Simhachalam, near Visakhapatnam is one of the most important Vaishnaviteshrines of South India. It has Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy as the presiding deity. Simhachalam temple is known as the second richest temple (after Tirupati) earning a revenue of Rs. 520 million. He gives "nijaroopa darshan" (holy appearance in true form) for only 12 hours in a year and on all the remaining 364 days and 12 hours, the Lord is covered with sandalwood paste. The darshan described as chandana yatra or chandanotsavam which falls every year in Vaisakha masa commences on May 9 this year.The deity at Simhachalam, the lion-man incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu appears like a Sivalinga when covered with sandalwood paste. The original shape of the deity in the tribhanga posture has two hands with the head of a lion on a human torso.
The Simhachalam temple faces the West unlike so many others which face the East. An east-facing entrance, according to religious belief, brings prosperity while the west - facing one brings victory.
LEGEND
The local people believe that an ancient image of Sivalinga was converted into Varahanarasimha form (the present idol of the temple) by Ramanuja, the founder of the Visistadhvaitham of Hinduism. It signifies the celebration of Kamadahana (burning of the god of Love) festival. The origins of the temple are shrouded in mystery.
An inscription dated as far back as 1908 AD of the Chola king Kuloththunga is testimony of its existence. Another inscription shows a queen of the Velavadu chief Gonga (1137-56 AD) covering the image with gold while the third inscription says the eastern Ganga King Narasimha built the central shrine in 1267 A.D.With more than 252 inscriptions describring the antecedents of the temple, it is historically important.
Sri Krishna Devaraya after defeating Prataparudra Gajapathi visited the shrine twice in 1516 AD and 1519 AD and offered numerous villages for maintenance of bhogam (worship) along with valuable jewellery, of which an emerald necklace is still in the temple. For the last two centuries, the family of the Raja of Vizianagaram are the temple's trustees.
An inscription dated as far back as 1908 AD of the Chola king Kuloththunga is testimony of its existence. Another inscription shows a queen of the Velavadu chief Gonga (1137-56 AD) covering the image with gold while the third inscription says the eastern Ganga King Narasimha built the central shrine in 1267 A.D.With more than 252 inscriptions describring the antecedents of the temple, it is historically important.
Sri Krishna Devaraya after defeating Prataparudra Gajapathi visited the shrine twice in 1516 AD and 1519 AD and offered numerous villages for maintenance of bhogam (worship) along with valuable jewellery, of which an emerald necklace is still in the temple. For the last two centuries, the family of the Raja of Vizianagaram are the temple's trustees.
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