vedadri narasimha swamy temple

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Among the several shrines of Lord Laxmi Narasimha Swamy that flourished on the holy banks of river krishna vedadri is an important one.It is situated just at a distance if 10 Kms from "Chillakallu" on the National High way No.9 from Vijayawada to Hyderabad

Here the Lord is existing in five forms different from each other known as Pancha Narashima Moorthy, namely Jwala Narashima on vedasikara of the mountains, Saligrahma Narashima in the River Krishnaveni, Yogananda Narashima erected by sage Rishya Sringar, as Lakshmi Narashimar on his own peetam and Veera Narashimar on garudadri situated at a distance of 5kms from east to Vedadri.
The temple structure is conventional, being brightly colored and ornamented with a variety of images. A beautiful Form of Narasimha Swami in yoga pose (above) greets devotees on the outside of the temple. The Lord is joined by murtis of Lord Varaha, Laksmi devi, Garuda, Hanuman, and other transcendental personalities and figures. The utsava idols are extraordinarily high and impressive, and the dwajasthamba of imposing girth and height. In the waters of the Krishna River, Lord Narasimha can also be found in Salagram form

"Bramhand Purana" says that Somaksura a demon of yore stole the four Vedas from Lard Bramha and hid himself in the Ocean. Lord Bramha then approached his father Lord Srimannarayana Murthy and prayed for the restorain of Vedas. Lord Srimannarayana murthy in 'Matsyavathara'(fish) entered the Ocean, killed the demon somakasura and brought back the Vedas in tact. The Vedas, in human form thanked the lord for his kind gesture in saving them, prayed to stay with them on their heads. There upon the lord munificiantly granted their prayer but said that the would do that only after killing another demon Hiranya kasapa and saving his son prahalda. The Lord also assured the Vedapurushas that he would stay with them as Panchamurti only. So saying the Lord bid them till such time to remain in the river krishnaveni as Saligrama mountain. Lord bid them that krishnaveni also prayed to allow her to worship him everyday and that he granted her the boon. He assured the Vedapurshas that both the prayers would be granted simultaneously. According to the bid of the Lord the Veda purashas remind in Krishnaveni as Saligrma mountain.


             Later the Lord incarnated himself as 'Narasimha' killed the mighty demon Hiranya kasapa and served Prahalda and ever since stayed as Jwala Narasimha on the mountain head at Vedadri in fulfilment of the inclination of Veda Purushas. Then Lord Bramha requested Jwala Narasimha to stay in Sathya Loka as Saligrama Narsimha so the Lord went to Sathya Loka as Saligrama Narasimha at the request of Lord Bramha. But even before Bramha offered his worship to the Lord in Sathya Loka, the Sathya Loka was consumed in flames. There upon Lord Bramha personally brought Saligrama Narsimha Murthy to the river krishnaveni and erected the Saligrama Murti on the Saligram Mountain. Thus Lord Laxmi Narasimha Swamy the incarnation of Lord Srimannarayana fulfilled the desires of both Veda Purushas and the river krishnavenim simultaneously.


            Later on, the Lord, at the request of Rishis like Rishya Srugna and Kings like Mann, stayed in the middle of the mountain as Yogananda Narasimha Swamy and at the request of the Garudas the Lord stayed as verra Narasimha and as per the Prayer of Vana Devatha the Lord is prevading the mountain as Laxmi Narasimha Murthi. Thus this holy place is sanctified by the presence of all devotes who descended from the heavens to worship the Lord who enriched the mountain with several holy spirits. The facts were revealed by Suta Mahamuni to Sownaka and others who acclaimed the efficacy of Vedadri as an unique deity in the entire world. It is the only place where Pancha Narasimha Murtis are existing.


             The Lord is staying as Jwala Narasimha on Vedasikhara of the mountain, as Saligram a Narasimha in the river krishnaveni and as Yoganada Narasimha, having been erected by Saga Rishya Srunga and in his own Peetam as Laxmi Narasimha Swamy. The Lord Sreemannarayana has incarnated himself as Veera Narasimha on the Garudadri , situated at a distance of 5 Km. east of Vedadri.
             Thus the Lord is existing in the five forms different form each other other called Pancha Narasimha murthis namely (Jwala, Saligrama, Veera,Yoganandac and Laxmi Nrusimha).This holy shine is called Laxmi “VEDADRI”.
              Several lakhs of devotees visit this holy shrine to seek the Lords blessings. Nyasa said, that at the beginning of Kallyuga all the rishis approached him and implored about the evil effects of Kali and prayed for a way out of it. He was just about to sit for penance after finishing holy dip in Ganges, grasped the purpose for which the rishis have come to him Vyasa told them that the people of Kali are singularly fortunate because they need not perform any situals like Yagnas or deep penances as in other Yugas. He said that simple chanting of the holy name of the Lord is Sufficient. i. e., mere ‘ Smarana ‘ which bestows salvation.
              Kalav Smaranan mukthi. It means in kaliyuga mere smarana is enough for mukthi. The rishis having got the information from veda vyasa beg an searching for a suitable place for their penance and at last they found Vedadri as the most suitable place, as the Lord is staying there in five forms (Panchamurthi). Further the rishis while searching, for a suitable place heard recitals in perfect swaras being emanated from the holy mountain they named as ‘Vedadri’ the mountain of Vedas. The rishis were enchanted by the chanting of Vedas by the Mountain, especially the same veda (music) the Gandharva Swara and its varied moorchans. They have been in mensely satisfied by the holy recitals and have settled there for penance. They took a holy dip in river krishnaveni , had a pradakshan of the mountain and then settled in Penance.During their deep Penance in their Samadhi., they heard a divine voice saying “Holy rishis this is Vedadri  or Vedagiri where Lord Sreemannarayana has taken the avatara of Nrusimha Swamy”. After the holy words the rishis discovered a Luminous light discerning the path upwards the mountain by which the rishis have scaled it and found Yogananda Nrusimha Swamy in a temple on the top of the mountain. The rishis who were over whelmed with joy praised the Lord chanting his holy name.

Namasthe Narasimhaya  Smasaranava Setave I
          Namh Kalyana Roopaya Veda Seershyathe Namha II
                      Then the Lord gave them darshan as Jwala Nrusimha in the shape of fire, as Saligrama murti in the river, as Yogananda Nrusimha (Laxmi Nrusimha Murti), as Veera Nrusimha murti in Garudachala. The rishis after Visiting all the shrines came back to Vedadri and sat for Penance.
                       This mountain has been enriched in its spiritual splendor not only by the Pancha Murtis but also due to the Penance of several rishis. The adage is “Theerthi  Kurvanthni Theerthami”. This holy shrine has been embellished with glory historically also. The boundary walls have been built by Reddi kings about eight or nine hundred years ago. They have maintained the holy shrine with all its prettier purity  and spiritual splendor.
                       One of the Poet trinities Yerrapragada and great Kavi Sarvabhouma Sreenadha hae Visited this shrine. Vaggeya Kara Narayana Teerthulu worshipped, this Lord four days and worte the Tarangas in praise of Laxmi Nrusimha, Yerrapragada of the renowned Kavithraya (Trinity ) wrote the stotra Dandakam enlogising the diety. Kavi Sarvabhowma Sreenadha in his epic ‘ Kasi Kandam’ referred to this great deity.
                       This holy shrine of divine splendor has carved a niche in the hearts of all the devotees who worshipped this deity and quenched their mortal desires