ranganatha temple excavated in the same Namakkal hill.^[8] Historian Soundara Rajan places the date to a pre-Varagunan I (800–830 CE) era on the 8th century.^[9] Based on the palaeography and rock-cut architecture, P. R. Srinivasan has placed it at 6th century. Most of the historians have compared the temples with similar architectural elements found in Badami Caves (6th century) and a possible influence. There are few inscriptions in the temple, especially an undated inscription in Grantha Characters of Sanskrit at the Ranganatha temple which are similar to the inscriptions in the Ganesha Ratha in Mahabalipuram, which is in another cave in the upper part of the hill. There are totally four main inscriptions in this Ranganatha temple, the first main inscription mentions it as Adiyanatha Vishnu Grham by Gunasila King and Adiyendra Vishnu Gruham, which evidently shows that the cave was excavated by the Satyaputra Kings, the recently discovered inscription not only confirms this but also mentions the king's name as Gunasila (Dated 500 CE). Historians believe it is possible that both the temples were built during the same period.^[10] Some historians have argued that the Alvars during the Bhakti tradition have discarded Rock-cut images and hence no mention is found in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham about this temple. But the argument is disproved by other historians who have quoted rock-cut temples like Thirumeyyam in Pudukottai district and Ninra Narayana Perumal temple in Virudhunagar district finding mention in the canon.^[2] The records of the details of the inscriptions are found in the Annual report of Epigraphy -1961.

Architecture

Replica of the Main Deity Worshiped by Shiva (left) and Brahma (right)

The Cave temple is considered as an Architectural Marvel in Rock-cut Architecture, Dr S Vasanthi states that the sculpture of "Ugra Narasimha" in the cave was unknown even to the Pallavas and Chalukyas and is a very rare sculpture among the other sculptures in the Cave.^[11] The temple is located along Namakkal-Salem road in Namakkal town, Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu.^[12] The temple carved out of a hill, is located in the downhill of the Namakkal Fort, on the western flank of the hill.^[8] The temple has a flat gateway tower and a second entrance, also with a flat gateway leading to the pillared halls.

The main sanctum sanctorum houses the image of Narasimha in sitting posture, called Asanamurthi with Sanaka, Sanata, Surya, Chandra, Shiva and Brahma worshiping him.^[13] The sanctum is rock-cut and square in shape with a black background.^[2] The sanctum has three sculpted cells, two pillars and a verandah in front of it. The image of Narasimhar is treated as a Yogasana image, with the images under his feet seen to be the Sun and the Moon. It is not called a Bhogasana as the consorts on either side of him are absent. He has Shiva and Brahma on his either sides and he is sported with two hands holding the conch and the Chakra. There is a panel depicting the narrative of Vamana, who takes water from Mahabali and later grows big as Trivikrama to submerge Bali under his feet as per the Skanda Purana. Historians consider this as a deviation from the monoscenic sculptures in temples of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram.^[14]

Aerial view of the temple and Anjaneyar facing the temple

View of the Mandapam and Kodi Marram in the temple

The temple has other sculptural relief on the walls of the temple depicting Trivikrama, Narasimha slaying Hiranyakashipu and Ananta Sayana Vishnu.^[8] The temple tank, Kamalalayam, is located outside the temple.^[15] There are similar rock-cut images in the temple halfway up the Namakkal Fort.^[8]

The temple complex houses two other sanctums. These sanctums house Namagiri Tayar and Lakshmi Narayana.

There are number of sacred bathing places or tirthams in hollows in the sides of the rock and the largest of them is called "Kamalalayam" which is sacred to Lakshmi.

Influence on People

Sri Purandaradasa

Sri Purandarasa (1500 CE), a Kannada Hari dasa, known as "Pithamaha of Carnatic music" and is considered as incarnation of Narada.^[16][17] This great saint had visited this Kshethram (holy region) and Worshiped Narasimha and Lakshmi, he also composed a Kannada song on spot by seeing the beauty of Namagiri Narashimhar and Namagiri Thayar, he composed his famous song "Simha Rupanada Sri Hari, Namagirishane" to this Perumal and Thayar.^[18]

Srinivasa Ramanujan

The great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan credited his mathematical findings to Namagiri Thayar, his family's goddess. According to Ramanujan, she appeared to him in visions, proposing mathematical formulas that he would then have to verify. One such event was described by him as follows: "While asleep, I had an unusual experience. There was a red screen formed by flowing blood, as it were. I was observing it. Suddenly a hand began to write on the screen. I became all attention. That hand wrote a number of elliptic integrals. They stuck to my mind. As soon as I woke up, I committed them to writing."^[19] Furthermore, Ramanujan's mother received permission from Namagiri Tayar for Ramanujan to go to England in a dream.^[20]

Mantra chanted by Ramanujan

Sri Vidya Mantra Ratna Prakatitha Vibhavaahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVtXBfRhR6A

Sri Subalaapoorna Kaama, sarveshaprathidhaa

Sakala suranuthaa Sarvasaamraajyathaathri

Lakshmi Sri Veda Garba Vidhurathu Madhiyaa

Viswa kalyana bhooma ,Vishwa Kshemaatham Yoga

Vimala Gunavathi Vishnu Vakshathalasya^[21]

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari BR (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972), popularly known as Rajaji, C.R., or Mootharignar Rajaji,^[22] was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and independence activist.^[23] Namagiri Thayar was the Family goddess for Rajaji and he had immense devotion towards her, He was so devoted to her that he named his daughter Namagiri Ammal.^[24]

Festival and religious practices

Sculpted pillared halls leading to the cave sanctum

The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasandhi at 7:00 a.m., Uchikala poojai at 12:30 p.m., Sayarakshai at 4:30 p.m., and Arthajama Pooja at 7:45 p.m.Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for the presiding deities. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 7:00 am – 1:00 pm and 4:30 - 8:00 pm and The Great Hanuman Temple is open Morning 6.30 am to 1.00 pm. and Evening 4.30 pm to 9.00 pm. on all days except during festive occasions when it has extended timings.^[25] The major festivals of the temple is the fifteen day Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) when the image of presiding deities are taken around the streets of the temple in a temple chariot. The sacred marriage of the presiding deity is also performed during the function.^[26] Other festivals of the temple include Chittirai Tamil New year, Vaigasi Visagam, Telugu New Year, Avani Pavitrotsavam, Narasimhar Jayanthi, Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Thai Pongal during various months of the year.^[5][27] In modern times, the Namakkal district administration has identified the temple as one of the prominent tourist attractions in the district.^[28] The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.^[5]

Photo Gallery

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